あJLPT Japanese

N5 · Grammar

Grammar Lesson 1: Noun Sentences

Grammar Notes: Lesson 1

Noun Sentence 1: Non-Past Affirmative and Negative

This lesson introduces basic noun sentences and polite sentence endings.

[Noun A] は [Noun B] です。

Description

Use this pattern to say that [Noun A] is [Noun B].

は is a particle indicating the topic of the sentence. It introduces [Noun A] as the topic and gives an explanation about it with [Noun B].

です indicates judgment and assertion of [Noun B]. It also conveys the speaker's politeness toward the listener.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
わたしはリン・シンです。わたしはりん・しんです。Watashi wa Rin Shin desu.I am Lin Xin.

Usage Notes

  • The particle は is pronounced wa, not ha, when it is used as a topic particle.
  • です is a polite sentence ending.

[Noun A] は [Noun B] じゃありません。

Description

Use this pattern to say that [Noun A] is not [Noun B].

じゃありません is the negative form of です. In formal speech or written language, ではありません is used instead.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
わたしはリンじゃありません。わたしはりんじゃありません。Watashi wa Rin ja arimasen.I am not Lin.
リンさんは学生ですか。りんさんはがくせいですか。Rin-san wa gakusei desu ka.Is Lin a student?
いいえ、学生じゃありません。いいえ、がくせいじゃありません。Iie, gakusei ja arimasen.No, I am not a student.

Usage Notes

  • When expressing that something is incorrect or when disagreeing, いいえ and じゃありません are often used together.
  • ではありません is more formal than じゃありません.

[Sentence] か。

Description

Use か at the end of a sentence to form a question.

The word order of an interrogative sentence is the same as a declarative sentence. When pronouncing か, raise the intonation at the end.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
リンさんは学生ですか。りんさんはがくせいですか。Rin-san wa gakusei desu ka.Is Lin a student?
ミラーさんはアメリカ人ですか。みらーさんはあめりかじんですか。Mirā-san wa Amerika-jin desu ka.Is Mr. Miller an American?
はい、アメリカ人です。はい、あめりかじんです。Hai, Amerika-jin desu.Yes, he is an American.
ミラーさんは先生ですか。みらーさんはせんせいですか。Mirā-san wa sensei desu ka.Is Mr. Miller a teacher?
いいえ、先生じゃありません。いいえ、せんせいじゃありません。Iie, sensei ja arimasen.No, he is not a teacher.

Usage Notes

  • か is a sentence-final question particle.
  • Japanese questions can use the same word order as statements.

[Noun A] も [Noun B] です。

Description

The particle も means "also" or "too." It can replace the particle は.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
キムさんも学生です。きむさんもがくせいです。Kimu-san mo gakusei desu.Kim is also a student.
リンさんは学生です。りんさんはがくせいです。Rin-san wa gakusei desu.Lin is a student.
キムさんも学生です。きむさんもがくせいです。Kimu-san mo gakusei desu.Kim is also a student.

Usage Notes

  • Use も when adding similar information about another person or thing.
  • も replaces は in this pattern.

[Noun A] の [Noun B]

Description

の connects two nouns. The first noun explains, identifies, or limits the second noun.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
リンさんは日本語学校の学生です。りんさんはにほんごがっこうのがくせいです。Rin-san wa nihongo gakkō no gakusei desu.Lin is a student of the Japanese language school.
ミラーさんはIMCの社員です。みらーさんはあいえむしーのしゃいんです。Mirā-san wa IMC no shain desu.Mr. Miller is an employee of IMC.
山田さんはさくら大学の先生です。やまださんはさくらだいがくのせんせいです。Yamada-san wa Sakura Daigaku no sensei desu.Mr. Yamada is a teacher at Sakura University.

Usage Notes

  • の links nouns together.
  • In this lesson, の is used to show affiliation or relationship.

～さん

Description

In Japanese, さん is added after the name of the listener or a third person to show respect from the speaker.

Examples

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JapaneseHiraganaRomajiEnglish Meaning
あの方はミラーさんです。あのかたはみらーさんです。Ano kata wa Mirā-san desu.That person is Mr. Miller.

Usage Notes

  • さん can never be used after the speaker's own name.
  • Use さん after another person's name in polite conversation.