N5 · Lesson 1
Saying what something is
〜は 〜です
In this lesson, you will learn to introduce yourself, say what someone or something is, ask about it, say what it is not, and say “me too”. Most Japanese sentences are built on these five pieces.
By the end you will be able to say
私は リサです。I'm Lisa.
たなかさんは 先生ですか。Is Tanaka a teacher?
いいえ、先生じゃ ありません。No, (I'm) not a teacher.
これは 私の 本です。This is my book.
私も 学生です。I'm a student too.
The grammar in this lesson
- AはBです — A is B — This is the basic sentence for saying what you are or what something is.
- 〜か — turning it into a question — Add one sound to the end and any statement becomes a question.
- 〜じゃ ありません — saying what something is not — This is the negative of です.
- 〜の — linking two nouns — This links two nouns, as in my book, Lisa's bag, or a teacher of Japanese.
- 〜も — me too — Swapping one particle lets you say 'also' or 'too'.