8 key grammar patterns
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Part 1: Introduction to Adjectives
Sentence Pattern
There are 2 types of adjectives in Japanese:
* い-adjectives (Aイ): Adjectives that end with the hiragana character い (i).
* な-adjectives (Aナ): The remaining adjectives, including some exceptions that end in い but belong to this group.
* い-adjectives (Aイ): Adjectives that end with the hiragana character い (i).
* な-adjectives (Aナ): The remaining adjectives, including some exceptions that end in い but belong to this group.
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Part 2: い-Adjectives (Aイ)
Sentence Pattern
Aい です
い-adjectives act as the predicate in a sentence. Add です (desu) at the end to make it polite.
Example Sentences (1)
きのうは とても いそがしかったです。
→ Yesterday was very busy.
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Part 3: な-Adjectives (Aナ)
Sentence Pattern
Aな です
な-adjectives act as the predicate. Drop the な (na) and add です (desu) at the end to make a polite affirmative sentence.
Example Sentences (1)
しんかんせんは とても べんりです。
→ The Shinkansen is very convenient.
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Part 4: ～は どうですか (How is ~?)
Sentence Pattern
～は どうですか
[A: ～は どうですか。 B: ～は Aです。]
[どう] (dou): How? / In what way?
Used to ask about someone's impression, opinion, feeling, or the characteristics of a thing or event.
[どう] (dou): How? / In what way?
Used to ask about someone's impression, opinion, feeling, or the characteristics of a thing or event.
Example Sentences (2)
A: このしゅくだいは どうですか。
B: とても むずかしいです。
B: とても むずかしいです。
→ A: How is this homework? B: It is very difficult.
A: このまちは どうですか。
B: しずかです。
B: しずかです。
→ A: How is this town? B: It is quiet.
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Part 5: Aい/Aな N (Modifying Nouns)
Sentence Pattern
Aい/Aな N
[Aい/Aな N]: Adjective + Noun
[どんな N] (donna N): What kind of N?
When modifying a noun, the adjective is placed directly before the noun, keeping its い (i) or な (na) ending.
[どんな] (donna) is placed before a noun to ask about the characteristics or state of that noun. The resulting Adjective + Noun phrase functions as a noun phrase.
[どんな N] (donna N): What kind of N?
When modifying a noun, the adjective is placed directly before the noun, keeping its い (i) or な (na) ending.
[どんな] (donna) is placed before a noun to ask about the characteristics or state of that noun. The resulting Adjective + Noun phrase functions as a noun phrase.
Example Sentences (2)
A: 田中さんの カメラは どんな カメラですか。
B: たかい カメラです。
B: たかい カメラです。
→ A: What kind of camera is Mr. Tanaka's camera? B: It is an expensive camera.
A: ふじさんは どんな やまですか。
B: ゆうめいな やまです。
B: ゆうめいな やまです。
→ A: What kind of mountain is Mt. Fuji? B: It is a famous mountain.
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Part 6: とても / あまり～ない (Very / Not very)
Sentence Pattern
とても～ / あまり～ない
[とても] (totemo): Very ~. It emphasizes the degree of the adjective.
[あまり～ない] (amari ~ nai): Not very ~. It is always used with a negative form to soften the statement.
[あまり～ない] (amari ~ nai): Not very ~. It is always used with a negative form to soften the statement.
Example Sentences (3)
ペキンは とても さむいです。
→ Beijing is very cold.
しょくどうの ごはんは あまり おいしくないです。
→ The food in the cafeteria is not very delicious.
A: さくら大学は 有名な 大学ですか。
B: いいえ、あまり 有名な 大学じゃありません。
B: いいえ、あまり 有名な 大学じゃありません。
→ A: Is Sakura University a famous university? B: No, it is not a very famous university.
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Part 7: そして (And)
Sentence Pattern
そして
[そして] (soshite): And, furthermore.
Used to connect two or more adjectives or sentences that have a similar or parallel meaning (e.g., both positive or both negative).
Used to connect two or more adjectives or sentences that have a similar or parallel meaning (e.g., both positive or both negative).
Example Sentences (2)
このケーキは おいしいです。そして、やすいです。
→ This cake is delicious. And, it is cheap.
ふじさんは きれいです。そして、ゆうめいです。
→ Mt. Fuji is beautiful. And, it is famous.
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Part 8: Clause 1 が、Clause 2 (But)
Sentence Pattern
Clause 1 が、Clause 2
[が] (ga): But.
Used to connect two clauses that have contrasting or opposing meanings.
[が] (ga): But.
Used to connect two clauses that have contrasting or opposing meanings.
Example Sentences (2)
バスは やすいですが、べんりじゃありません。
→ The bus is cheap, but it is not convenient.
この おちゃは たかいですが、おいしいです。
→ This tea is expensive, but it is delicious.
