Listing
Connecting sentences
そして
This conjunction means “and”. It implies a cause-effect relationship between the two sentences. There’s an interconnection, where the order of the actions cannot be changed.
Examples
バスケットボールをした。そして水を飲んだ。 I played basketball. Then, I drank water.
それから
This conjunction means “and” or “after that”. It implies a chronological order to the events. Since there’s no interconnection, the order of actions could be changed.
Examples
スーパーに行きました。それから弁当を食べました。 I went to the supermarket. After that, I ate my bento.
それに
This conjunction means “and”, “besides” or “in addition”. Implies a new information in relation to the precedent one. It is not used to add a negative information to a positive one, and vice-versa.
Examples
昨日、病気になった。それにパソコンも壊れた。 I got sick yesterday. Beside, my computer broke.
それで
Means “because of that”, “therefore”. Substitutes the first sentence happening before by それ, highlighting information from it.
Examples
子供のころ、毎日電車で通うていた。それで電車運転手になりたかった。 When I was a child, I took the train to school every day. Because of that, I wanted to be a train driver.
Exhaustive listing
と
This particles means “and” or “with”. Used for a list that is exhaustive. Connects sentences.
Examples
犬と住んでいます。 I live with my dog.
フランス語とスペイン語を習っています。 I am learning French and Spanish.
て connecting
Used for a list that is exhaustive. Connects verbs. See て sequence.
Unexhaustive listing
や
Used for a list that is unexhaustive. Translates to “among other things”. Formal. Used only with nouns.
Example
フランスやスペインに旅行しました。 I travelled to France and Spain (among others).
など
Means “things as”. Can be used with や for a meaning like “etc”. Used with nouns.
Example
お金がないのでカフェやレストランなど払えない。 I can’t pay things like cafes or restaurant (etc.) because I have no money.
とか～とか
Used for a list that is unexhaustive. Translates to “and”, “among other things”. More casual than や. Ending a sentence with とか can soften the meaning. Can also be used to quote someone. Only used with verbs and nouns.
Examples
果物はバナナとかリンゴとかが好きです。 I like fruits like bananas and apples.
明日野球とかしようか。 Do you want to play baseball (or something) tomorrow?
もう諦めようとか言わないで。 Don’t say (things like) we should already give up.
たり～たり
V-た
い-Adj い かった
な-Adj + だった
+ り...します
This is used to list things that are related, in an unexhaustive way. Translates to “or”, “do things such as”. Usually used to talk about things like hobbies, explaining liked things, activities done, etc. Not used for usual things like a routine. It is not an ordered or chronological list like て connecting.
Example
週末に泳いだり、散歩したり、買い物したりします。 On the weekends, I do things like swimming, walking and shopping.
し
V (casual)
い-Adj
な-Adj + だ
N + だ
+ し
Used for a list that is unexhaustive, going in the same direction: for example reasons, causes, qualities, etc. Gives an opinion, a review. It can be used to emphasize something when used at the end of a sentence.
Examples
この電車は速いしデザインもかっこいい。 This train is fast and has a cool design.
言ってないし！ I never said that!
Summing up
- や means “and”, and is formal. Can be completed by など (= etc).
- とか also means “and”, but is casual.
- たり means “or”, “things like”. Used to express possibilities.
- し means “and”, but with an emphasis on a review.
And also
も～ば～も
N1 + も +
V (ば)
い-Adj い ければ
な-Adj + なら
N + なら
+ N2 + も
Means “also”, “as well”. Means that both N1 and N2 are true (and should share a connection). ⚠ Despite using conditional form, it is not conditional in meaning.
Examples
母はポルトガル語もできればスペイン語も話せる。 My mother can speak Portuguese as well as Spanish.
上に
V
い-Adj
な-Adj + な
N + の
+ 上(に)
上に means “and also”, “in addition”, “as well”. Used with similar qualities (positive with positive, negative with negative).
Examples
このスーパーは高い上に不便です。 This supermarket is expensive as well as inconvenient.
はもちろん
N
+ はもちろん +
phrase
+ も・さえ
Means “not only but also”, “not to mention”.
Examples
このゲームセンターにはゲームはもちろんボウリングもあります。 This game center not only has games but also bowling.