JLPT N4 - Day 1 - 3 (Question Skills Practice)
JLPT Question Skills Practice (Optional)
Before solving full JLPT-style questions, practice the smaller skills that help you understand how each question type works.
These exercises focus on recognizing clues, reducing possible answers, finding relevant evidence, and understanding how information is connected.
After completing the skill practice, continue to the regular JLPT-style exercise page.
Try each exercise first without opening the answer. After answering, use Show to check the answer and the short strategy explanation.
1. Sentence Ordering
Goal: Learn to see sentence fragments as connected chunks instead of trying every possible order.
Focus on grammatical dependencies, particles, noun modification, and fixed patterns.
🔗 Level 1 — Connection Recognition
Find fragments that naturally or grammatically connect to each other.
Goal: Build the habit of recognizing strong chunks such as 「Vて + もらう」 or 「Nについての + N」.
1: Choose the fragment that connects to both sides.
この箱は重いので、友達に → （ ） → もらいました。
A
Explanation: The key is to recognize the fixed connection Vて + もらう, which expresses receiving someone’s help or action. 手伝って is the only form that can connect naturally with もらいました. In similar ordering questions, first look for grammar patterns that require a specific verb form, then check that the fragment also fits the words before it.
2: Choose the connection that forms a noun phrase.
昨日買った → （ ） → を洗いました。
B
Explanation: The clue is that 昨日買った must directly modify a noun, forming the chunk 昨日買った皿. 皿 then connects naturally to を洗いました, while adding に or で would break that noun phrase. For similar questions, identify whether the left side is a modifier and check which choice can serve as the noun it modifies.
3: Which connection belongs inside the question ending in 「かどうか」?
この部屋から山が見えるかどうか、教えてください。
B
Explanation: The key is to identify the complete clause that comes before かどうか: 山が見える. Within that clause, 山が connects directly to the predicate 見える. In similar questions, isolate the clause before かどうか first, then identify the subject–predicate connection inside it.
🧩 Level 2 — Constraint & Elimination
Identify required connections and impossible connections without reconstructing the whole sentence immediately.
Goal: Reduce the search space before solving the final JLPT ordering question.
1: Identify the two required connections before reconstructing the sentence.
私は、＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿。
1. かどうか
2. 行ける
3. 分かりません
4. 明日の祭りに
B
Explanation: The key constraints are 明日の祭りに → 行ける and かどうか → 分かりません. These form the natural structure 明日の祭りに行けるかどうか分かりません. For similar ordering questions, first lock in fixed grammatical links such as かどうか + 分かる, then connect the remaining phrase to the verb it naturally modifies.
2: Which fragment must immediately precede 「箱」?
これは、＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿。
1. 箱
2. 使っていた
3. です
4. 父が昔
2 → 1
Explanation: The key dependency is that 使っていた directly modifies the noun 箱, creating the noun phrase 使っていた箱. The full structure is 父が昔使っていた箱です, so 2 → 1 is the required connection. In similar questions, look for a verb in plain form that must attach directly to the noun it describes.
3: Which connection is impossible in the completed sentence?
机の上に、＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿ ＿＿。
1. が
2. 置いてあります
3. パンフレット
4. 展覧会の
B
Explanation: The completed structure is 展覧会のパンフレットが置いてあります, so 4 → 3 and 3 → 1 are required connections. 展覧会の → 置いてあります is impossible because の must connect to a noun, not directly to the verb. For similar questions, use particle and modifier constraints to eliminate links that cannot be grammatical.
2. Grammar in Context
Goal: Understand how grammar works across connected sentences, not only inside one isolated sentence.
Track result, contrast, sequence, reference words, and the logical flow of the text.
🔍 Level 1 — Relation Identification
Identify the relationship between sentences before selecting a connector or grammar form.
Goal: Recognize discourse functions such as result, contrast, limitation, and sequence.
1: この箱は大きいですが、重くありません。（ ）、一人で運べます。
What relationship should the missing expression show?
