Grammar and Reading: Forms, Particles, and Viewpoint
Grammar range
N4 grammar extends the basic sentence into time, condition, and viewpoint. Master verb forms first: て-form, た-form, ない-form, dictionary form, potential, volitional, passive, causative, and imperative. Then attach sentence patterns: ～ている (ongoing/state), ～てある (resulting state), ～ておく (preparation), ～てしまう (completion/regret), ～てみる (try), ～ていく/～てくる (direction in time), ～ながら (simultaneous), ～ので/～のに (reason/contrast), ～たら/～ば/～と/～なら (conditionals), ～ても (concession), ～しか～ない (only), ～ほど/～くらい (degree), ～ばかり (just/only), ～はず (expectation), ～つもり/～予定 (plan), ～ようになる/～ことになる (change/decision).
Reading
Short passages ask for main idea, reason, referent, and writer's feeling. Track connectors (しかし, だから, つまり, たとえば) and sentence-final expressions that carry stance (～かもしれません, ～でしょう, ～そうです). For pronoun questions, find the nearest noun that matches number and logic, not merely the last noun.
Traps
Particles: は marks topic/contrast, が marks subject/new information; に marks time/place of existence/recipient; で marks location of action/means. Giving-receiving verbs reverse with viewpoint: あげる (I give), くれる (someone gives me), もらう (I receive). Conditionals overlap: と is natural consequence, たら is sequence/condition, ば is hypothetical, なら is topic-based advice. Aspect matters: ～ている can be progressive or result state.
Worked example
「友だちが私に本を＿＿。」 Options あげた/くれた/もらった/いただいた. The giver is 友だち and the receiver is 私, so the verb is くれる: 友だちが私に本をくれた. If the subject were 私 and the object 友だち, あげた would be correct.