More JLPT N3 patterns — cause, purpose, and conditions that define the N4→N3 jump. · JLPT N3

• 〜せいで (because of / due to [negative cause])電車が遅れたせいで、会議に間に合わなかった。Because the train was late, I didn't make it to the meeting in time.
• 〜せいか (perhaps because of)年のせいか、最近すぐに疲れてしまう。Maybe because of my age, I get tired easily these days.
• 〜おかげで (thanks to [positive cause])先生のおかげで、試験に合格できました。Thanks to my teacher, I was able to pass the exam.
• 〜ために (in order to / for the purpose of)日本語を上達させるために、毎日新聞を読んでいる。In order to improve my Japanese, I read the newspaper every day.
• 〜ためには (in order to [achieve], what's needed is)夢をかなえるためには、努力を続けるしかない。In order to make your dream come true, there's no choice but to keep working hard.
• 〜ように (so that / in such a way that)後ろの人にも聞こえるように、大きな声で話した。I spoke in a loud voice so that the people in the back could hear too.
• 〜ないように (so as not to / to avoid)風邪をひかないように、暖かくして寝てください。Please dress warmly when you sleep so that you don't catch a cold.
• 〜ないと (have to / if you don't [...it'll be bad])もう時間がないから、急がないと電車に乗り遅れるよ。There's no time left, so if we don't hurry we'll miss the train.
• 〜からには (now that / since [you've decided to])やると言ったからには、最後まで責任を持ってやります。Now that I've said I'll do it, I'll see it through with full responsibility.
• 〜上で (after / upon [doing], then)契約書の内容をよく確認した上で、サインしてください。Please sign after carefully checking the contents of the contract.
• 〜なら (if [that's the case] / if it's [a question of])温泉に行くなら、北海道がおすすめですよ。If you're going to a hot spring, I recommend Hokkaido.
• 〜から〜にかけて (from ... through / over [range])今夜から明日の朝にかけて、雪が降るそうだ。They say it will snow from tonight through tomorrow morning.
• 〜ことだから (since it's [a known person], so naturally)まじめな彼のことだから、きっと約束を守るだろう。Since he's such a serious person, he'll surely keep his promise.
• 〜だけに (precisely because / all the more because)彼は長年練習してきただけに、演奏がすばらしい。Precisely because he has practiced for many years, his performance is wonderful.
• 〜ないことには (unless [you do], [nothing happens])自分で試してみないことには、本当の良さはわからない。Unless you try it yourself, you won't understand its true value.
• 〜につれて (as / in proportion as [something changes])年を取るにつれて、体力が落ちてきた。As I get older, my physical strength has been declining.
• 〜にしたがって (as / in accordance with [a change])山を登るにしたがって、気温が下がっていった。As I climbed the mountain, the temperature gradually dropped.