Japanese Grammar -N5- 時間に動詞 -Verb + at (a specific time)-

 時間に動詞     

Grammar meaning

Hi everyone!

Today’s grammar point is “時間じかんに動詞どうし“.

We use this grammar to say when we do something.

For example…

・わたしは毎朝まいあさ8時じに朝あさごはんを食たべます。

　I eat breakfast at 8 o’clock every morning.

In this example, you’re saying a specific time—8 o’clock—and describing the action that happens at that time.

That’s why you put “に” after “8時じ“.

If you want to add more information about the action, you can put it between “に” and the verb.

In this case, we added “朝あさごはん” in that spot.

Example sentence

・きのう12時じにねました。

　I went to bed at 12 o’clock yesterday.

・来週らいしゅうの日にちよう日びに友ともだちのチャンさんとあそびます。

　I’m going to hang out with my friend Chan next Sunday.

・Q:たんじょうびに何なにをしますか。

　Q: What do you do on your birthday?

　A:たんじょうびにレストランでパーティーをします。

　A: I have a party at a restaurant on my birthday.

Additional notes

You can use this grammar with clear time expressions like hours, dates, months, and days of the week.

But we usually don’t use it with words that show general time like the past, present, or future — for example, “yesterday,” “today,” or “tomorrow.”

Conversation example

あなた：あした、いっしょにえいがかんへ行いきましょう。

友ともだち：いいですね。何時なんじに行いきますか。

あなた：10時じはどうですか。

友ともだち：ごめんなさい。午前ごぜんはアルバイトがあるんです。

あなた：じゃあ、1時じは？

友ともだち：だいじょうぶです。1時じにえいがかんへ行いきましょう。

For Japanese Teachers

This script uses conversation examples, but when teaching this grammar with verbs like “行いく” or “来くる”, it may be helpful to check students’ understanding carefully.

For example, with “行いく,” it’s important to clarify whether the speaker is referring to the departure time or the arrival time.

Depending on the context, misunderstanding this can lead to incorrect usage.

It’s not something that needs to be completely avoided in class, but it should be taught with care.

Also, although this lesson doesn’t introduce it, this may be a good opportunity to teach how to use “ごろ”.

If you do, you may also need to explain the difference between “ごろ” and “ぐらい,” and when expressions like “ごろに” are appropriate.