0009 : Japanese basics (N5-N3) – 13 things that we can say using XはYです。

grammar
05.03.2023

 

What can I say with the grammar pattern XはYです。? Is it the same as in English?

 

 

What is は (WA) ?

 

First of all, は is read “WA” not “HA” when it is used as a particle.

As a particle, は has many roles to play with the noun it attaches, but this time, we learn one of them, the topic.

 

When a noun becomes a topic thanks to は, it is treated as “talking about X” and this style is used much more often in Japanese than the subject which has more responsibilities (and for that we want to use it in Japanese).

 

What is です (DESU)?

 

です is the polite form of だ.

Actually, when we make a sentence like X is Y, there are two ways of expressing it in Japanese.

 

1- XはY。

2- XはYだ。

 

So, we can make it wit and without だ (and it is even possible to remove は).

But both of だ and nothing at the end sounds a bit rude and harsh.

 

So, for now, we stick to です at the end to speak Japanese politely.

 

What can we say with XはYです。?

 

As mentioned above,  XはYです。means besically 

 

X is Y.

 

And here’s the list of what we can say with the grammar pattern XはYです。at beginner level.

You don’t need to memorize it at once now but just use it for a quick check.

 

  1. Name
  2. Nationality
  3. Occupation
  4. Age
  5. Demonstrative
  6. Price
  7. Location
  8. Belonging to a groupe
  9. Time
  10. Calendar
  11. Event schedule
  12. Weather
  13. Adjective

 

Name

 

わたしはエリザベスです。

Watashi wa Elizabeth desu.

I’m Elizabeth.

 

Nationality

 

わたしはイギリス人です。

Watashi wa Igirisu jin desu.

I’m British.

 

Occupation

 

わたしは女王です。

Watashi wa jouou desu.

I’m the Queen.

 

Age

 

わたしは１８歳です。

Watashi wa juu hassai desu.

I’m 18 years old.

 

Demonstrative

 

これは地図です。

Kore wa chizu desu.

This is a map.

 

Price

 

この地図は１００万ドルです。

Kono chizu wa hyaku man doru desu.

This map costs $1 million.

 

Location

 

わたしはお城です。

Watashi wa oshiro desu.

I am in the castle.

 

Belonging to a groupe

 

わたしの学校はオックスフォード大学です。

Watashi no gakkou wa okkusu foodo daigaku desu.

My school is Oxford University.

 

Time

 

いま、イギリスは午前９時です。

Ima, igirisu wa gozen ku ji desu.

It is now 9 am in the UK.

 

Calendar

 

明日は日曜日です。

Ashita wa nichiyoubi desu.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

 

Event schedule

 

ライブは日曜日です。

Raibu wa nichiyoubi desu.

The live concert is on Sunday.

 

Weather

 

日曜日は晴れです。

Nichiyoubi wa hare desu.

Sunday is sunny.

 

Adjective

 

ライブは楽しいです。

Raibu wa tanoshii desu.

Live concerts are fun.

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