Endings that do a lot of work

These attach to verb stems and immediately widen what you can say. None of them is difficult; together they are most of what makes N4 speech sound fluent rather than assembled.

〜ながら: while doing

Take the ます stem and add ながら. The main action is the second verb.

• 音楽を聞きながら勉強します おんがくをききながらべんきょうしますओन्गाकु ओ किकिनागारा बेन्क्योउ शिमासुI study while listening to music
• 歩きながら話しましょう あるきながらはなしましょうअरुकिनागारा हानाशिमाशोउLet’s talk while walking

〜すぎる: too much

• 食べすぎました たべすぎましたताबेसुगिमाशिताI ate too much
• この靴は小さすぎます このくつはちいさすぎますकोनो कुत्सु वा चीːसासुगिमासुThese shoes are too small

〜やすい and 〜にくい: easy and hard to

• この本は読みやすいです このほんはよみやすいですकोनो होन वा योमियासुइ देसThis book is easy to read
• この字は読みにくいです このじはよみにくいですकोनो जि वा योमिनिकुइ देसThis writing is hard to read

〜そう: looks like

Attached to an adjective stem or verb stem, it reports an impression from appearance.

• おいしそうですね ओइशिसोउ देस नेThat looks delicious
• 雨が降りそうです あめがふりそうですअमे गा फुरिसोउ देसIt looks like it will rain