The Basics of Japanese Grammar
Sentence Structure
Japanese sentence structure is notably different from English sentence structure.
English sentence structure:
I - like - Japanese
Subject - Verb - Object
Japanese sentence structure:
I - Japanese - like
Subject - Object - Verb
English sentence structure:
I - like - Japanese
Subject - Verb - Object
Japanese sentence structure:
I - Japanese - like
Subject - Object - Verb
Desu です
The verb 'to be' in Japanese is 'desu'. (is, am, are)
N.B. 'desu' itself is actually not a verb but a copula, a word used to link subject and predicate.
N.B. 'desu' itself is actually not a verb but a copula, a word used to link subject and predicate.
わたしはねこです
watashi wa neko desu
I am a cat
Here, 'watashi' (I) is the subject, 'wa' is the particle [you can read more about particles below] indicating the subject, 'neko' (cat) is the object, and 'desu' (to be) is the 'verb'.
あれはペンです
are wa pen desu
That is a pen
In this example 'are' (that) is the subject, 'wa' is again the particle indicating the subject, 'pen' (pen) is the object, and 'desu' (to be) is the 'verb'.
watashi wa neko desu
I am a cat
Here, 'watashi' (I) is the subject, 'wa' is the particle [you can read more about particles below] indicating the subject, 'neko' (cat) is the object, and 'desu' (to be) is the 'verb'.
あれはペンです
are wa pen desu
That is a pen
In this example 'are' (that) is the subject, 'wa' is again the particle indicating the subject, 'pen' (pen) is the object, and 'desu' (to be) is the 'verb'.
Particles
There are many types of particle in the Japanese language, here are a few of the most common:
Topic Markers
wa
ga
Direct Object Markers
o
Possession Markers
no
Instrument, Location and Direction Markers
de
ni
e
Quantity and Extent Markers
to
ya
mo
Topic Markers
wa
- indicates the subject and is written as 'は' (but pronounced the same as 'わ')
- focuses on what comes before the particle
- example: watashi wa usagi desu - わたし は うさぎ です - I am a rabbit
ga
- functions as an identifier
- focuses on what comes after the particle
- example: usagi ga suki desu - うさぎ が すき です - I like rabbits
Direct Object Markers
o
- indicates the direct object of a verb and is written as 'を' (but is pronounced the same as 'お')
- example: sushi o tabemasu - すし を たべます - I eat sushi
Possession Markers
no
- indicates possession
- example: watashi no usagi - わたし の うさぎ - My rabbit
Instrument, Location and Direction Markers
de
- indicates being at a location
- example: soko de ikimashou - そこ で 行きましょう - Let's go there (at that location)
- indicates the instrument
- example: jitensha de ikimashita - 自転車 で 行きました - I went by bicycle
ni
- indicates location
- example: gakkou ni iru - 学校 に いる - I am at school
- indicates direction
- example: gakkou ni iku - 学校 に いく - I am going to school
e
- emphasizes location and is written as 'へ' (but is pronounced the same as 'え'
- example: Nihon e youkoso - 日本 へ ようこそ - Welcome to Japan
- indicates direction (towards)
- example: Nihon e ikimasu - 日本 へいきます - I am going towards Japan
Quantity and Extent Markers
to
- used to list nouns in a complete list (every item is listed)
- example: sore to kore - これ と それ - this and that
ya
- used to list nouns in an incomplete list (some items are not listed)
- example: usagi ya neko ga suki desu - うさぎ や ねこ が 好き です - I like rabbits and cats
mo
- used as 'too' or 'also'
- example: watashi mo usagi desu - わたし も うさぎ です - I am a rabbit, too
made
- indicates a time or place as a limit
- example: kono densha wa toukyou made ikimasu - この 電車 は 東京 まで 行きます - This train goes to (as far as) Tokyo
Sentence-Final Particles
ka
- used as a question marker
- example: wakaru ka? - 分かる か - Do you understand?
ne
- used to soften a declarative sentence
- example: ii tenki desu ne? - いい てんき です ね - The weather's nice, isn't it?
yo
- used to make an assertion
- example: benkyou shinasai yo! - 勉強 しなさい よ - Study!