The Self_teacher of Japan language. Lesson

The first steps (continued).

Lesson 2

Translated from Russian by Nikita Anistratov
Edited by Tanya Nefyodova

Let's try to compile our first sentences in Japanese with the words we've studied.

Follow the recommendations on pronunciation given in the previous lesson.

In polite speech, a simple Japanese sentence
features the link
verb 'DESU'
at the end
of each
sentence.
watakushi wa sensei desu.
anata wa gakusei desu.
hon wa akai desu.
kuruma wa kuroi desu.
I am a teacher.
You are a student.
The book is red (The books are red).
The car is black (The cars are black).

Basically, the 'WA' topic particle identifies the topic
of your sentence.
Topic
essentially indicates what you're talking about, i.e., 'old' information.
Everything
after 'WA' is new information about your topic..

watakushi wa gakusei desu.
anata mo gakusei desu.
watakushi mo anata mo gakusei desu.

I am a student.
You are a student, too.
Both you and I are students.

hon wa akai desu.
kuruma mo akai desu.

The book is red.
The car is red, too.

watakushi no kuruma wa kuroi desu.
sensei no kuruma wa akai desu.

My car is black.
The teacher's car is red.

The 'MO'
particle is
placed instead
of the 'WA'
particle to
mean 'also,'
'too,'
'both... and...'

The 'NO'
particle
indicates
possession:
'anata no'
means
'YOUR'.

Task

Read the sentences and translate them into English.

Don't forget specifics of 'SHI' and 'SU' and reduction.

Use the SAN polite suffix to address someone
or to mention someone in a conversation.

NEVER
should you
apply SAN
to yourself!

Watakushi wa sensei des'.
Tanaka San mo sensei des'.
Tanaka San mo watashi mo sensei des'.
Anata mo Ishida San mo Yamada San mo gakusei des'.
Watashi no neko wa kuroi des'.
Anata no neko mo kuroi des'.
Anata no neko mo watashi no neko mo kuroi des'.
Tanaka San no hon wa ii des'.
Ishida sensei no hon mo ii des'.
Anata no sensei no hon mo taihen ii des'.

Select
the text
with your
mouse
to check yourself.

I am a teacher.

Mr Tanaka is also a teacher.

Both Mr Tanaka and I are teachers.

You, Mr. Ishida and Mr. Yamada are students.

My cat is black.

Your cat is black, too.

Both your cat and my cat are black.

Mr Tanaka's book is good.

Teacher Ishida's book is also good.

Your teacher's book is also very good.