Confusing grammar pairs

Patterns that look alike but are used differently, explained side by side. Each page has contrasting examples and a short drill you can do without an account.

JLPT N5

• は vs がは marks what the sentence is about; が points out the subject and puts the focus on it. How to choose, with examples and a quick drill.Compare
• に vs でBoth can mean "in" or "at": に is where something is or goes, で is where something is done. How to choose, with examples and a drill.Compare
• もう vs まだもう means a change has happened (already, not any more); まだ means it has not happened yet (still, not yet). With examples and a drill.Compare
• だけ vs しか〜ないBoth mean "only". だけ is neutral and goes with positive or negative verbs; しか must have a negative verb and stresses "nothing else". With examples and a drill.Compare
• てから vs 後あとでBoth put A before B. てから stresses "first A, then B" and can mean "since"; 後あとで just says B comes later. With examples and a drill.Compare

JLPT N4

• から vs のでBoth mean "because". から is direct and subjective; ので sounds objective and polite. When to use each, with examples and a drill.Compare
• ても vs のにても is "even if" and works for hypotheticals; のに is "even though" about real facts, with surprise or complaint. With examples and a drill.Compare
• そうだ vs ようだHearsay そうだ passes on what you heard; ようだ is your own conclusion from what you see. How to tell them apart, with examples and a drill.Compare
• と vs ば vs たら vs ならFour ways to say "if": と for automatic results, ば for conditions, たら for "once A happens", なら for advice on a topic. With examples and a drill.Compare
• あげる vs くれる vs もらうJapanese chooses the giving verb by direction: あげる gives outward, くれる gives to me, もらう is "receive". With て-form favours, examples and a drill.Compare
• まで vs までにまで is "until" for things that continue; までに is "by" for a deadline. One particle changes the meaning — examples and a drill.Compare
• ことにする vs ことになることにする is a decision you made; ことになる is a decision made for you (or a modest way to announce one). With examples and a drill.Compare
• ばかり vs だけだけ is a neutral "only"; ばかり is "nothing but", for things that repeat or pile up, usually with criticism. With examples and a drill.Compare
• ている vs てあるBoth can describe a state, but てある says someone did it on purpose. ている vs てある with transitive and intransitive verbs, examples and a drill.Compare

JLPT N3

• ために vs ようにBoth express purpose (N4–N3). ために follows a verb you can do on purpose; ように follows potential, non-volitional and most negative verbs. With examples and a drill.Compare