N4 · Unit 8
Lesson 31Explain regular results and occasional events
Describe a natural result that follows a condition and an event that occurs occasionally.
What you learn
Describe a natural result that follows a condition and an event that occurs occasionally.
Learning points
- Automatic conditions
- Occasional events
- Adverbs from adjectives
Why this lesson comes now
This lesson connects what you can already say to a new way of expressing it. Hear the key sentences, understand the structure, then use it in a real situation.
Your next step
Listen to the key sentences, understand the pattern, finish the examples and vocabulary, then continue to the next lesson.
Open the interactive lessonCore pattern
動詞基本形 / ない形 + と ・ 動詞基本形 / ない形 + ことが あります ・ い形容詞く / な形容詞に + 動詞 ・ 普通形 + でしょうかBeginner explanation
〜と links a condition to a natural, constant, or repeated result and can also introduce something discovered after an action. Its result clause normally does not contain the speaker's order, wish, or invitation. 〜ことがあります means something happens occasionally. To modify a verb, change an i-adjective's い to く and add に to a na-adjective. でしょうか makes a question more polite.
Understand these sentences first
- カードを 入れると、ドアが 開きます。kādo o ireru to, doa ga akimasu
When you insert the card, the door opens.
- 春に なると、桜が 咲きます。haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu
Cherry blossoms bloom when spring comes.
- 忙しい日は、朝ご飯を 食べないことが あります。isogashii hi wa, asagohan o tabenai koto ga arimasu
On busy days, I sometimes skip breakfast.
- 名前を 大きく 書いて ください。namae o ōkiku kaite kudasai
Please write your name in large letters.
Core vocabulary
- 押しますおしますpress; push
- 開きますあきますopen
- 咲きますさきますbloom
- まとめますまとめますorganize; summarize
- 受付うけつけreception
- 市役所しやくしょcity hall
- 廊下ろうかhallway
- たまにたまにoccasionally
Grammar, one point at a time
Dictionary or nai-form + と marks a result that naturally follows when the condition holds
Vる／Vない + と、結果It commonly expresses regular properties, general truths, device reactions, and repeated habits. The first clause triggers the result; the second is normally not the speaker's immediate volition, command, invitation, or request.
Examples
- この ボタンを 押すと、電源が 入ります。Pressing this button turns on the power.
- 食べないと、生きることが できません。Without eating, people cannot live.
- その 店へ 行くと、いつも お茶を 飲みます。Whenever I go to that shop, I drink tea.
Movement + と can describe discovering a new situation upon reaching a point
道を 行くと、場所／景色が ありますIt is common in directions and narrative discovery. The second clause describes what objectively appears or is perceived, not a purpose pursued by the first action.
Examples
- この 道を まっすぐ 行くと、交差点が あります。Go straight and you will reach an intersection.
- カーテンを 開けると、山が 見えました。When I opened the curtain, I saw a mountain.
- 角を 曲がると、図書館が あります。Turn the corner and there is a library.
Dictionary or nai-form + ことがあります means something happens occasionally
Vる／Vない + ことが ありますIt often combines with たまに, 時々, or a frequency such as once or twice a year. It describes recurring possibility, not life experience with Vたことがあります.
Examples
- この パソコンは たまに フリーズすることが あります。This computer sometimes freezes.
- 朝ご飯を 食べないことが あります。Sometimes I do not eat breakfast.
- 一年に 一、二回 風邪を 引くことが あります。I catch a cold once or twice a year.
An i-adjective changes final い to く to modify a verb
Aい → Aく + VThe く-form describes manner, degree, or result and need not be translated mechanically as -ly. Other く-form uses such as negation or change depend on what follows.
Examples
- 早く 帰りましょう。Let's go home early.
- 字を 大きく 書いてください。Please write the characters large.
- 髪を 短く 切りました。I cut my hair short.
A na-adjective takes に to modify a verb
Aな → Aに + V上手に, 静かに, and 丁寧に describe manner. な modifies a noun and に modifies a verb; avoid 上手な説明しました.
