JLPT Sentence Structure and Cohesion 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of these sentences correctly uses 〜に対して to express 'toward' or 'regarding' someone?
- 学生に対して、先生は厳しい (The teacher is strict toward students) (Correct answer)
- 学校に対して行く (I go toward school)
- 友達に対して会う (I meet my friend)
- 本に対して読む (I read a book)
Correct answer: 学生に対して、先生は厳しい (The teacher is strict toward students)
〜に対して expresses an attitude or action directed toward a person or group.
Question 2: In the structure 〜ために, when does it express purpose (in order to) vs. cause (because of)?
- It always expresses cause
- It expresses purpose when the preceding verb is in dictionary form, and cause when using た-form or nouns (Correct answer)
- It always expresses purpose
- It depends solely on the subject of the sentence
Correct answer: It expresses purpose when the preceding verb is in dictionary form, and cause when using た-form or nouns
Dictionary form + ために = purpose (in order to), while た-form or noun + ために = cause or reason (because of).
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses 〜さえ〜ば to mean 'if only... then...'?
- お金さえあれば、旅行できる (If only I had money, I could travel) (Correct answer)
- お金さえあると、旅行できる
- お金さえあって、旅行できる
- お金さえあるから、旅行できる
Correct answer: お金さえあれば、旅行できる (If only I had money, I could travel)
〜さえ〜ば means 'if only X, then Y is possible,' and requires the ば conditional form.
Question 4: What does 〜わけにはいかない express in a sentence?
- Impossibility due to physical inability
- Something that cannot be done due to social, moral, or situational obligation (Correct answer)
- A strong desire not to do something
- An unexpected negative outcome
Correct answer: Something that cannot be done due to social, moral, or situational obligation
〜わけにはいかない expresses that one cannot do something because social norms, circumstances, or responsibilities make it unacceptable.
Question 5: Which structure expresses that something is 'about to happen' or 'on the verge of happening'?
- 〜ているところだ
- 〜たところだ
- 〜ようとしているところだ
- 〜るところだ (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 〜るところだ
Dictionary form + ところだ indicates that an action is just about to begin.
Question 6: In the sentence 「彼女は来るかもしれない」, what level of certainty does かもしれない convey?
- High certainty (almost definitely)
- Moderate possibility (maybe / might) (Correct answer)
- Zero possibility (definitely not)
- Polite assertion (I believe)
Correct answer: Moderate possibility (maybe / might)
かもしれない expresses uncertainty and moderate possibility, equivalent to 'might' or 'maybe' in English.
Question 7: What is the primary difference between 〜ても and 〜のに when both express 'even though'?
- 〜ても is factual and neutral; 〜のに carries emotional nuance like regret or frustration (Correct answer)
- 〜のに is factual; 〜ても always expresses surprise
- They are completely interchangeable with no nuance difference
- 〜ても can only be used in questions
Correct answer: 〜ても is factual and neutral; 〜のに carries emotional nuance like regret or frustration
〜ても concedes a fact neutrally ('even if/though'), while 〜のに adds the speaker's emotional reaction such as disappointment.
JLPT Sentence Structure and Cohesion 4
Which of these sentences correctly uses 〜に対して to express 'toward' or 'regarding' someone?