[A] より [B] は [adj] です
Inu yori neko wa suki desu = I like cats more than dogs
[A] より [B] の方が (のほうが) [adj] です
Inu yori neko nohouga ookii desu = Cats are bigger than dogs
yori comes after the word that has the lower extent of [adj¨], so [B] is “more” [adj]
[A] と [B] と どちらのほうが [adj] ですが
Between [A] and [B], which one is more [adj]?
Inu to neko to dochiranohouga suki desu ka = between dogs and cats, which one do you like?
Only used for two choices, not more.
In order to x, y…
Nouns: Noun + の + ために + sentence
母 の ために やさい お たべる = for my mother, I eat the vegetables.
Verbs: Verb in dict. form + ために + sentence
あそぶ ために 玉 お かいます = for the purpose of playing, I buy a ball
You can chain longer sentences using 日本語を少し話すために、日本の本をたくさん読みます。In order to speak a little bit Japanese I read a lot japanese books.
The last verb defines whether the sentences is formal or casual. So you use the dictionary form + ために in the first sentence and end with ます = formal.
~です = だ
~でした = だった
~じゃありません = じゃない
~じゃありませんでした = じゃなかった
Questions: Omit か (and even だ) and use vocal intonation
When stem is ending in a え sound: Stem + る. Eg. たべる、はじめる、わすれる。。。
When stem is ending in a い sound: Replace last kana with う-sound (み = む、き = く etc.). Eg. のむ、いく、あそぶ、わかる、おもう。。。Exceptions
Irregular verbs: します = する (to do), きます = くる (to come). Plus verbs built with a noun + します: べんきょうする, りょこうする。。。
Stem + ましょうか = shall we ~ ? (proposal)
Stem + ましょう = let’s ~ (proposal)
Stem + たい = want to do ~
(location) に (object) が あります/います
あります = verb indicating the existence of “non-feeling”things.
こうえん に 木 が ありません = there are no trees in the park
あそこに何がありますか = what is over there?
います = for people/animals.
こうえん に Joさん がいません = Jo is not in the park
こうえん に だれ がいます か = who is in the park?
To emphasize the location of the object:
(object) は (location) に あります.
ringo は tsukue no ue ni あります = the apple is on the table
Stem + にくい + です = hard/difficult to […]
たべにくいです = hard to eat
Stem + やすい + です = easy to […]
よみやすいです = easy to read
These are now い-Adjectives! Mostly conjugated to past tense, although the other forms do exist too.
かきにくかった です = was hard to write
ならいやすかった です = was easy to learn
は (pronounced “wa”): topic marker (“as for X, …”) presents the topic you want to talk about
を (pronounced “o”): indicates direct object = what is involved/affected by the event. used with verbs. ほん を よみます = I read a book
に: movement and time. 日本 に いきます = I go to Japan. Used for months/days of the weeks and numerical time expressions but not for relative time expressions (today, tomorrow), regular intervals (every day, sometimes) and “when” (いつ). Time: ごる or ごるに instead of に = approximately (12:00 ごるに = at about 12:00)
に : between な-Adjectives + noun = Adverb. しずか に のみました = drank quietly
ヘ (pronounced “e”): for movement equal to に (but not for time!)
で: place. うち で = at home
も: also. 私も日本人です = i am also japanese
も: questionword + も = strong negation. こうえんに何もありません = in the park is nothing. 木の下にだれもいません = nobody is under the tree.
と: and. そこ に 本 と 木 です = there is a book and a tree
Order: Adjective + verb
Put に between Adj without な + Verb
Think of Adverb+verb as one entity and treat like normal verbs.
しずか に のみました = drank quietly
Replace い of the Adjective with く and add verb
はやく たべました = ate quickly
Exception: いい becomes よく
よく できました = did (something) well
よく わらいました = had a good laugh = laughed a lot
Adj. + noun: Just concatenate without particle.
はやいくるま です = it is a [fast car]
Use with でした etc.
はやい くるま ですた = it was a [fast car]
Look at [Adj. + noun] as a single entity grammar-wise, eg. teat as a normal noun. For example use with の like you would with a normal noun: Joのはやいくるま = Jo’s fast car
Noun + Adj.: Use は particle
くるま は はやい です = this car is fast
But DO NOT use with でした, じゃありません and じゃありませんでした !
Conjugation:
〜い present/future
〜かった past
〜くない negative
〜くなかった past negative
Add です for politeness (です for all tenses)
あたらしかったです
It was new
Exception: いい (good) uses the alternate version (よい) of the word for conjugation.
いい → Good
〜ます present/future
〜ました past
〜ません negative
〜ませんでした past negative
Add 〜たい to the stem of a verb to say “want to do 〜”
see this post