The Particle “to”: Listing, Quoting, Joint Action, Condition [JLPT N5]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「AとB」「〜と思う」「田中さんと行く」 — three different と uses.
The Particle “to”: Listing, Quoting, Joint Action, Condition
The particle 「と」 has four main uses, distinguished by context: ① listing “〜 and 〜” (exhaustive, just these): 「ペンとノートと財布」 (a pen, a notebook, and a wallet); ② quoting “〜 (that)” (relaying speech/thought): 「明日行くと思う」 (I think I'll go tomorrow), 「『行きます』と言った」 (said "I'll go"); ③ joint action “with 〜 (together)” (the partner): 「友達と映画を見た」 (watched a movie with a friend); ④ condition “whenever 〜, then” (inevitable, natural result): 「この道を行くと、駅がある」 (go down this road and there's the station). ⚠️ The four と uses are entirely different — by context! ⚠️ Quoting uses 「と思う／と言う」; joint action uses 「〜と一緒に」.
🧠 Core nuance: connecting, quoting, joint, inevitable result
The core is と's four functions, distinguished by context: ① listing ‘〜 and 〜' — connecting nouns, exhaustive listing (just these, nothing else: ペンとノートと財布 = a pen, notebook, and wallet), opposed to や (non-exhaustive); ② quoting ‘〜 (so said/thought)' — relaying speech, thought, a name (と思う = think, と言う = say, と書いてある = it says: 明日行くと思う = I think I'll go tomorrow, 『はい』と答えた = answered "yes"); ③ joint action ‘with 〜 (together)' — the object, partner of an action (友達と行く = go with a friend, 彼と結婚する = marry him, often with 「〜と一緒に」); ④ condition/inevitability ‘whenever 〜, then' — an inevitable, natural result (春になると暖かくなる = it gets warm when spring comes, ボタンを押すと開く = press the button and it opens, a natural rule, the latter not taking an intention/command). ⚠️ Core: the four と uses are entirely different! listing (AとB), quoting (と思う/と言う), joint (と行く), condition (行くと…), by context. ⚠️ The condition と is an inevitable, natural result (✗ takes an intention/command); the quoting と attaches to 「思う/言う/書く」. ⚠️ Connection: noun ＋ と (listing/joint); plain form ＋ と (quoting/condition). A core N5 particle.
📌 Four Uses
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| listing (exhaustive) | noun ＋ と ＋ noun | ペンとノート |
| quoting | 〜と思う/言う | 行くと思う |
| joint action | noun ＋ と (一緒に) | 友達と行く |
| condition (whenever 〜) | plain form ＋ と | 押すと開く |
💬 Example Sentences
- バッグの中にはペンとノートと財布があります。(There's a pen, a notebook, and a wallet in the bag. ← just these) — listing (exhaustive)
- 私は明日行くと思います。(I think I'll go tomorrow.) — quoting (と思う)
- 友達と一緒に映画を見ました。(I watched a movie together with a friend.) — joint action
- この道をまっすぐ行くと、駅があります。(Go straight down this road and there's the station.) — condition (inevitable)
- 先生は『明日テストがある』と言いました。(The teacher said "there's a test tomorrow.") — quoting (と言う)
🔄 Compare: と(listing) vs や vs と(quoting) vs と(condition)
| Use | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| と(listing) | exhaustive listing (just these) | ペンとノート |
| や | non-exhaustive listing (there are others) | ペンやノート |
| と(quoting) | 〜 (so said/thought) | 行くと思う |
| と(condition) | whenever 〜 (inevitable result) | 押すと開く |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Four uses by context: listing (AとB), quoting (と思う/言う), joint (と行く), condition (行くと…), by context!
- Listing と vs や: と = exhaustive (just these); や = non-exhaustive (there are others).
- Condition と takes no intention/command: 押すと開く (a natural result), ✗ 行くと電話して (for a command use たら).
- Quoting と attaches to 思う/言う: と思う, と言う, と書いてある (relaying).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
The particle 「と」 has four uses: listing ‘〜 and 〜' (exhaustive: ペンとノート), quoting ‘〜 (that)' (と思う/と言う: 行くと思う), joint action ‘with 〜' (友達と行く), condition ‘whenever 〜, then' (inevitable result: 押すと開く). ⚠️ Distinguish by context; listing opposes や (non-exhaustive); the condition と is inevitable, takes no intention/command. Quoting attaches to 思う/言う. A core N5 particle. A must.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N5 core: と = listing (exhaustive: ペンとノート), quoting (と思う/言う), joint action (と行く), condition (inevitable: 押すと開く).
- Core distinction: と (listing, exhaustive) vs や (non-exhaustive); the condition と takes no intention/command (for a command use たら).
- Quoting: と attaches to 思う/言う/書く (relaying speech/thought); judge the four uses by context.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「私は明日行く___思います。」Which is correct?
(A) が (B) で (C) と (D) に
Q2. 「友達___一緒に映画を見ました。」Which particle?
(A) に (B) と (C) で (D) が
Q3. 「この道をまっすぐ行く___、駅があります。」Which particle?
(A) に (B) で (C) が (D) と
Q4. 「バッグの中にはペン___ノート___財布があります。」(exhaustive listing) Which fits best?
(A) や・や (B) と・と (C) も・も (D) か・か
Q5. 「先生は『明日テストがある』___言いました。」Which is correct?
(A) に (B) が (C) と (D) を
Answer Key
1. (C) と ── the quoted content before 思います uses と (the fixed 〜と思います).
2. (B) と ── joint action uses と: 友達と一緒に.
3. (D) と ── the natural-result condition uses と: 行くと、駅がある.
4. (B) と・と ── exhaustive listing uses と: ペンとノートと財布.
5. (C) と ── quoting speech uses と: 〜と言いました.