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Starter7

    Japanese Grammar – Places, Existence & Adjectives

    ■ ここは【place】です

    Meaning: “This is [place].”

    Formation:
    ここ ＋ は ＋ Noun ＋ です
    Key Point:

    ここ is a demonstrative meaning “here” (where the speaker is).

    Used to describe or identify a specific place.

    Example
    ここは　お風呂[ふろ]です。 This is the bath.
    ここは　ソンさんの　部屋[へや]です。どうぞ。 This is Son-san's room. Feel free to enter.

    ■ 【Place】に　Nが　あります

    Meaning: “There is N in/at [Place].”

    Formation:
    Place ＋ に ＋ Noun ＋ が ＋ あります
    Key Point:

    に indicates the location.

    が marks the thing that exists.

    Used to explain the presence or location of objects or places.

    ■ 【Place】に　Nが【Number】あります

    Meaning: “There are [Number] Ns in/at [Place].”

    Formation:
    Place ＋ に ＋ Noun ＋ が ＋ [Number] ＋ あります
    Key Point:

    Used to state the quantity of something at a certain place.

    Place the number directly before あります.

    Example
    1階[かい]に、お風呂[ふろ]と　トイレと　台所[だいどころ]と　食堂[しょくどう]が　あります。 There is a bath, toilet, kitchen, and dining room on the first floor.
    2階[かい]に　部屋[へや]が　3[みっ]つ　あります。 There are three rooms on the second floor.

    ■ （Nは）ありません

    Meaning: “There is no N.” / “N does not exist.”

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ は ＋ ありません
    Key Point:

    Negative form of あります.

    Used to state that something is not present.

    In negative sentences, the particle が often becomes は.

    ■ （Nは）ないです

    Meaning: “There is no N.” (casual)

    Formation:
    Noun ＋ は ＋ ないです
    Key Point:

    ない is the negative form of the dictionary-form ある.

    ないです is more casual and often used in spoken language.

    Has the same meaning as ありません.

    Example
    Ａ：
    部屋[へや]に　ベッドは　ありますか？ Does the room have a bed?
    Ｂ：
    はい、あります。 Yes, it does.
    Ａ：
    ふとんは？ How about a futon?
    Ｂ：
    ふとんは　ありません。 It doesn't have a futon.
    Ａ：
    あのう、部屋[へや]に　Wi-Fi は　ありますか？ Excuse me, does the room have Wi-Fi?
    Ｂ：
    ないです。 No, it doesn't.

    ■ ナ-adjective ＋ です

    Meaning: “[Something] is (ナ-adjective).”

    Formation:
    ナ-adjectiveな ＋ です
    Key Point:

    Used to describe conditions or appearances.

    Example adjectives: しずか（な）, きれい（な）

    Note: きれい is a ナ-adjective, even though it ends in い.

    ■ イ-adjectiveい ＋ です

    Meaning: “[Something] is (イ-adjective).”

    Formation:
    イ-adjectiveい ＋ です
    Key Point:

    Used to express qualities like size, color, or emotion.

    Example adjectives: せまい (narrow), おおきい (big), たのしい (fun)

    Example
    Ａ：
    家[いえ]は　どうですか？ What is the house like?
    Ｂ：
    ちょっと　古[ふる]いです。 It's a bit old.
    Ａ：
    そうですか。 I see.
    Ｂ：
    でも、とても　きれいです。 But, it's very clean.

    ■ ナ-adjective ＋ じゃないです

    Meaning: “[Something] is not (ナ-adjective).”

    Formation:

    ナ-adjectiveな ＋ じゃないです

    (Alternative formal form: じゃありません)

    Key Point:

    Used to make negative sentences with ナ-adjectives.

    ■ イ-adjective ＋ くないです

    Meaning: “[Something] is not (イ-adjective).”

    Formation:

    イ-adjectiveい ＋ くないです

    (Alternative formal form: くありません)

    Key Point:

    Used to make negative sentences with イ-adjectives.

    Example
    Ａ：
    部屋[へや]は　広[ひろ]いですか？ Are the rooms large?
    Ｂ：
    はい、広[ひろ]いです。でも、きれいじゃないです。 Yes, they are large. But, they aren't very nice.
    Ａ：
    会社[かいしゃ]は　大[おお]きいですか？ Is the company large?
    Ｂ：
    いえ、あまり　大[おお]きくないです。 No, it's not very large.