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Sample: Grammar in Depth

© 2021 Michio Tsutsui
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Grammar in Depth（vol.1） A. Basic sentence structures

There are three basic sentence structures in Japanese: (1) X は N-Prt V, (2) X は Y です/だ, and (3) X は Y が Z.

1. X は N1-Prt1 (N2-Prt2) V (See L.2 #2)

“X は N1-Prt1 (N2-Prt2) V” is probably the most common sentence structure in Japanese. The types of N-Prt combinations that appear in a sentence depend on the verb.

  1. 東大寺とうだいじは奈良ならにあります。(The Todaiji Temple is in Nara.)
  2. 私わたしは自転車じてんしゃで学校がっこうに行いきます。(I go to school by bike.)
  3. エリックさんはカレンさんにスカーフをあげました。(Eric gave Karen a scarf.)

2. X は Y です／だ (See L.1 #2)

The sentence structure “X は Y です／だ” can be used for the English expression “X is Y.” Here, X is a noun, and Y is either a noun or a na-adjective.

  1. 私わたしは山下やましたです。(I’m Yamashita.)
  2. ケントさんはカナダ人じんです。(Kent-san is a Canadian.)
  3. サラさんの部屋へやはきれいです。(Sarah’s room is clean.)

In addition to the above use, “X は Y です” can be used to express a variety of other meanings when those meanings are easily understood from context. For example, in (4), Mike first tells Ellen that he is majoring in math. After that, Ellen can say what she is majoring in using “X は Y です” without repeating the same verb.

  1. マイク: 私わたしは数学すうがくを専攻せんこうしています。(I’m majoring in math.)
    エレン: そうですか。私わたしは経済学けいざいがくです。(Is that so? I’m majoring in economics. (lit. I’m economics.))

(5) provides another example:

  1. 田中たなかさんは今いま、ニューヨークです。

The literal meaning of this sentence is “Tanaka-san is New York now.” However, since it is obvious that Tanaka-san is not New York, it is interpreted as “Tanaka-san is in New York now,” “Tanaka-san lives in New York now,” “Tanaka-san works in New York now,” etc. depending on the context. As a matter of fact, in many situations, “X は Y です” is used instead of “X は Y にあります／います” because it is easy to interpret “X は Y です” as “X exists in Y” when Y represents a location, as in (6) and (7).

  1. 本屋ほんやは学生がくせい会館かいかんの一階いっかいです。(The bookstore is on the first floor of the Student Union.)
  2. トイレはどこですか。(Where is the restroom?)
Sample: Grammar in Depth