Category: Grammar

による Caused by/Done by/Depends onNoun + による/によって による is a phrase that means “to be caused by”, “determined by”, or “performed by”. Typically It identifies the cause or source of something. It is most similar...

によると According toInformation Source + によると によると is an expression used to indicate the source of information. It may be used with people, dictionaries, websites, etc.Due to marking an information source, it is commonly used...

にちがいない Definitely is the casePlain form verb + に違いないNoun/Adjective + に違いない に違いない is an expression meaning “There’s no mistake about it”.It comes from 違う, meaning “different”. Turned into its ます stem, it is a...

にしても にしても is a phrase meaning “even if”. It is decision にする + ても. It mostly hypothetical* (see bottom). You could interpret it literally as “even if we treat that as the case”Usage wise its...

にしては Considering it’s .Noun/Plain Verb + にしては にしては means “for a”, with emphasis on the qualifications or position.にしては stresses that something is unexpected. Since にしては stresses a unexpected result, it tends to be condescending or rude...

に代わって Trade places withNoun + に代わって に代わって is a phrase that means “To trade places with”. It is only used with people/sentient creatures. に marks the target of the substitution (The thing not doing the...

に対して に対して is a phrase meaning “in contrast to” or “in regards to”. It comes from 対する, a verb meaning “to face something” or “to oppose something”.  に対して is only valid with nouns, but you...