KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Copulas and sentence types

NはNです

Builds the basic sentence 'X is Y'

Meaning

The particle は sets the topic, and the part before です identifies or classifies that topic.

Formation

  1. Put the topic before は, then a noun phrase and です: N1はN2です.
  2. In this particle use, は is written ha but pronounced wa.

When to use it

Introducing someone or something
States a person's name, occupation, role, or an object's identity.
Classification
Says what category an already established topic belongs to.

Examples

20 sentences

  • 東京とうきょうは日本にほんの首都しゅとです

    Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

  • 私わたしは学生がくせいです

    I am a student.

  • 田中たなかさんは先生せんせいです

    Mr. Tanaka is a teacher.

  • これは日本にほんの本ほんです

    This is a Japanese book.

  • 私わたしの名前なまえはアンナです

    My name is Anna.

  • あの人ひとは医者いしゃです

    That person is a doctor.

  • 今日きょうは月曜日げつようびです

    Today is Monday.

  • 猫ねこは動物どうぶつです

    A cat is an animal.

12 more examples

  • この店みせは日本料理にほんりょうりの店みせです

    This restaurant is a Japanese restaurant.

  • 兄あには会社員かいしゃいんです

    My older brother is a company employee.

  • あの人ひとは私わたしの兄あにです

    That person is my older brother.

  • 私わたしの妹いもうとは大学生だいがくせいです

    My younger sister is a university student.

  • こちらは出口でぐちです

    This is the exit.

  • この建物たてものは美術館びじゅつかんです

    This building is an art museum.

  • あの店みせは本屋ほんやです

    That shop is a bookshop.

  • 私わたしの母ははは英語えいごの先生せんせいです

    My mother is an English teacher.

  • あの方かたは山田やまだ先生せんせいです

    That person over there is Mr. Yamada, the teacher.

  • 今日きょうの昼ご飯ひるごはんはカレーです

    Today's lunch is curry.

  • 兄あにの専門せんもんは歴史れきしです

    My older brother's specialty is history.

  • 次つぎの授業じゅぎょうは音楽おんがくです

    The next class is music.

Important notes

  • A は-topic is not always the grammatical subject; first read it as what the sentence is about.
  • Japanese often omits a topic that is already clear from context.

Common mistakes

  • Do not pronounce topic は as ha; its reading here is always wa.
  • Do not force an English pronoun into every Japanese sentence when the topic is already understood.

Check yourself

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

  1. この店みせは日本料理にほんりょうりの店みせです
  2. あの店みせは本屋ほんやです
  3. 次つぎの授業じゅぎょうは音楽おんがくです

Similar grammar

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