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Starter4

    Japanese Grammar – Family & Location

    ■ N1とN2

    Meaning: “N1 and N2”

    Formation:
    Noun1 ＋ と ＋ Noun2
    Key Point:

    と is a particle used to connect two or more nouns.

    Used when listing people or things together.

    Example: 夫[おっと]と 子[こ]どもです (This is my husband and child).

    Example
    私[わたし]の　家族[かぞく]です。父[ちち]と　母[はは]と　姉[あね]です。 This is my family. This is my father, mother, and sister.

    ■ 【Interrogative expression】ですか？

    Meaning: Used to ask a question.

    Formation:
    Interrogative word ＋ ですか？
    Key Point:

    Add ですか？ after a question word to form a polite question.

    Use rising intonation when speaking.

    In casual speech, you can omit ですか and just say the interrogative word.

    いくつ also means “how many” or “how much,” depending on context.

    Example
    Ａ：
    何歳[なんさい]ですか？ How old are you?
    Ｂ：
    15歳[さい]です。 I’m 15 years old.
    Ａ：
    おいくつですか？ How old are you?
    Ｂ：
    90歳[きゅうじゅっさい]です。 I’m 90 years old.
    Ａ：
    何歳[なんさい]？ How old are you?
    Ｂ：
    ひ・み・つ。 It’s a secret.

    ■ 【Place】に　住[す]んでいます

    Meaning: “I live in [Place].” / “Someone lives in [Place].”

    Formation:
    Place ＋ に ＋ 住[す]んでいます
    Key Point:

    The particle に indicates the location where someone lives.

    住[す]んでいます is the present continuous form of the verb 住[す]む (to live).

    Use it as a set phrase: ～に住[す]んでいます.

    To ask a question, use: どこに 住[す]んでいますか？ (Where do you live?) with rising intonation.

    Example
    Ａ：
    どこに　住[す]んでいますか？ Where do you live?
    Ｂ：
    東京[とうきょう]に　住[す]んでいます。 I live in Tokyo.
    Ａ：
    ご家族[かぞく]は？ How about your family?
    Ｂ：
    家族[かぞく]は、ミャンマーに　住[す]んでいます。 My family lives in Myanmar.

    ■ N1のN2

    Meaning: “N2 of N1” / “N1’s N2”

    (Shows relationship or identity between two nouns)

    Formation:
    Noun1 ＋ の ＋ Noun2
    Key Point:

    の connects two nouns and shows their relationship.

    Usage 1: The first noun describes or modifies the second noun.

    Usage 2: The two nouns refer to the same thing (identity).

    Can also be used to connect 3 or more nouns.

    Example ①
    これは、私[わたし]の　家族[かぞく]の　写真[しゃしん]です。 This is a photo of my family.
    Example ②
    Ａ：
    これ、だれですか？ Who’s this?
    Ｂ：
    私[わたし]の　兄[あに]の　友[とも]だちです。 It’s my brother’s friend.
    Example ③
    Ａ：
    だれですか？ Who’s that?
    Ｂ：
    妹[いもうと]の　マリーです。 That is my sister, Marie.