JLPT N5 · Particles: roles and direction

NのN

Marks possession, type, or relation

Meaning

Marks possession, type, or relation.

Formation

  1. N1 + の + N2, the modifier comes first: 日本語の本
  2. Chains are fine: 田中さんの日本語の本

When to use it

Core use
Marks possession, type, or relation

Examples

13 sentences
  • 田中たなかさんのかばんです

    It is Mr. Tanaka's bag.

  • 駅えきの前まえの店みせでパンを買いましたかいました

    I bought bread at the shop in front of the station.

  • 父ちちの鍵かぎを借りかりました

    I borrowed my father's key.

  • 田中たなかさんは日本語にほんごの先生せんせいです

    Mr. Tanaka is a teacher of Japanese.

  • これは友達ともだちの本ほんです

    This is my friend's book.

  • 父ちちの傘かさを借りかりました

    I borrowed my father's umbrella.

  • 机つくえの上うえの本ほんを取っとってください

    Please pass me the book on the desk.

5 more examples
  • これは日本にほんの車くるまです

    This is a Japanese car.

  • 木きの机つくえを買いかいました

    I bought a wooden desk.

  • 去年きょねんの夏なつは暑かったあつかったです

    Last summer was hot.

  • 父ちちのかばんを借りかりました

    I borrowed my father's bag.

  • 田中たなかさんのお兄さんおにいさんは医者いしゃです

    Mr. Tanaka's older brother is a doctor.

Important notes

  • の links two nouns, and the modifying noun comes first: 日本語の本 (a Japanese-language book / a book about Japanese), 私の本 (my book). Links can be chained: 田中さんの日本語の本.

Common mistakes

  • Do not add の after an i-adjective or a verb before a noun: 新しい本, 昨日買った本. A na-adjective takes な: 静かな町.

Check yourself

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

  1. Sentence 1: これは日本にほんの車くるまです

  2. Sentence 2: 去年きょねんの夏なつは暑かったあつかったです

  3. Sentence 3: 田中たなかさんのお兄さんおにいさんは医者いしゃです

Similar grammar

    Hear it in podcasts

    The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

    The trainer requires a free account. Examples and practice questions on this page are available without signing up.

    All N5 grammarPractise in the app