G01 · は and です
Goal: build sentences with は and です (6 example sentences).
Before you start
The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.
What you learn
〜は 〜です
- はtopic particle
- ですto be (polite)
«A は B です» means «A is B». は marks what you are talking about (the topic) and is read wa; です closes the sentence politely and usually sounds «des».
Examples
- わたしは がくせいです。watashi wa gakusei desu.I am a student.
- わたしは かいしゃいんです。watashi wa kaishain desu.I am a company employee.
- これは ほんです。kore wa hon desu.This is a book.
- それは かばんです。sore wa kaban desu.That is a bag.
- ここは えきです。koko wa eki desu.This (here) is the station.
- きょうは にちようびです。kyou wa nichiyoubi desu.Today is Sunday.
Practice
Two rounds: first you pick what each sentence means; then you complete it with the missing form.
Reading in context
A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.
On the first day of class, two people introduce themselves:
「わたしは がくせいです」「わたしは せんせいです」
"watashi wa gakusei desu" "watashi wa sensei desu"
What is the second person?
Translation
"I'm a student." "I'm a teacher."