A
Explanation: The second sentence follows as a consequence of the box not being heavy: because of that, one person can carry it. The missing expression therefore needs to show a result relationship. In similar questions, identify whether the later sentence is caused by, contrasted with, exemplifies, or simply follows the earlier information.
2: 昨日、近所の祭りに行きました。雨が降っていました。（ ）、人がたくさん来ていました。
What relationship should the missing expression show?
D
Explanation: The key is that the second fact is unexpected given the first: it was raining, yet many people still came. The missing expression therefore needs to show contrast. In similar questions, look for a result that goes against what you would normally expect from the previous sentence.
3: 引っ越しの前に、要らない物を捨てました。（ ）、使う物を箱に入れました。
What relationship should the missing expression show?
B
Explanation: The two actions happen in order: first unnecessary things were thrown away, and then the items to be used were put into boxes. The missing expression therefore needs to show sequence. In similar questions, check whether the sentences describe steps or events that occur one after another.
🔁 Level 2 — Reference & Flow
Track what words such as 「それ」 and 「そこ」 refer to, or decide where a sentence fits naturally.
Goal: Follow the flow of information instead of reading each sentence independently.
1: 友達が家に来ました。私は重い家具を運んでいたので、友達が手伝ってくれました。その後で、一緒にお茶を飲みました。
Which event does 「その後で」 place the tea after?
B
Explanation: The clue is その後で, which refers back to the immediately preceding event. The tea is therefore placed after the friend helped with moving the furniture. In similar questions, track what event a reference expression like その後で points back to in the text.
2: 駅前に新しい店ができました。昨日、妹とその店へ行きました。妹は母の誕生日のプレゼントを探していました。私はそこで皿を買いました。
Which place does 「そこ」 refer to?
A
Explanation: The clue is that そこ refers back to the place where the speakers had just gone, which is the new shop. In similar questions, trace demonstratives like そこ to the most recent place that fits the action described.
3: 机の上に小さい箱と大きい箱があります。小さい箱には皿が入っています。大きい箱は空けてあります。本はまだ隣の部屋にあります。その箱に本を入れてください。
Which box does 「その箱」 refer to?
C
Explanation: The clue is that the large box is described as empty, making it the logical box for the books. その箱 therefore refers back to the large empty box, not simply to the nearest noun. In similar questions, use both reference words and the surrounding context to identify the intended antecedent.
🧠 Level 3 — Missing Flow Element
Choose the missing sentence or information that makes the whole paragraph logically consistent.
Goal: Combine information before and after the blank instead of solving from one sentence alone.
1: Choose the sentence that maintains the flow of the whole passage.
日曜日に友達と博物館へ行きます。九時に駅で友達に会いますが、博物館は十時からです。（ ）。十時に二人で博物館に入ります。
C
Explanation: The passage establishes a one-hour gap between meeting at the station and entering the museum at ten. Drinking tea near the station naturally fills that gap and preserves the chronology of the passage. In similar questions, check that the missing sentence fits both the time sequence and the events before and after it.
2: Choose the sentence that maintains the flow of the whole passage.
部屋を片付けていると、昔の玩具が出てきました。私はもう使いませんが、弟はその玩具が好きです。（ ）。今は弟の部屋にあって、弟が毎日それで遊んでいます。
A
Explanation: The key is that the missing sentence must explain why the toy later ends up in the younger brother’s room. Since he wanted it, giving it to him creates a clear cause-and-result flow into the final sentence. In similar questions, check whether the missing sentence logically connects the earlier situation with the later outcome.
3: Choose the sentence that maintains the flow of the whole passage.
明日は近所の祭りです。外のいすは、もう家の中に運びました。今日は雨なので、今夜は外に出しません。（ ）。明日の朝、家の中から外に運んで、みんなで使います。
A
Explanation: The key is that the chairs are already inside and will not be put outside tonight because of the rain. Keeping them inside until the next morning preserves the time sequence and leads naturally into moving them outside then. In similar questions, check that the missing sentence is consistent with both the current situation and the next planned action.
