KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Copulas and sentence types

〜です

Forms a polite nominal statement

Meaning

です ends a polite statement after a noun or na-adjective; after an i-adjective it adds politeness to the whole statement.

Formation

  1. Noun + です: 学生です; na-adjective stem + です: 静かです.
  2. Keep the i-adjective unchanged: 面白いです, 暑いです.

When to use it

Identifying something
Politely names an object, occupation, place, date, or another nominal property.
Polite description
Makes an adjective statement neutral and polite.

Examples

21 sentences

  • この本ほんは面白いおもしろいです

    This book is interesting.

  • これはペンです

    This is a pen.

  • 部屋へやは静かしずかです

    The room is quiet.

  • あの建物たてものは図書館としょかんです

    That building is a library.

  • 田中たなかさんは元気げんきです

    Mr. Tanaka is well.

  • 今日きょうは暑いあついです

    It is hot today.

  • 私わたしの趣味しゅみは読書どくしょです

    My hobby is reading.

  • このかばんは丈夫じょうぶです

    This bag is sturdy.

13 more examples

  • 次つぎの駅えきは新宿しんじゅくです

    The next station is Shinjuku.

  • 問題もんだいは簡単かんたんです

    The problem is easy.

  • このバスは駅えきまで二百円にひゃくえんです

    The fare on this bus to the station is 200 yen.

  • 今日きょうは金曜日きんようびです

    Today is Friday.

  • トイレは二階にかいです

    The restroom is on the second floor.

  • 今いま三時さんじです

    It is three o'clock now.

  • このりんごは一つひとつ百円ひゃくえんです

    These apples are one hundred yen each.

  • この公園こうえんはとてもきれいです

    This park is very beautiful.

  • 田中たなかさんの家いえは大きいおおきいです

    Mr. Tanaka's house is big.

  • この料理りょうりは少しすこし辛いからいです

    This dish is a little spicy.

  • 駅えきの前まえはいつもにぎやかです

    It is always lively in front of the station.

  • 私わたしの誕生日たんじょうびは五月ごがつ十日とおかです

    My birthday is May 10.

  • ここは有名ゆうめいなレストランです

    This is a famous restaurant.

Important notes

  • Non-past です can describe a present state or a general fact; context supplies the exact time.
  • です is natural in ordinary polite speech, while close conversation often uses plain forms.

Common mistakes

  • Do not add だ after an i-adjective: 高いです or plain 高い is correct, not 高いだ.
  • Negate an i-adjective with くない rather than ではありません.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 次つぎの駅えきは新宿しんじゅくです
  2. このりんごは一つひとつ百円ひゃくえんです
  3. ここは有名ゆうめいなレストランです

Similar grammar

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