JLPT N5 Grammar: いつ (itsu) — “When” Question Word

JLPT N5 Grammar: いつ (itsu)

Q: Can I use いつか?

Yes, but いつか means 'someday' (an indefinite future), not a question. Don't confuse it with the question word いつ.

Q: Is いつから correct?

Yes. から means 'from', so いつから = from when. This is perfectly natural: 夏休みはいつからですか = From when is the summer vacation?

The question word “when” — and why it never takes に

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ文法ぶんぽう疑問詞ぎもんし「いつ」解説かいせつ

⏱️ Study time: 4–6 minutes

いつ (itsu) means “when”. It is used to ask about time, but unlike specific clock times and calendar dates, it never takes the particle に. This lesson covers how to use いつ, common question patterns, and the key rule that sets it apart from other time expressions.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: Which sentence is correct?

Answer: B (いつ日本へ行きますか). いつ is a relative question word — it never takes に. A is incorrect. Unlike ３時さんじに or 月曜日げつようびに, いつ stands alone.

Quick Summary

Question Word
いつ

Meaning
when

Rule
Never takes に

Example
いつ日本にほんへ行いきますか。いつにほんへいきますか。Itsu Nihon e ikimasu ka.
When will you go to Japan?

📝 Core Pattern

Question: いつ + Predicate + か

Polite: いつ + ますか / ですか

Casual: いつ + Dictionary form + の？ / いつ？

⚠️ いつ never takes the particle に. Unlike specific times (３時に, 月曜日に), いつ is a relative question word and stands alone.

🧠 Need the time particle に? See に (time point) →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is いつ?

いつ is the question word for “when”. It is used to ask about the time of an event, action, or state. Unlike fixed time expressions like ３時さんじ (at 3 o'clock) or 月曜日げつようび (on Monday), いつ does not take the particle に because it is a relative, indefinite time word — just like 今日きょう or 明日あした.

いつ can be used with です: いつですか = When is it?
いつ can be used with verbs: いつ来きますか = When will you come?
いつ never takes に: ✕ いつに行いきますか.

誕生日たんじょうびはいつですか。たんじょうびはいつですか。Tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka.
When is your birthday?

⚡ Common Question Patterns with いつ

Pattern	Reading	Meaning
いつですか	itsu desu ka	When is it?
いつ行いきますか	itsu ikimasu ka	When will you go?
いつからですか	itsu kara desu ka	From when is it?
いつまでですか	itsu made desu ka	Until when is it?
いつがいいですか	itsu ga ii desu ka	When is good? / What day suits you?

⚠️ JLPT Trap: いつから and いつまで are perfectly correct — から and まで are range particles, not time-point markers. The rule is: いつ never takes に, but can take から, まで, が, は, etc.

Examples & Mini Dialogue

夏休なつやすみはいつからですか。なつやすみはいつからですか。Natsuyasumi wa itsu kara desu ka.
From when is the summer vacation?

✅ いつ + から = from when (correct).

いつ映画えいがを見みましょうか。いつえいがをみましょうか。Itsu eiga o mimashou ka.
When shall we watch a movie?

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: 試験しけんはいつですか。しけんはいつですか。Shiken wa itsu desu ka.
B: 来週らいしゅうの月曜日げつようびです。らいしゅうのげつようびです。Raishū no getsuyōbi desu.

⚡ いつ vs 何時なんじ (nanji)

Word	Meaning	に?	Example
いつ	When (general)	Never takes に	いつ行いきますか。 When will you go?
何時なんじ	What time (clock)	Usually takes に when marking the time point	何時なんじに行いきますか。 What time will you go?

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ いつに来きますか。

✓ いつ来きますか。 (いつ never takes に.)

✕ いつか行いきますか。 (Means "Let's go someday", not "When will you go?")

✓ いつ行いきますか。 (いつか = someday; いつ = when. Don't confuse them.)

✕ Using いつに with dates.

✓ いつ is general; for specific dates, use 何月何日なんがつなんにちに.

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. “When is the test?” — choose the correct question.

2. Does いつ take the particle に?

3. “From when?” — choose the correct expression.

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: The いつ vs いつに distinction is a favourite trap in grammar multiple choice. If you see いつ followed by に, it's almost certainly wrong. Remember: いつ never takes に — it's a relative time word like 今日 or 明日.

Test yourself with a free mock exam →

About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson

Japanese	Reading	Type	English Meaning
いつ	いつ	Interrogative	when
誕生日たんじょうび	たんじょうび	Noun	birthday
夏休なつやすみ	なつやすみ	Noun	summer vacation
試験しけん	しけん	Noun	exam
映画えいが	えいが	Noun	movie
来週らいしゅう	らいしゅう	Noun	next week

Related Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does いつ not take に?

いつ is a relative time expression, like 今日 or 明日. に is reserved for fixed, absolute points on the clock or calendar. Since いつ doesn't name a specific time, it doesn't take に.

Can I use いつか?

Yes, but いつか means "someday" (an indefinite future), not a question. Don't confuse it with the question word いつ. いつか日本にほんへ行いきたいです = I want to go to Japan someday.

Is いつから correct?

Yes. から means "from", so いつから = from when. This is perfectly natural: 夏休なつやすみはいつからですか = From when is the summer vacation?

Continue Learning

Next: どこ (doko) — the question word for "where".

Learn どこ →

→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

Ready to Pass JLPT N5 with Confidence?

Join Anup Sensei's intensive course at Gogaku Language & Training Center, Pokhara. Small batches, real conversation, mock tests, and full grammar mastery.

Join Now – www.gogakueducation.com

🎌 Free JLPT Mock Test