G12 · な-adjectives + nouns

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
• G11describe things and say they aren't

What you learn

〜な 〜です／〜い 〜です

• なlinks a な-adjective to a noun

Before a noun, an い-adjective goes as it is (あたらしい くるま) and a な-adjective takes な (げんきな いぬ). With です, a な-adjective drops な (げんきです) and is negated with じゃ ありません, not くない.

• げんきな いぬです。genki na inu desu.It's a lively dog.
• かんたんな しゅくだいです。kantan na shukudai desu.It's easy homework.
• せんせいは げんきな ひとです。sensei wa genki na hito desu.The teacher is a lively person.
• にほんごは かんたんじゃ ありません。nihongo wa kantan ja arimasen.Japanese isn't easy.
• それは あたらしい くるまです。sore wa atarashii kuruma desu.That is a new car.
• わたしは げんきです。watashi wa genki desu.I'm fine.

Practice

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