grammar - chapter 6
A. Adjective Sentences
We use adjective sentences to describe an attribute of an object or subject (I.e.; the box is heavy). These sentences can be expressed in either a polite or plain form. The polite form has です・でした or ありません・ありませんでした at the end.
The basic structure of an adjective sentence is: SUBJECT が ADJECTIVE です.
Some example sentences are:
There are two types of adjectives, categorized based on their endings. Adjectives can either be: (1) -i adjectives (otherwise called “A Adjectives”), or (2) -na adjectives. Na adjectives have the extra な at the end for instances when directly modifying a noun. For example:
Like verbs, adjectives can be conjugated into different tenses. You can find the patterns for how to do this below, or on page 139 in SFJ Notes. An explanation of the conjugation patterns is found below.
A Adjective Na Adjective
Ex.: おもい (heavy) Ex.: うるさいな (noisy)
Present Tense
Plain Positive おもい うるさいだ 1
Polite Positive おもいです うるさいです
Plain Negative おもくない 2 うるさいじゃない 3
Polite Negative おもくありあません うるさいじゃありません おもくないです うるさいじゃないです
Past Tense
Plain Positive おもかった 4 うるさいだった
Polite Positive おもかったです うるさいでした
Plain Negative おもくなかった 5 うるさいじゃなかった
Polite Negative おもくありませんでした うるさいじゃありませんでした
おもくなかったです うるさいじゃなかったです
1 The plain form of です is だ. It’s past tense is だった (plain form) or でした (polite form).
2 The plain negative form of A Adjectives is くない. The polite negative form of adjectives and verbs is either くないです or くありません.
3 The plain negative form of Na Adjectives and nouns is じゃない. The polite negative form of Na Adjectives and verbs is either じゃないです or じゃありません.
4 The plain past positive tense of adjectives is かった.
5 The plain past negative form of A Adjectives is くなかった (the な added to かった makes it negative). The polite past negative form of A Adjectives is either くありませんでした or くなかったです.
You may notice that plain forms such as くない、くなかった、じゃない、じゃなかった are never combined with polite forms such as ありません、ありませんでした、じゃありません、じゃありませんでした. This is because it would be, quite simply, repetitive, as the meaning is the same. Additionally, only one of the two forms is needed to indicate whether the adjective is in present/past tense or positive/negative. You can see how they are paired below:
Tense Plain Polite
Present Positive ~ い ~ いです A Adjectives
~ だ ~ です Na Adjectives
Past Positive かった かったです A Adjectives
だった でした Na Adjectives
Present Negative くない ありません A Adjectives
じゃない じゃありません Na Adjectives
Past Negative くなかった ありませんでした A Adjectives
じゃなかった じゃありませんでした Na Adjectives
Adjective Conjugation #1
Adjective Conjugation #2
Adjective Conjugation Flashcards
We use adjective sentences to describe an attribute of an object or subject (I.e.; the box is heavy). These sentences can be expressed in either a polite or plain form. The polite form has です・でした or ありません・ありませんでした at the end.
The basic structure of an adjective sentence is: SUBJECT が ADJECTIVE です.
Some example sentences are:
- このアパートがしずかです。 That apartment is quiet.
- あのかばんがおきいいです。 This bag is big.
There are two types of adjectives, categorized based on their endings. Adjectives can either be: (1) -i adjectives (otherwise called “A Adjectives”), or (2) -na adjectives. Na adjectives have the extra な at the end for instances when directly modifying a noun. For example:
- A Adjectives: あたらしいかばん (a new bag), おきいへや ( a large room)
- Na Adjectives: かんたんなテスト (a simple test), きれいなレストラン (a clean restaurant)
Like verbs, adjectives can be conjugated into different tenses. You can find the patterns for how to do this below, or on page 139 in SFJ Notes. An explanation of the conjugation patterns is found below.
A Adjective Na Adjective
Ex.: おもい (heavy) Ex.: うるさいな (noisy)
Present Tense
Plain Positive おもい うるさいだ 1
Polite Positive おもいです うるさいです
Plain Negative おもくない 2 うるさいじゃない 3
Polite Negative おもくありあません うるさいじゃありません おもくないです うるさいじゃないです
Past Tense
Plain Positive おもかった 4 うるさいだった
Polite Positive おもかったです うるさいでした
Plain Negative おもくなかった 5 うるさいじゃなかった
Polite Negative おもくありませんでした うるさいじゃありませんでした
おもくなかったです うるさいじゃなかったです
1 The plain form of です is だ. It’s past tense is だった (plain form) or でした (polite form).
2 The plain negative form of A Adjectives is くない. The polite negative form of adjectives and verbs is either くないです or くありません.
3 The plain negative form of Na Adjectives and nouns is じゃない. The polite negative form of Na Adjectives and verbs is either じゃないです or じゃありません.
4 The plain past positive tense of adjectives is かった.
5 The plain past negative form of A Adjectives is くなかった (the な added to かった makes it negative). The polite past negative form of A Adjectives is either くありませんでした or くなかったです.