3. Short Passage
Goal: Learn to identify exactly what the question asks and where the evidence is in a short text.
Do not choose an answer just because it repeats words from the passage.
🎯 Level 1 — Question Target
Decide what information the question is asking you to locate.
Goal: Distinguish the target from other true details in the passage.
1: Passage
明日の祭りは十時からです。田中さんは祭りの前に机を運ぶので、九時に来ます。私は田中さんを手伝うので、同じ時間に来ます。
Question
私はどうして九時に来ますか。
What information should you look for?
D
Explanation: The question asks why the writer comes at nine, so the target is the reason connected to that arrival time. The passage states that the writer comes then to help Tanaka, rather than simply because the festival starts later. In similar questions, identify the question word first—such as どうして—and search only for the information that answers that specific relationship.
2: Passage
粗大ごみの置き場は、駐車場の隣です。家の前に置いてはいけません。朝八時に車が来るので、七時半までに置き場に運んでください。
Question
粗大ごみは、どこに置きますか。
What information should you look for?
D
Explanation: The question word どこ tells you to look specifically for a location. The passage identifies the designated place as 駐車場の隣の粗大ごみの置き場, while the time details answer a different question. In similar questions, use the question word first to narrow the passage to the exact type of information needed.
3: Passage
日曜日は友達と展覧会に行きます。私は家から駅まで電車で行きます。友達のお父さんが車で駅まで来てくれるので、駅から展覧会まではその車で行きます。
Question
駅から展覧会までは、何で行きますか。
What information should you look for?
C
Explanation: The question asks specifically about the travel method from the station to the exhibition, so you should ignore how the writer gets from home to the station. The passage says that this second part of the trip is made by the friend’s father’s car. In similar questions, match the exact route or segment named in the question before choosing the relevant detail.
🔎 Level 2 — Evidence Matching
Find which part of the passage contains the information needed to answer the question.
Goal: Separate relevant evidence from details that are true but do not answer the question.
1: Passage
新しい家は駅から遠いですが、近所に大きい店があります。前の家では、買い物に一時間かかりました。今は十分で行って帰れるので、毎日の買い物が便利になりました。その店のパンもおいしいです。
Question
今の家では、どうして買い物が便利ですか。
Which part provides the necessary evidence?
B
Explanation: The question asks for the reason shopping is more convenient now, so the relevant evidence is the shorter travel time to a nearby store. The passage directly links being able to go there and return in ten minutes with improved convenience. In similar questions, look for the sentence that explicitly explains the result named in the question.
2: Passage
昨日、駅で展覧会のパンフレットをもらいました。昔の町の写真が出ていましたが、写真が小さくて、家や店がよく見えませんでした。展覧会では同じ写真を大きくして見せているそうです。もっとよく見たいので、土曜日に行きます。
Question
私はどうして展覧会へ行きますか。
Which part provides the necessary evidence?
A
Explanation: The question asks for the writer’s reason for going, so the key evidence is the contrast between the small, hard-to-see photos in the pamphlet and the enlarged versions at the exhibition. The writer wants to see those photos more clearly. In similar questions, connect the stated problem with the later action that solves or responds to it.
3: Passage
明日は引っ越しです。本はもう箱に入れてあります。皿は今夜のご飯で使うので、まだ入れていません。ご飯の後で洗ってから、箱に入れます。
Question
皿をまだ箱に入れていないのは、どうしてですか。
Which part provides the necessary evidence?
C
Explanation: The question asks for the reason the dishes have not been packed yet. The passage states that they are still needed for dinner tonight, which directly explains the delay. In similar questions, look for the sentence that gives the cause of the specific situation mentioned in the question.
After completing these skill exercises, continue to the JLPT-style practice page and apply the same strategies without the extra guidance.
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