■ V-（ら）れます – Passive
Meaning: “Something was done to the subject.”
Group 1 （u-verbs):
Change the final “u” to “a” + れます
Group 2 (る-verbs):
V-る + られます
Group 3 (Irregular verbs):
する → されます
来[く]る → 来[こ]られます
The passive form is used when the subject receives the action, and the focus is on the object (e.g., “This building was built” instead of “Someone built this building”).
Example: この建物[たてもの]は 2年前[ねんまえ]に 建[た]てられました。 (This building was built two years ago).
Nに よって is used to clarify who performed the action, like だれかに よって (by someone).
■ V-て あります
Meaning: “The state has been set/arranged by someone with a purpose.”
V-て あります expresses a state that is the result of a purposeful action taken by someone. It is often used to describe objects or situations that have been arranged, prepared, or set in a certain way.
Nを V-て ある is used to describe something that has been prepared or arranged (such as 準備[じゅんび]してある – ready, prepared).
Nが V-て ある is used to describe something in a certain state that is observed (such as 飾[かざ]ってある – decorated).
■ N1だけ じゃなくて、N2も～
Meaning: “Not only N1, but also N2.”
This structure is used to show that both N1 and N2 share a similar feature or characteristic. It highlights that N2 is included in addition to N1.
Example: 本[ほん]だけ じゃなくて、CDや DVDも ただで 借[か]りられます。 (You can borrow not only books, but also CDs and DVDs for free).
The expression Nだけ じゃなくて is often used in casual speech, while Nだけ でなく is used in more formal contexts.
■ N なら、～
Meaning: “If it’s N, then ~” / “In the case of N, ~”
N + なら + [Sentence]
N (noun) is used with なら to indicate a condition or situation. The sentence following なら expresses what happens when that condition or situation is true.
N なら is used to provide advice, make a suggestion, or make a remark based on a given condition or situation.
N なら can also be used for hypothetical conditions, offering suggestions depending on the context.
なら can connect to nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
For verbs and イ-adjectives, it uses the plain form.
For ナ-adjectives, なら connects directly to the adjective without な (e.g., 大変[たいへん]なら, if it’s difficult).
■ 【interrogative】V-ても、～
Meaning: “Even if [something happens], [result]”
This expression indicates that the result in the latter part of the sentence is possible regardless of what happens in the first part.
It is used with interrogative words (何[なに], どこ, だれ, etc.) to show that something is possible in any situation or case.
The verb before ても can be in the positive or negative form.