〜は (wa)Topic marker — marks what the sentence is about
💡は sets the topic, not always the subject
〜が (ga)Subject marker — marks who/what does the action
💡Use が for emphasis or unknown subjects
〜を (wo)Object marker — marks what is directly acted on
💡を follows the direct object of a verb
〜に (ni)Time / destination / recipient marker
まいにちろくじに起きます。
I wake up at 6 o'clock every day.
💡に marks specific times, places you go TO, and people you give things TO
〜で (de)Location of action / means marker
としょかんでほんをよみます。
I read books at the library.
💡で marks where an action takes place (vs. に which marks destination)
Te-form + くださいPlease do ~ (polite request)
もっとゆっくりはなしてください。
Please speak more slowly.
💡Te-form of verb + ください = polite request
〜ていきます / てきますGoing/coming while doing ~
かさをもっていきます。
I'll take an umbrella (lit. go carrying).
💡〜ていく = action going away; 〜てくる = action coming toward speaker
な-adj + に + なるTo become ~ (for な-adjectives)
日本語が上手になりました。
My Japanese improved.
💡上手な → 上手に + なる
〜てはいけません / なりませんMust not ~ (prohibition)
ここに入ってはいけません。
You must not enter here.
💡Both いけません and なりません mean 'must not'
〜たのでBecause ~ (past reason, polite)
かぜをひいたので、学校を休みました。
Because I caught a cold, I took the day off school.
💡〜ので is softer than 〜から