Examples
- 上手に レポートを まとめました。The report was organized skillfully.
- 静かに ドアを 閉めてください。Please close the door quietly.
- 丁寧に 説明しました。I explained carefully and politely.
Plain form + でしょうか makes a softer question or asks for an assessment
普通形 + でしょうかVerbs and i-adjectives use plain form; present affirmative nouns and na-adjectives omit だ. It is often softer than a direct ますか, but politeness still depends on address, content, and intonation.
Examples
- 担当者は どちらでしょうか。Where might the person in charge be?
- 会議は もう 終わったでしょうか。Has the meeting ended?
Expressions and situations
きちんと means correctly, neatly, or as required
Meaning varies by object: きちんと食べる means eat properly, きちんと片づける tidy thoroughly, and きちんと説明する explain clearly.
- 契約を きちんと 読みます。I read the contract properly.
Surprise can front the item being confirmed and add location or condition afterward
卓球ですか？公園で？ reflects spoken focus, not a template for every formal question. Use complete word order in formal explanation.
- 出張ですか？明日から？A business trip? Starting tomorrow?
NでできたN means made from a material
It focuses on the finished material and is often more natural than Nで作ったN. からできた may appear when the source material changes substantially; follow usage.
- 木で できた おもちゃa wooden toy
- プラスチックで できた 箱a plastic box
Quantity + ほど and ぐらい both approximate, but sequence points and demonstrated size favor ぐらい
三百メートルほど or ぐらい both work, while 三十歳ぐらいから, 二つ目ぐらい, and これぐらい normally do not take ほど.
- 300メートルほど 行きます。Go about 300 metres.
- 二つ目ぐらいの 角です。It is around the second corner.
ただし adds a limitation or exception to a generally valid statement
しかし may introduce a direct contrast; ただし retains the main rule and narrows its scope.
- だれでも 利用できます。ただし、有料です。Anyone can use it; however, there is a fee.
Character words describe tendencies, while emotion words describe current states; neither replaces evidence
明るい, 誠実, and 頑固 are evaluative and need context rather than labels. いらいら, どきどき, and がっかり require a clear experiencer.
- 発表の 前に どきどきしました。I felt nervous before the presentation.
Sports centers, fitness clubs, and memberships vary
Pools, equipment, classes, lodging, fees, hours, visit limits, and family discounts all depend on the facility and plan. Anyone can use it and monthly fee means unlimited visits are not universal rules.
- 利用条件と 料金を 確認します。I will check the conditions and fees.
Exercise intensity and frequency should be adjusted gradually to health and prior activity
Japan's health ministry guide advises considering disease, symptoms, goals, and usual activity, with health checks or professional advice when needed. The course does not prescribe an individual program.
- 体調を 確認して、無理なく 始めます。I will check my condition and start gradually.
What you should be able to do
- Use conditional と for device, rule, habit, route, and discovery sentences.
- Find and rewrite と sentences whose result is a command, invitation, or volition.
- Distinguish occasional Vることがある from experiential Vたことがある.
- Turn i- and na-adjectives into adverbial forms.
- Distinguish ほど, ぐらい, ただし, and しかし.
- Complete an original facility inquiry covering hours, fees, plans, health, and route.
Culture and real use
Exercise facilities and health plans: start with personal condition, then membership terms
Facilities, fees, hours, visit limits, family benefits, classes, and lodging differ across sports centers and fitness clubs. Japan's health-ministry Physical Activity and Exercise Guide 2023 calls for considering disease or symptoms, goals, and prior activity when choosing intensity and type, with health checks or professional advice when needed and gradual progression. The course therefore does not repeat anyone can use it, monthly fee means unlimited visits, or a universal exercise prescription. It teaches 会員, 会費, 特典, 以降, 利用, and ただし while directing learners to specific facility terms and personal condition.
- 利用条件を きちんと 確認します。I will check the conditions carefully.
- 体調が 悪いと、運動を 中止します。I stop exercising if I feel unwell.
- 無理の ない 強度から 始めます。I start at a manageable intensity.