Lesson 1 – Grammar Notes
This file contains grammar explanations for Minna no Nihongo Lesson 1, with Japanese examples (with spaces and furigana in parentheses) and English translations.
1. N1 は N2 です (Positive)
(Topic + is(は) + About topic)
- The particle は indicates that the word before it is the topic of the sentence. です is used to state something politely.
Examples:
Note: The particle は is read わ.
2. N1 は N2 じゃ ありません／では ありません (Negative)
(Topic + is not + About topic)
- じゃ ありません is the negative form of です. It is used in daily conversation to say something is not the case.
- では ありません is the more formal/polite version of じゃ ありません.
Examples:
📝
サントス さん は 学生(がくせい) じゃ ありません。
Mr. Santos is not a student. (casual)
📝
サントス さん は 学生(がくせい) では ありません。
Mr. Santos is not a student. (formal)
Note: は in では is also read わ.
3. N1 は N2 です か (Question)
(Topic + is + About topic + question particle か)
- The particle か is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question. The word order does not change.
Examples:
Is Mr. Miller an American?
- To answer, use はい (yes) or いいえ (no).
- For questions with interrogatives, か is also added at the end.
That person is Mr. Miller.
4. N も
(...also...)
- も is added after a topic instead of は when the statement about the topic is the same as the previous topic.
Examples:
Mr. Miller is a company employee.
Mr. Gupta is also a company employee.
5. N1 の N2
(N1 modifies N2)
- の is used to connect two nouns. N1 modifies N2. In Lesson 1, N1 is often an organization or group to which N2 belongs.
Example:
📝
ミラー さん は IMC の 社員(しゃいん) です。
Mr. Miller is an IMC employee.
6. ～さん
(Polite suffix)
- さん is added to the name of the listener or a third person to show respect. It should never be used with your own name.
Examples:
- When referring directly to the listener, the word あなた (you) is not commonly used if you know the listener's name. The listener's family name followed by さん is usually used.
🎯
鈴木(すずき)：ミラー さん は 学生(がくせい) です か。
Suzuki: Are you a student, Mr. Miller?
Miller: No, I'm a company employee.