5 N5 Grammar Points for Time｜Mastering When, Before, and After
We have gathered 5 essential time-related grammar points most frequently used at the Japanese N5 level.
You will learn how to clearly express the chronological order of when actions take place.
You can master the nuanced differences between similar-looking expressions and their natural connection forms.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Grammar | Reading | Meaning | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜とき | 〜とき | when ~ | Indicates a specific point in time or situation |
| 〜前に | 〜まえに | before ~ | Indicates the time before a certain action or point |
| 〜後で | 〜あとで | after ~ | Indicates the time after a certain action or point |
| 〜から〜まで | 〜から〜まで | from ~ to ~ | Indicates a starting and ending point |
| 〜てから | 〜てから | after doing ~ | Doing B after completing A (sequential actions) |
Item by item
Reading: 〜とき
when ~
It connects to various parts of speech, such as verbs, i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and nouns, to describe a specific point in time or situation. 'の' is added after nouns, and 'な' is added after na-adjectives.
Reading: 〜まえに
before ~
Attached to the dictionary form (basic form) of a verb or 'noun + の', it indicates the state before a certain action or event occurs.
Reading: 〜あとで
after ~
Attached to the past tense (た-form) of a verb or 'noun + の', it indicates the time after a certain action is completed.
Reading: 〜から〜まで
from ~ to ~
Indicates the starting and ending points of time or place. You can also use '〜から' (from) or '〜まで' (until) independently.
Reading: 〜てから
after doing ~
Attached to the て-form of a verb, it emphasizes the sequential meaning that the next action follows after the preceding action is finished.
Practice with examples
日本へ行く前に、日本語を勉強しました。
Before going to Japan, I studied Japanese.
仕事が終わってから、飲みに行きましょう。
After work is finished, let's go for a drink.
暇なとき、音楽を聞きます。
When I am free, I listen to music.
授業は月曜日から金曜日まであります。
Classes are from Monday to Friday.
How to decide when unsure
- When using '〜前に' with a verb, it always connects to the dictionary form (basic form) regardless of the tense. Even when talking about past events, it becomes '食べる前に', not '食べた前に'.
- Both '〜後で' and '〜てから' mean 'after doing ~', but '〜てから' emphasizes the sequence of actions, while '〜後で' simply indicates the chronological relationship.
- When connecting to nouns, '〜とき', '〜前に', and '〜後で' take the form of 'noun + の'. (e.g., 授業の前に, 学生のとき)
Common mistakes
When attaching '前に' or '後で' after a noun, the particle 'の' is often required in between. Omitting it can make the sentence sound unnatural.
Wrong example: 仕事後で、会いましょう。/Correct example: 仕事の後で、会いましょう。
However, in the case of Sino-Japanese words that have become fixed like a single word, such as '食事前' (before a meal), it can be used without 'の'.
Mini quiz
What is the most appropriate word to fill in the blank? 「薬は、ご飯を（ ）飲んでください。」 (Please take the medicine after eating a meal.)
One-line summary
By using these 5 N5 grammar points for time, try expressing the chronological order of everyday events more naturally and clearly.
FAQ
Do '〜てから' and '〜後で' mean exactly the same thing?
They are very similar, but there is a slight nuance difference. '〜てから' focuses on the 'sequence' where the next action follows immediately after the previous one finishes, whereas '〜後で' simply focuses on the fact that it happens 'after that time'.
How do you determine the tense of the verb before '〜とき'?
Generally, if the preceding action is not yet completed, you use the dictionary form (basic form). If it is already completed, you use the past tense (た-form). For example, '日本に行くとき' (when I go to Japan) describes the situation before going, while '日本に行ったとき' (when I went to Japan) describes the situation after arriving.
