G11 · い-adjectives

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go
• G10say where you do something

What you learn

〜は 〜いです／〜くないです

• くないnegative い-adjective

い-adjectives end in い and take です: たかいです. To negate them, the final い becomes くない: たかくないです. いい is irregular: よくないです.

• ほんは たかいです。hon wa takai desu.The book is expensive.
• ほんは たかくないです。hon wa takakunai desu.The book isn't expensive.
• きょうは さむくないです。kyou wa samukunai desu.It isn't cold today.
• わたしの へやは おおきくないです。watashi no heya wa ookikunai desu.My room isn't big.
• えきは ちかいです。eki wa chikai desu.The station is close.
• てんきは よくないです。tenki wa yokunai desu.The weather isn't good.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.