The Particle “to”: Listing, Quoting, Joint Action, Condition [JLPT N5]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「ペンとノート」「行くと思う」「友達と行く」「押すと開く」 — four jobs of one particle と.

One 「と」 — “and,” “together with,” “say,” or “as soon as”

「パンと牛乳」 (and), 「友達と行く」 (together with), 「行くと思う」 (quoting), 「押すと開く」 (as soon as) — one 「と」 has four N5 uses: ① listing (and) ② joint action (together with) ③ quotation (say／think) ④ condition (as soon as) — plus advanced points like reciprocal verbs (結婚する takes と) and 「という」 (called). All sorted here, with plenty of examples and practice.

Core: what と attaches to before/after tells you the use

You don't grind four rules — look at what と attaches to:

• ① Listing “A and B” (exhaustive): between nouns — ペンとノート (a pen and a notebook, just those two).
• ② Joint action “together with whom”: person ＋ action — 友達と映画を見る (watch a movie with a friend).
• ③ Quotation “say／think／call”: after a clause ＋ 言う・思う・聞く — 「行く」と言った (said “I'll go”), 行くと思う (I think I'll go).
• ④ Condition “as soon as” (inevitable result): after dictionary form — 春になると、桜が咲く (as soon as spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom).

Anchor: noun-list = and; person = together; before 言う/思う = quotation; dictionary form meaning “as soon as” = condition.

The four uses compared

Examples in context

• バッグの中にはペンとノートがある。(There's a pen and a notebook in the bag.) — ① listing
• 週末は家族と過ごします。(I spend weekends with my family.) — ② joint
• 彼は「明日来る」と言いました。(He said, “I'll come tomorrow.”) — ③ quotation (direct)
• 彼女はもう帰ったと思う。(I think she's already gone home.) — ③ quotation (indirect)
• このボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。(Press this button and the door opens.) — ④ condition
• 春になると、暖かくなる。(As soon as spring comes, it gets warm.) — ④ condition (natural, inevitable)

⚠️ The three traps here

① Listing と vs や: と = exhaustive (ペンとノート = just those two); や = examples (ペンやノート（など） = a pen, a notebook, and such — there's more). For “and so on, and others,” use や (＋ など).

② Reciprocal・joint actions fix their object with と: 結婚する・けんかする・相談する・似ている・比べる — verbs that “need a partner” take と for the object — 彼と結婚する (marry him), 母と似ている (resemble my mother). ⚠️But “meet” is the exception, taking に: 友達に会う (see 〈に〉).

③ Condition と can't be followed by will・command・request: the ④ “as soon as” と must be followed by an inevitable, natural result, never “want to, please, I'll.” ✗「時間があると、映画を見よう (if I have time, let's watch a movie)」 — the follow-up is an invitation; use 「たら」: 時間があったら見よう. To put will／command after, use たら／ば／なら (see 〈conditionals〉), not と.

🔄 How it differs from や／conditional と／たら

Going deeper: reciprocal verbs, 「という」, and comparisons

One level down, these also rely on と:

• Reciprocal verbs take と for their object: 結婚する・離婚する・けんかする・相談する・約束する・比べる・似る — all need “with a partner,” taking と (田中さんと結婚した).
• 「〜という」 = called／named: 「ポチ」という犬 (a dog named Pochi), これは何という花ですか (what is this flower called?) — very common for introducing names, definitions.
• Comparison 「AとB、どちらが〜」: コーヒーと紅茶、どちらが好き？ (coffee or tea, which do you prefer?) — listing two for a pick-one comparison.
• 「〜とか」 = examples (colloquial): 映画とか音楽とか (movies, music, and such) — a more casual example list than や.

💡 The one thing to remember

と has four uses — don't cram; just look at what it attaches to: noun-list = and (listing), person = together (joint), before 言う／思う = quotation, dictionary form meaning “as soon as” = condition. Lock in two easily-confused points: ① listing と (exhaustive) vs や (examples, more exist); ② condition と can only be followed by an inevitable result — to put will／request after, switch to たら. Add “reciprocal verbs like 結婚・けんか・相談 take と,” and your と is well-rounded.

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「ペンとノート」 and 「ペンやノート」?

「と」 is exhaustive: just those two in the bag (ペンとノートがある); 「や」 is examples: a pen, a notebook, and such, implying more (ペンやノートなどがある). For “and so on, not only these,” use 「や〜など.」

Q: Which is right, 「友達と会う」 or 「友達に会う」?

The standard is 友達に会う (会う fixes its object with に). You'll also hear 「友達と会う,」 where と slightly stresses “mutually meeting,” while に is simply “go see someone.” For beginners, learn the standard 「に会う」 first.

Q: How do I tell condition と from たら?

と = “as soon as,” an inevitable, natural result (押すと開く = press and it opens, physically inevitable); たら = “if… then,” and can be followed by will, request, command (着いたら電話して = call me when you arrive). So when you want “please do／I'll do” after, only たら works, not と. See 〈conditionals と・ば・たら・なら〉.

Q: What does 「〜という」 mean?

「〜という」 = “called／named,” for introducing a name or definition: 「田中」という人 (a person named Tanaka), 「牛丼」という料理 (a dish called gyudon). It's also how you ask a name: これは何という〜? Very common in introductions and when presenting things.

🖊️ 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.