GENKI Lesson 1: Grammar (+ Flashcards-WIP)

1) X は Y です。

The basic structure of a sentence.

~です。It is…

The easiest ending and one of the most commonly used one’s in Formal speech.

にほんごです。It is in Japanese.

アメリカじんです。(I am) American.

Subject is often implied in sentences, so if someone asks “What color is the book” , you would commonly just say “It’s Red” and not “The book is Red.” Same as Above^ your saying responses to a question or a commonly known subject

~は~

Your very first particle and is used as a subject marker. It defines the subject of the sentence and maybe the next few if necessary.

When combined with ～です。The easiest sentence you can make in Japanese.

I am a Student (I is Student) → わたひ　は　がくせい　です。

James is a Teacher → James　は　せんせい　です。

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2) Question Sentences

Something you will be doing a lot once you start learning Japanese, asking questions…

There are 2 main learning points here. The question word and the ending

The magic word(s) : なん・なに　（何）

These 2 pronunciations mean the same thing, “What”, the characters after define what it is asking for and by itself it just means “what”

なんねんせえ → What school year?

なんさい → How old?

なんじ → What time?

The question word: ～か。

Putting this one small character changes a sentence into a question, it is that simple.

りゅうがくせいです。(I am an) International Student.

りゅうがくせいですか。(Are you an) International Student.

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3) Noun1 の Noun2

Your second particle and probably the easiest particle to use. It helps specify a subject.

If you just say “He is a Teacher,” you will probably ask what type of teacher? College, High School, Math, History. Using (の) helps define it for you.

にほんご　の　せんせい → A Japanese Teacher

だいがく　の　がくせい → A College Student

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Using everything in this chapter you can now say things like.

たけしさん　の　おかあさん　は　こうこう　の　せんせい　ですか。

Is Takeshi’s Mother a High School Teacher?