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    Japanese Grammar – Likes, Verbs & Frequency

    ■ Nが　好[す]きです

    Meaning: “[Someone] likes N.”

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ が ＋ 好[す]きです
    Key Point:

    好[す]き is a na-adjective.

    The particle が marks the object of preference.

    Use 何[なに]が 好[す]きですか？ to ask what someone likes.

    ■ Nは　好[す]きじゃないです

    Meaning: “[Someone] does not like N.”

    Formation:

    Noun ＋ は ＋ 好[す]きじゃないです

    (Alternative polite form: 好[す]きじゃ ありません)

    Key Point:

    In negative sentences, the particle often changes from が to は.

    Example ①
    私[わたし]は、魚[さかな]が　好[す]きです。肉[にく]は　好[す]きじゃないです。 I like fish. I don’t like meat.
    Example ②
    Ａ：
    肉[にく]、好[す]きですか？ Do you like meat?
    Ｂ：
    はい、好[す]きです。 Yes, I like it.
    Ａ：
    野菜[やさい]は？ How about vegetables?
    Ｂ：
    野菜[やさい]は　好[す]きじゃないです。 I don’t like vegetables.
    Example ③
    Ａ：
    日本[にほん]の　食[た]べ物[もの]、何[なに]が　好[す]きですか？ What Japanese food do you like?
    Ｂ：
    天[てん]ぷらが　好[す]きです。 I like tempura.

    ■ Nは　ちょっと…

    Meaning: “[Someone] doesn’t really like N.” (used to express something negative gently)

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ は ＋ ちょっと…
    Key Point:

    Used to avoid saying something directly negative.

    ちょっと means “a little,” but in this context, it implies reluctance or dislike.

    The sentence is left unfinished to soften the impact.

    Implies meanings like “It’s not good for me” or “I’m not comfortable with it.”

    Example
    Ａ：
    日本[にほん]の　食[た]べ物[もの]、何[なに]が　好[す]きですか？ What Japanese food do you like?
    Ｂ：
    天[てん]ぷらが　好[す]きです。 I like tempura.
    Ａ：
    刺身[さしみ]は？ How about sashimi?
    Ｂ：
    刺身[さしみ]は、ちょっと…。 I don’t really like sashimi.

    ■ V-ますか？（マス-form）

    Meaning: “Asking questions using V?” (polite question form)

    Formation:
    Verb (マス-form) ＋ か？
    Key Point:

    Form a question by adding か and using rising intonation.

    ■ V-る？（Dictionary-form）

    Meaning: “Asking questions using V” (casual question)

    Formation:
    Verb (dictionary form) ＋ ？
    Key Point:

    Used in casual speech with friends or subordinates.

    Just say the dictionary form with rising intonation to make it a question.

    Example ①
    Ａ：
    コーヒー、飲[の]みますか？ Would you like coffee?
    Ｂ：
    はい、お願[ねが]いします。 Yes, please.
    Ａ：
    ミルクは？ How about milk?
    Ｂ：
    いえ、けっこうです。 No, thank you.
    Example ②
    Ａ：
    何[なに]、飲[の]みますか？ What would you like to drink?
    Ｂ：
    紅茶[こうちゃ]、お願[ねが]いします。 Tea, please.
    Example ③
    Ａ：
    何[なに]、飲[の]む？ What do you want to drink?
    Ｂ：
    オレンジジュース、お願[ねが]いします。 Orange juice, please.

    ■ Nを　V-ます

    Meaning: “[Someone] does V (to N).” (expresses action toward an object)

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ を ＋ Verb (マス-form)
    Key Point:

    The particle を marks the direct object of the verb.

    を is written as “を” but pronounced [o].

    In casual or question forms, を is sometimes omitted when it’s clear from context.

    Example
    Ａ：
    朝[あさ]ご飯[はん]、いつも、何[なに]、食[た]べますか？ What do you usually eat for breakfast?
    Ｂ：
    ごはんと　みそ汁[しる]を　食[た]べます。 I eat rice and miso soup.
    Ａ：
    Cさんは？ How about you, C-san?
    Ｃ：
    私[わたし]は、パンと　果物[くだもの]を　食[た]べます。ジュースを　飲[の]みます。 I eat bread and fruit. I drink juice.

    ■ （Nは）V-ません

    Meaning: “[Someone] does not V.” (polite negative form)

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ は ＋ Vます ＋ ません
    Key Point:

    Negative form of the マス-form.

    Use ～ません to politely express that you don’t do something.

    In negative sentences, the particle を often becomes は to emphasize the contrast.

    ■ V-ないです

    Meaning: “[Someone] does not V.” (casual negative form)

    Formation:
    Vない ＋ です
    Key Point:

    Casual and commonly used in spoken language.

    Formed by changing the dictionary-form verb to its ナイ-form and adding です.

    Has the same meaning as Vません.

    Learn both forms to understand both polite and natural spoken Japanese.

    Example
    Ａ：
    朝[あさ]ご飯[はん]、何[なに]、食[た]べますか？ What do you eat for breakfast?
    Ｂ：
    朝[あさ]ご飯[はん]は、食[た]べません。 I don’t usually eat breakfast.
    Ａ：
    私[わたし]も、食[た]べないです。コーヒーを　飲[の]みます。 I don’t eat breakfast, either. I drink coffee.

    ■ いつも／よく ＋ V-ます

    Meaning: “Always / Often do V”

    Formation:
    Adverb of frequency ＋ Vます
    Key Point:

    いつも = always

    よく = often

    These adverbs indicate a high frequency of action.

    They can be placed before or after the object in the sentence.

    ■ あまり ＋ V-ません

    Meaning: “Not ~ very often”

    Formation:
    あまり ＋ Negative verb form (V-ません)
    Key Point:

    あまり is used only with negative verbs.

    Indicates a low frequency (not often, rarely).

    Example
    Ａ：
    朝[あさ]ご飯[はん]、いつも、何[なに]、食[た]べますか？ What do you usually eat for breakfast?
    Ｂ：
    パンを　食[た]べます。果物[くだもの]を　よく　食[た]べます。 I eat bread. I often eat fruit.
    Ａ：
    卵[たまご]を　食[た]べますか？ Do you eat eggs?
    Ｂ：
    卵[たまご]は、あまり　食[た]べません。 I rarely eat eggs.