You may notice that plain forms such as くない、くなかった、じゃない、じゃなかった are never combined with polite forms such as ありません、ありませんでした、じゃありません、じゃありませんでした. This is because it would be, quite simply, repetitive, as the meaning is the same. Additionally, only one of the two forms is needed to indicate whether the adjective is in present/past tense or positive/negative. You can see how they are paired below:
Tense Plain Polite
Present Positive ~ い ~ いです A Adjectives
~ だ ~ です Na Adjectives
Past Positive かった かったです A Adjectives
だった でした Na Adjectives
Present Negative くない ありません A Adjectives
じゃない じゃありません Na Adjectives
Past Negative くなかった ありませんでした A Adjectives
じゃなかった じゃありませんでした Na Adjectives
Adjective Conjugation #1
Adjective Conjugation #2
Adjective Conjugation Flashcards
B. Adverbs of Degree
We use adverbs of degree to say things are very, not very or quite something. An example in English would be to say, “That box was so heavy”. As you can see from the English example, an adverb (so) is added directly to an adjective (heavy). The same can be said of Japanese.
There are many ways to say “very” in Japanese: ひじょうに(formal)、たいへん(formal)、
とても(casual)、すごく (casual)
It is important to remember that あまり is always used exclusively in negative sentences.
Below you will find a few examples to illustrate common adverbs.
We use adverbs of degree to say things are very, not very or quite something. An example in English would be to say, “That box was so heavy”. As you can see from the English example, an adverb (so) is added directly to an adjective (heavy). The same can be said of Japanese.
There are many ways to say “very” in Japanese: ひじょうに(formal)、たいへん(formal)、
とても(casual)、すごく (casual)
It is important to remember that あまり is always used exclusively in negative sentences.
Below you will find a few examples to illustrate common adverbs.
- ざいぶんおきいいです。 It’s quite big.
- あまりきれいじゃありません。 It’s not very clean.
- すごくおいしです。 It’s very delicious.
- とてもかわいいです。 It’s very cute.
- たいへんむずかしいです。 It’s very difficult.
- ひょうじにたかいです。 It’s very expensive.
C. How? Question Word
どう is used to ask how the listener feels or thinks about something, or to ask about things, other people, etc. The format for using this question word is: SUBJECT はどうですか。
For example:
テストはどうでしたか。 How was the test?
このアニメはどうですか。 What do you think of this anime?
どう is used to ask how the listener feels or thinks about something, or to ask about things, other people, etc. The format for using this question word is: SUBJECT はどうですか。
For example:
テストはどうでしたか。 How was the test?
このアニメはどうですか。 What do you think of this anime?
D. Listing Events/Actions Using て
~て is most often used to connect two or more verbs. If the list is in the past tense, the -ta form is not used until the last verb in the sentence. There are three ways that ~て can be used:
A. List actions/events
B. List simultaneous actions where the first indicates the means/method of the second
C. To give reason or explanation
A. Listing successive actions/events
~て is most often used to connect two or more verbs. If the list is in the past tense, the -ta form is not used until the last verb in the sentence. There are three ways that ~て can be used:
A. List actions/events
B. List simultaneous actions where the first indicates the means/method of the second
C. To give reason or explanation
A. Listing successive actions/events
- しゅくだいをして、パーティーにいきます。 (First) I’ll do my homework, (then) I’ll go to the party.
- とうきょうへでんしゃにのっていきます。 I will go to Tokyo by train.
- にほんごをれんしゅしてかきます。 I will practice Japanese by writing.
- うるさくなって、すみません。 I’m sorry it’s loud.
E. Something is alright/will do
This form is used to express if an alternative is okay in place of the requested object or action. In English, we often think of this as, “Is it alright if I _____?” or “______ is (also) all right”.
The form for this pattern is: SUBJECT で(も) いいです(か).
You add も if you want to say something is also alright. か is added to make the sentence into a question.
Here are some examples to illustrate:
Use ではいけません to indicate that something will not do
This form is used to express if an alternative is okay in place of the requested object or action. In English, we often think of this as, “Is it alright if I _____?” or “______ is (also) all right”.
The form for this pattern is: SUBJECT で(も) いいです(か).
You add も if you want to say something is also alright. か is added to make the sentence into a question.
Here are some examples to illustrate:
- フラアンスごでいいですか。 Is French okay?
- いいえ、フランスごではいけません。 No, French will not do.
Use ではいけません to indicate that something will not do
F. Structure Particles に and で
At this point, you may be unclear about how the above particles specifically attach to locations. The difference between the two is that で indicates the location where an action happens, whereas に indicates the location reached or affected by the action.
Another way to think of it is that で is stationary -- there is no movement of objects or people -- but に indicates movement from one place to another.
Use the examples on page 145 in SFJ Notes to compare.
At this point, you may be unclear about how the above particles specifically attach to locations. The difference between the two is that で indicates the location where an action happens, whereas に indicates the location reached or affected by the action.
Another way to think of it is that で is stationary -- there is no movement of objects or people -- but に indicates movement from one place to another.
Use the examples on page 145 in SFJ Notes to compare.