と particle
(1) Placed between two nouns, the particle と translates as 'and'.
Ex : 犬と猫がいる。There is a dog and a cat.
(2) と can also indicate that an action is performed with someone, in which case it is translated as "with".
Ex : 昨日、先生と話した。Yesterday I talked with my teacher.
Ex : 犬と猫がいる。There is a dog and a cat.
(2) と can also indicate that an action is performed with someone, in which case it is translated as "with".
Ex : 昨日、先生と話した。Yesterday I talked with my teacher.
魚と肉と野菜を食べた。
I ate fish, meat and vegetables.
や and とか particle
や is also used between two nouns, but it assumes an incomplete enumeration.
など・等 is often put after the last word of the enumeration (can be translated as "etc.").
Ex : お昼は、おにぎりやサラダやバナナなどを食べた。I had an onigiri, a salad, a banana, etc.
とか is a more familiar expression than や.
Ex : ドラマとか映画とかアニメを見る。I watch a series, a film, an anime, etc.
など・等 is often put after the last word of the enumeration (can be translated as "etc.").
Ex : お昼は、おにぎりやサラダやバナナなどを食べた。I had an onigiri, a salad, a banana, etc.
とか is a more familiar expression than や.
Ex : ドラマとか映画とかアニメを見る。I watch a series, a film, an anime, etc.
ロックやジャズやクラシックを聞く。
I listen to rock, jazz, classical music, etc.
の particle
(1) の introduces a noun complement.
Ex : 田中さんは、日本語の先生だ。Tanaka is a Japanese language teacher.
(2) の also means belonging.
Ex : これは、私の車だ。This is my car.
Ex : 田中さんは、日本語の先生だ。Tanaka is a Japanese language teacher.
(2) の also means belonging.
Ex : これは、私の車だ。This is my car.
Notes on the use of の
- The name that is changed may be omitted depending on the context.
A:それは誰のかばん?Whose bag is it ?
B:まことくんの。This is (the bag is) Makoto's.
- の can replace and take the role of the name itself.
adjective + の → a thing + adjective
Ex : 青いの (a blue thing)
- If we put an adjective in な before の, we must add な between the adjective and の.
Ex : 私が好きなのは、ゲームだ。One thing I like is games.
- After a verb, の introduces a nominalization of the verb. Then you can use like any noun.
Ex : スーパーへ行くのを忘れた。I forgot to go to the supermarket.
- Generally, 物 is used instead of の when it is a physical object and こと for events.
Ex : 青いの → 青い物
私が好きなのは、ゲームだ。 → 私が好きな物は、ゲームだ。
スーパーへ行くのを忘れた。 → スーパーへ行くことを忘れた。
- The name that is changed may be omitted depending on the context.
A:それは誰のかばん?Whose bag is it ?
B:まことくんの。This is (the bag is) Makoto's.
- の can replace and take the role of the name itself.
adjective + の → a thing + adjective
Ex : 青いの (a blue thing)
- If we put an adjective in な before の, we must add な between the adjective and の.
Ex : 私が好きなのは、ゲームだ。One thing I like is games.
- After a verb, の introduces a nominalization of the verb. Then you can use like any noun.
Ex : スーパーへ行くのを忘れた。I forgot to go to the supermarket.
- Generally, 物 is used instead of の when it is a physical object and こと for events.
Ex : 青いの → 青い物
私が好きなのは、ゲームだ。 → 私が好きな物は、ゲームだ。
スーパーへ行くのを忘れた。 → スーパーへ行くことを忘れた。
任天堂はゲームの会社だ。
Nintendo is a video game company.
私の犬は、ゴールデンレトリバーだ。
My dog is a Golden Retriever.
面白いのは、マンガだ。
The interesting things are the manga.
Explanatory tone of the particle の
We use の to explain or ask for a reason, an explanation.
A: どうしたの。What is happening to you? (seeking for explanations)
B: 頭が痛いの。I have a headache. (giving explanations)
A: 学校へ行かないの?You don't go to school (How come you don't go to school?)
B: 今から行くよ。I'm going there now.
A: どうしたの。What is happening to you? (seeking for explanations)
B: 頭が痛いの。I have a headache. (giving explanations)
A: 学校へ行かないの?You don't go to school (How come you don't go to school?)
B: 今から行くよ。I'm going there now.
Remarks on the use of the explanatory の
- Often used with どうして (why).
Ex : どうして食べないの。Why don't you eat?
- If の is put in front of a noun, な must be added between the noun and の to distinguish it from the particle の which means belonging ("to" or "of").
Ex : 車は、ジャックのだ。The car belongs to Jacques.
社長になるのは、ジャックなのだ。It is Jacques who becomes president of the company (with an explanatory tone).
- We also add な after adjectives in -な.
皆山田さんが好きだ。山田さんはとても親切なのだ。Everyone loves Yamada. Because he is very nice.
-「のだ」is used more in written language. In conversation, it is preferred「んだ」.
A: あれ、今日仕事はないの?
B: うん、休みなんだ。
- Often used with どうして (why).
Ex : どうして食べないの。Why don't you eat?
- If の is put in front of a noun, な must be added between the noun and の to distinguish it from the particle の which means belonging ("to" or "of").
Ex : 車は、ジャックのだ。The car belongs to Jacques.
社長になるのは、ジャックなのだ。It is Jacques who becomes president of the company (with an explanatory tone).
- We also add な after adjectives in -な.
皆山田さんが好きだ。山田さんはとても親切なのだ。Everyone loves Yamada. Because he is very nice.
-「のだ」is used more in written language. In conversation, it is preferred「んだ」.
A: あれ、今日仕事はないの?
B: うん、休みなんだ。
綺麗なシャツだね。どこで買ったの。
That's a nice shirt. Where did you buy it?
私が会ったのはナタリーではなかったのだ。
It was not Nathalie that I met.
東京は東京タワーが有名なんだ。
In Tokyo, it is the Tokyo Tower that is known.
Exercices
Complete with the appropriate particle.
友達〇一緒にレストランでステーキを食べた。
Answer →
友達と一緒にレストランでステーキを食べた。
Translation →
I had a steak in a restaurant with my friend.
私〇猫は白い。
Answer →
私の猫は白い。
Translation →
My cat is white.
いつも魚〇野菜を食べる。
Answer →
いつも魚と(や)野菜を食べる。
Translation →
I always eat fish and vegetables.
どうして空は青い〇。
Answer →
どうして空は青いの。
Translation →
Why is the sky blue?
Change the sentences below with the particle や.
韓国のドラマとアイドルが好きだ。
Answer →
韓国のドラマやアイドルが好きだ。
Translation →
I like Korean series and idols (etc.).
明日、山田さんと加藤さんがうちに来る。
Answer →
明日、山田さんや加藤さんがうちに来る。
Translation →
Tomorrow Yamada and Kato (etc.) are coming to my house.
Change the sentences below with 「の」 explanatory or 「んだ」.
明日何をする?
Answer →
明日何をするの?
Translation →
What are you doing tomorrow?
昨日は誕生日だった。
Answer →
昨日は誕生日だったんだ。
Translation →
Yesterday was my birthday.
去年の冬は寒くなかった。
Answer →
去年の冬は寒くなかったんだ。
Translation →
Last year's winter was not cold.
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