Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 2

Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 2
Let’s study N5-level Japanese grammar, lesson by lesson, following the Minna no Nihongo textbook.

1. Demonstratives

1） これ／それ／あれ は N です
Meaning: This/that/that over there is N
Usage:
– These are demonstrative nouns.
– They are used like a noun.
– No noun follows them.

これ refers to something near the speaker and far from the listener (in the speaker’s area)
それ refers to something near the listener and far from the speaker (in the listener’s area)
あれ refers to something far from both people.

Examples:
1. これは 本ですか。
これは ほ んですか。Is this a book?
…いいえ、それはノートです。 … No, that is a notebook.

2. あれは じどうしゃです。 That over there is a car.

2) この N／その N／あの N

Meaning: This/that/that N over there

Usage:
– この、その、あの are demonstratives that modify a noun. The distances work like これ、それ、あれ, but they are used differently because a noun must always follow them.

– “このN” refers to a thing or person near the speaker and far from the listener.

– “そのN” refers to a thing or person near the listener and far from the speaker.

– “あのN” refers to a thing or person far from both people.

Examples:
あの人は 山田さんです。
あのひ とは やまださんです。 That person is Mr Yamada.

Questions with the question word なん: N は なんですか。 What is N?

Note: なん is the question word for things, だれ is the question word for people.
これ/それ/あれ は N です

この N/その N/あの N?

 Examples:
1) これは なんですか。 What is this?
…それは いすです。 … That is a chair.

2) このひとは だれですか。 Who is this person?
…そのひとは 田中(たなか)さんです。 … That person is Mr Tanaka.

 Note: When something is near both people, both of them can use これ or この

3. そうです/そうではありません

Meaning: That is right/That is not so

Usage:
– そう is used to answer a yes/no question that ends in a noun.
– In the affirmative use: はい、そうです。
In the negative use: いいえ、そうでは(じゃ)ありません。
Note: When the question ends in a verb or an adjective, そうです or そうではありません is not used to answer.

 Examples:
1) これは えんぴつですか。 Is this a pencil?
…はい、えんぴつです。 …Yes, it is a pencil.
Or …はい、そうです。 …Yes, that is right.
2) それは テレホンカードですか。 Is that a phone card?
…いいえ、テレホンカードではありません。 …No, it is not a phone card.
Or …いいえ、そうではありません。 …No, that is not so.

4. N1 ですか、N2 ですか

Meaning: Is it N1 or N2?

Usage:
– This is an alternative question made of two simple questions, used when you are unsure what something is (perhaps because the two look similar)
– Each clause before か is a question about the same thing
Examples:
れは ボールペンですか、シャープペンシルですか。 Is that a ballpoint pen or a mechanical pencil?
…ボールペンです。 …It is a ballpoint pen.

Note: When answering this question, do not use はい or いいえ

5. N1の N2 (continued)

Meaning: N2 of N1

Usage: In the previous lesson, N1 was an organisation that N2 belonged to. In this lesson the particle の shows possession: N2 belongs to N1

Examples:
これは わたしの ほんです。
This is my book.

Note:
– N2 is sometimes left out when it has already been mentioned or is clear.
– When N2 refers to a person, it cannot be left out.

Examples:
1) あれは だれのかばんですか。 Whose bag is that over there?
… わたしのです。 … It is mine.

2) そのつくえは ラオさんのですか。 Is that desk Rao’s?
… いいえ、ラオさんのではありません。 … No, it is not Rao’s.

3) ミラーさんは IMCのしゃいんですか。 Is Mr Miller an employee of IMC?
… はい、IMCのしゃいんです。
(Do not say: IMCのです)
… Yes, he is an employee of IMC.

6. そうですか

Meaning: I see

Usage: Used when the speaker receives new information and shows that they have understood it.

Examples:
A: このかさは あなたのですか。 Is this umbrella yours?
B: いいえ、タンさんのです。 …No, it is Mr Tan’s.
A: そうですか。 Oh, I see.