7 key grammar patterns
#1L8_G1
1. Noun + Na / I-adjective + です
Sentence Pattern
N + Aな / Aい + です
N + Aな / Aい + じゃありません / くないです
Affirmative: Add [です] after the adjective for politeness. Keep [い] for I-adjectives; drop [な] and add [です] for Na-adjectives. Negative: Drop [な] and add [じゃありません] / [ではありません] for Na-adjectives; drop [い] and add [くないです] for I-adjectives (Negative of いいです is よくないです). Question: Add [か]. Answer using the adjective, not [そうです].
Example Sentences (3)
ワット先生は 親切です。
→ Mr. Watt is kind.
あそこは 静かじゃ ありません。
→ It is not quiet over there.
琵琶湖の 水は きれいですか。いいえ、きれいじゃありません。
→ Is the water in Lake Biwa clean? No, it is not clean.
#2L8_G2
2. Na / I-adjective + Noun
Sentence Pattern
Aな / Aい + N
An adjective is placed before a noun to modify it. For Na-adjectives, keep the [な] and add the noun after it.
Example Sentences (1)
富士山は 高い 山です。
→ Mt. Fuji is a high mountain.
#3L8_G3
3. とても and あまり
Sentence Pattern
とても + A
あまり + A（negative）
[とても] and [あまり] are adverbs of degree. They are placed before adjectives to modify them. [とても] is used in affirmative sentences and means 'very'. [あまり] is used in negative sentences and means 'not very'.
Example Sentences (2)
これは とても 有名な 映画です。
→ This is a very famous movie.
上海は あまり 寒くないです。
→ Shanghai is not very cold.
#4L8_G4
4. Noun + は + どうですか
Sentence Pattern
N + は + どうですか
How is...? Used to ask about impressions or opinions regarding a thing, place, or person that the listener already knows, has visited, or has met.
Example Sentences (1)
日本の 生活は どうですか。楽しいです。
→ How is life in Japan? It is enjoyable.
#5L8_G5
5. N1 は + どんな N2 ですか
Sentence Pattern
N1 は + どんな N2 ですか
What kind of N2 is N1? Used when explaining N1. N2 is a broader category noun that includes N1. The question word どんな always comes before a noun.
Example Sentences (1)
奈良は どんな 町ですか。古い 町です。
→ What kind of town is Nara? It is an old town.
#6L8_G6
6. Sentence 1 が, Sentence 2 / そして
Sentence Pattern
Câu 1 が、Câu 2
そして
が means 'but...'. It is used to connect two contrasting sentences into one. そして means 'and, moreover...'. It is used when both clauses are positive or both are negative.
Example Sentences (2)
日本の 食べ物は おいしいですが、高いです。
→ Japanese food is delicious, but it is expensive.
ミラーさんは ハンサムです。そして 親切です。
→ Mr. Miller is handsome. And he is also kind and friendly.
#7L8_G7
7. どれ (Which one)
Sentence Pattern
どれ
Which one. Asks the listener to choose or point out a specific thing from two or more items mentioned.
Example Sentences (1)
ミラーさんの 傘は どれですか。あの 青い 傘です。
→ Which one is Mr. Miller's umbrella? It's that blue umbrella.
