7 key grammar patterns
#1L12_G1
Part 1: Review of Adjectives and Nouns
Sentence Pattern
Structure: Noun (名詞 ) / Na-adjective (な形容詞 ) / I-adjective (い形容詞 ) in past tense (過去形 ).
Na-adjectives have properties similar to nouns, so their conjugation patterns are also the same as nouns. This section reviews the past tense conjugations for Nouns, Na-adjectives, and I-adjectives.
Na-adjectives have properties similar to nouns, so their conjugation patterns are also the same as nouns. This section reviews the past tense conjugations for Nouns, Na-adjectives, and I-adjectives.
Example Sentences (2)
A: きのうは どう でしたか。
B: とても いそがしかったです。
B: とても いそがしかったです。
→ A: How was yesterday? B: It was very busy.
けさ あめでした。
→ It rained this morning.
#2L12_G2
Part 2: Comparatives (More than)
Sentence Pattern
N1 は N2 より A～
Structure: N1 は N2 より A～.
より (yori): than / more than.
Indicates that N1 possesses the quality 'A' to a greater degree than N2.
より (yori): than / more than.
Indicates that N1 possesses the quality 'A' to a greater degree than N2.
Example Sentences (2)
A: Bさんの へやは どうですか。
B: Bさんの へやは Aさんの へやより ひろいです。
B: Bさんの へやは Aさんの へやより ひろいです。
→ A: How is B's room? B: B's room is wider than A's room.
りんごは バナナより たかいです。
→ Apples are more expensive than bananas.
#3L12_G3
Part 3: Comparatives (Not as... as)
Sentence Pattern
N1 は N2 ほど ～Aない
Structure: N1 は N2 ほど ～Aない.
ほど～ない (hodo~nai): not as ~ as ~.
ほど is used with a negative ending to indicate that N1 is not as 'A' as N2.
ほど～ない (hodo~nai): not as ~ as ~.
ほど is used with a negative ending to indicate that N1 is not as 'A' as N2.
Example Sentences (2)
A: Aさんの へやは どうですか。
B: Aさんの へやは Bさんのへやほど ひろくないです。
B: Aさんの へやは Bさんのへやほど ひろくないです。
→ A: How is A's room? B: A's room is not as wide as B's room.
バナナは りんごほど たかくないです。
→ Bananas are not as expensive as apples.
#4L12_G4
Part 4: Comparatives (Equal to)
Sentence Pattern
～N1 は N2 と おなじぐらい ～
Structure: ～N1 は N2 と おなじぐらい ～.
おなじ (onaji): same / equal.
Indicates that N1 and N2 are about the same regarding a certain characteristic or feature.
おなじ (onaji): same / equal.
Indicates that N1 and N2 are about the same regarding a certain characteristic or feature.
Example Sentences (2)
Aさんは Bさんと おなじぐらい せが たかいです。
→ A is about as tall as B.
Aさんは Bさんと おなじとしです。
→ A is the same age as B.
#5L12_G5
Part 5: Superlatives
Sentence Pattern
N1 で 何 / どこ / 誰 / いつ が いちばん Aですか
Structure: N1 で Interrogative word が 一番 Aですか -> N2 が 一番 Aです.
*一番 (ichiban): Most / Number one.
* Particle で (de): Among / In (indicates the scope or category).
N1 is the scope being asked about. The interrogative word (What/Where/Who/When) must match the category of N1. Note: The particle は is never placed after an interrogative word.
*
* Particle で (de): Among / In (indicates the scope or category).
N1 is the scope being asked about. The interrogative word (What/Where/Who/When) must match the category of N1. Note: The particle は is never placed after an interrogative word.
Example Sentences (2)
A: 日本料理で 何が 一番 好きですか。
B: すしが 一番 好きです。
B: すしが 一番 好きです。
→ A: What is your favorite Japanese food? B: I like sushi the most.
A: 世界で どこが 一番 きれいですか。
B: ベトナムが 一番 きれいです。
B: ベトナムが 一番 きれいです。
→ A: Where is the most beautiful place in the world? B: Vietnam is the most beautiful.
#6L12_G6
Part 6: Comparative Questions
Sentence Pattern
N1 と N2 と どちらが Aですか
Structure: N1 と N2 と どちらが Aですか.
* どちら (dochira): Which one? / Which side?
*方 (hou): Side / Direction.
*両方 (ryouhou): Both sides.
This structure is used to ask which of two options possesses more of a certain quality. There are various ways to answer this question (e.g., choosing one side, or saying both).
* どちら (dochira): Which one? / Which side?
*
*
This structure is used to ask which of two options possesses more of a certain quality. There are various ways to answer this question (e.g., choosing one side, or saying both).
Example Sentences (1)
A: いぬと ねこと どちらが 好きですか。
B: どちらも 好きです。
B: どちらも 好きです。
→ A: Which do you like better, dogs or cats? B: I like both.
#7L12_G7
Part 7: Adjective + の (The ... one)
Sentence Pattern
Aい / Aな ＋ の
Structure: I-adj / Na-adj + の.
The particle の (no) here acts as a noun substitute meaning 'the ~ one' or 'the thing'. It replaces a previously mentioned noun to avoid repetition.
The particle の (no) here acts as a noun substitute meaning 'the ~ one' or 'the thing'. It replaces a previously mentioned noun to avoid repetition.
Example Sentences (1)
A: カリナさんの かばんは どれですか。
B: あの赤くて、大きいのです。
B: あの赤くて、大きいのです。
→ A: Which one is Ms. Karina's bag? B: It's that red and big one. * In the sentence above, の replaces the word かばん (bag).
