Lesson 12 – Grammar Notes
This file contains grammar explanations for Minna no Nihongo Lesson 12, with Japanese examples (with spaces and furigana in parentheses) and English translations.
1. Past tense of noun sentences and な-adjective sentences
(Past tense of N and な-adj sentences)
This grammar point explains how to form past tense sentences with nouns and な-adjectives.
Past Tense Table
Non-past (Present/Future)
Negative
な-adj (na-adjective):
or (では)
Past
Negative
な-adj (na-adjective):
or (では)
Examples:
②
きのう の 試験(しけん) は 簡単(かんたん) じゃありませんでした。
Yesterday's exam was not easy.
2. Past tense of い-adjective sentences
(Past tense of い-adj sentences)
This grammar point explains how to form past tense sentences with い-adjectives.
Past Tense Table
Non-past (Present/Future)
Examples:
④
きのう の パーティー は あまり 楽(たの)しくなかった です。
I didn't enjoy yesterday's party very much.
3. N₁は N₂より adjective です
(N₁ is more adjective than N₂)
(Comparison pattern)
This sentence pattern describes the quality and/or state of N₁ in comparison with N₂.
Example:
⑤
この 車(くるま) は あの 車(くるま) より 大(おお)きい です。
This car is bigger than that car.
4. N₁と N₂とどちらが adjective ですか
(Which is more adjective, N₁ or N₂?)
(Choice between two items)
Followed by: ･･･N₁/N₂のほうが adjective です
The question asks the listener to choose between two items (N₁ and N₂). The interrogative used is always
(dochira) if the comparison is made between two items.
Examples:
❓
サッカー と 野球(やきゅう) と どちら が おもしろい ですか。
Which is more interesting, baseball or football?
❓
ミラーさん と サントスさん と どちら が テニス が 上手(じょうず) ですか。
Who is a better tennis player, Mr. Miller or Mr. Santos?
❓
北海道(ほっかいどう) と 大阪(おおさか) と どちら が 涼(すず)しい ですか。
Which is cooler, Hokkaido or Osaka?
❓
春(はる) と 秋(あき) と どちら が 好(す)き ですか。
Which do you like better, spring or autumn?
5. N₁ [の中]で 何/どこ/だれ/いつ がいちばん adjective ですか
(What/Where/Who/When is the most adjective in N₁?)
(Superlative pattern)
Followed by: ･･･N₂がいちばん adjective です
This question pattern is used to ask the listener to choose something that is the most 'adjective.' The choice is made from the group or category denoted by N₁. The interrogative used is decided by the kind of category from which the choice is made.
Structure
Examples:
❓
日本料理(にほんりょうり) [の中]で 何(なに) が いちばん おいしい ですか。
Among Japanese dishes, what is the most delicious?
❓
ヨーロッパ で どこ が いちばん よかった ですか。
In Europe, where did you like best?
…I liked Switzerland best.
❓
家族(かぞく) で だれ が いちばん 背(せ) が 高(たか)い ですか。
Who is the tallest of your family?
…弟(おとうと) が いちばん 背(せ) が 高(たか)い です。
…My younger brother is.
❓
1年(いちねん) で いつ が いちばん 寒(さむ)い ですか。
When is the coldest time of a year?
…2月(にがつ) が いちばん 寒(さむ)い です。
…It's coldest in February.
Note: When the subject is an interrogative, the particle が (ga) is used. (See Lesson 10, なにがありますか / だれがいますか.)
When the subject of an adjective sentence is questioned, が (ga) is attached to the interrogative in the same way.