7 key grammar patterns
#1L1_G1
Part 1: Affirmative and Negative of Nouns
Sentence Pattern
N ＋ です
N ＋ ではありません / じゃありません
Affirmative: is ~
Negative: is not ~
A noun combines with です to form the predicate. です expresses judgment or assertion, and also shows a polite attitude towards the listener.
じゃありません is commonly used in daily conversation. ではありません is typically used in formal speeches or written texts.
Negative: is not ~
A noun combines with です to form the predicate. です expresses judgment or assertion, and also shows a polite attitude towards the listener.
じゃありません is commonly used in daily conversation. ではありません is typically used in formal speeches or written texts.
Example Sentences (2)
学生です。
学生じゃありません。
学生じゃありません。
→ I am a student. I am not a student.
山田です。
山田じゃありません。
山田じゃありません。
→ I am Yamada. I am not Yamada.
#2L1_G2
Part 2: The Particle は
Sentence Pattern
N ＋ は
The noun before は is the topic of the sentence. It is used to introduce a subject that the speaker wants to talk about.
は can be used to separate the subject and the predicate in a sentence.
The character は is pronounced 'wa' (わ) when used as a particle.
は can be used to separate the subject and the predicate in a sentence.
The character は is pronounced 'wa' (わ) when used as a particle.
Example Sentences (2)
私は 二十歳です。
→ I am twenty years old.
私は 学生じゃありません。
→ I am not a student.
#3L1_G3
Part 3: Interrogative Sentences
Sentence Pattern
「文 」 ＋ か
N1 ＋ は ＋ N2 ＋ ですか
N1 ＋ は ＋ 疑問詞 ＋ ですか
Meaning: ~ right? / Is it ~?
The character か is placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question. It expresses the speaker's uncertainty or doubt.
The end of a question sentence is pronounced with a rising intonation.
For yes/no questions, the answer must include はい (yes) or いいえ (no).
For questions using interrogative words (who, what, where...), replace the part you are asking about with the interrogative word.
For this type of question, you answer directly without using はい or いいえ.
The character か is placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question. It expresses the speaker's uncertainty or doubt.
The end of a question sentence is pronounced with a rising intonation.
For yes/no questions, the answer must include はい (yes) or いいえ (no).
For questions using interrogative words (who, what, where...), replace the part you are asking about with the interrogative word.
For this type of question, you answer directly without using はい or いいえ.
Example Sentences (4)
あなたは 学生ですか。
→ Are you a student?
田中さんは 医者じゃありませんか。
→ Mr. Tanaka is not a doctor, right?
シュミットさんは ドイツ人ですか。
はい、ドイツ人です。
はい、ドイツ人です。
→ Is Mr. Schmidt German? Yes, he is German.
あの方は どなたですか。
山田さんです。
山田さんです。
→ Who is that person? That is Ms. Yamada.
#4L1_G4
Part 4: The Particle も
Sentence Pattern
N ＋ も
Also ~ / Too.
Used when an element from the previous sentence is repeated.
When the repeated element is omitted, も is also omitted.
Used when an element from the previous sentence is repeated.
When the repeated element is omitted, も is also omitted.
Example Sentences (2)
田中さんは 18歳です。山田さんも 18歳ですか。
いいえ、山田さんは 二十歳です。
いいえ、山田さんは 二十歳です。
→ Tanaka is eighteen. Is Yamada also eighteen? No, Yamada is twenty.
私は 学生じゃありません。原田さんも 学生じゃありません。
→ I am not a student. Mr. Harada is not a student either.
#5L1_G5
Part 5: The Particle の
Sentence Pattern
N1 ＋ の ＋ N2
Of / 's.
The particle の connects two nouns. N2 is the main idea, and N1 modifies N2.
In Lesson 1, N1 indicates the organization or place that N2 belongs to.
The particle の connects two nouns. N2 is the main idea, and N1 modifies N2.
In Lesson 1, N1 indicates the organization or place that N2 belongs to.
Example Sentences (2)
富士大学の 学生です。
→ A student of Fuji University.
桜大学の 先生です。
→ A teacher of Sakura University.
#6L1_G6
Part 6: Asking Age
Sentence Pattern
N ＋ は ＋ 何歳 / おいくつ ＋ ですか
How old is ~?
Use何 歳
おいくつ is the polite way to ask for age.
Use
おいくつ is the polite way to ask for age.
Example Sentences (2)
山田先生は おいくつですか。
山田先生は 40歳です。
山田先生は 40歳です。
→ How old is Mr. Yamada? Mr. Yamada is 40 years old.
あなたは 何歳ですか。
21歳です。
21歳です。
→ How old are you? 21 years old.
#7L1_G7
Part 7: Suffixes ～さん, ～ちゃん
Sentence Pattern
N （人 / người） ＋ さん / ちゃん
さん is added after the name of the listener or a third person to show respect. It is never used after one's own name.
For children, ちゃん is used instead of さん to express affection.
ちゃん can be used for both boys and girls, without strictly separating ちゃん for girls and くん for boys as previously learned.
For children, ちゃん is used instead of さん to express affection.
ちゃん can be used for both boys and girls, without strictly separating ちゃん for girls and くん for boys as previously learned.
Example Sentences (2)
あの方は ワットさんです。
→ That person is Mr. Watt.
タワポンさんは 学生ですか。
はい、学生です。
はい、学生です。
→ Is Mr. Thawaphon a student? Yes, he is a student.
