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Japanese Grammar

2018.09.13 / Last modified at 2019.02.28

What is grammar? When we try to tell something, we use “words” and the words should put together to create a proper sentence. In order to make your sentences correctly, you must follow its “set of rules“.

Units of words and how to create sentences

Units of words

Phrases that are one of the units of words and it refers to the shortest part of a range that makes sense are important when you think Japanese grammar. When you first learned grammar, it is said that “A place that isn’t unnatural if you put 「ネ」(ne) is a delimit of a phrase.”.

e.g.)「今日はとてもいい天気です。」(Kyo u ha to te mo i i te n ki de su) =It is very good weather today.

→「今日はネ／とてもネ／いい天気です。」

「赤いチューリップの花が咲いた。」(a ka i tyu-rippu no ha na ga sa i ta) =Red tulip flowers bloomed.

→「赤いネ／チューリップのネ／花がネ／咲いた。」

Units of words are arranged in descending order of units: sentences > sentence(“.” to “.”) > phrase > word.

How to create sentences

A sentence is made of:

Subject: 雨が降る。(a me ga hu ru) It is rain.
Predicate (Verb): 虫が鳴く。(mu shi ga na ku) Insects crow.
Modifier: 彼は、速く走れる。(ka re wa ha ya ku ha shi re ru) He can run fast.
Conjunction: おなかが空いたので、お菓子を食べた。(o na ka ga su i ta no de o ka shi wo ta be ta) I ate snacks because I’m hungry.
Independent word: さあ、行こう！(sa- i ko u) Alright, let’s go!

Part of speech

A part of speech

Independent words that have to utilize: Verb, Adjective, Adjective verb
1. A group whose basic form of a word’s the end with a sound of 「う(u)」 syllable such as「書く(ka ku=write)」and「読む(yo mu=read)」 is called Verb.
2. A group whose basic form of a word’s the end with a sound of 「い(i)」 syllable such as 「楽しい(ta no shi i=enjoynable)」and「多い(o o i=many)」 is called Adjective.
3. A group whose basic form of a word’s the end with a sound of 「だ(da)」 syllable such as 「穏やかだ(o da ya ka da=calm)」and「元気だ(ge n ki da=fine)」 is called Adjective verb.
  - These three part of speech that can become Predicate alone are called 「用言(yo u ge n=inflection)」.

Independent words that don’t have to utilize: Noun, Adverb, Ad-nominal, Conjunction, Interjection
1. A group which mainly becomes subject such as 「私(wa ta shi=I)」and「富士山 (Fu ji sa n=Mt. Fuji)」 is called Noun.
  - A noun that can become Subject alone is called 「体言(ta i ge n=substantive)」.
2. A group which mainly becomes attributive modifier that qualifies inflections such as 「とても(to te mo=really)」and「すぐに(su gu ni=soon)」 is called Adverb.
3. A group which mainly becomes attributive modifier that qualifies substantives such as 「あの(a no=that)」and「たいした(ta i shi ta=great)」 is called Ad-nominal.
4. A group which becomes connected words such as 「だから(da ka ra=so)」and「しかし(shi ka shi=but)」 is called Conjunction.
5. A group which becomes independent words such as 「はい(ha i=Yes)」and「こんにちは(ko n ni chi wa=Hello)」 is called Interjection.

A dependent word that has utilize: Auxiliary verb

A dependent word that doesn’t have to utilize: Post-position

Demonstrative

It is a word pointing things, nature, condition etc. is called 「”こそあど”言葉(“ko so a do” ko to ba)」.

“This” 「これ(ko re)」 (近称=Ki n sho u) is close to you.

“That” 「あれ(a re)」(中称=Chu- sho u) is far from you and the other person.

“That” 「それ(so re)」(遠称=E n sho u) is close to the other person.

“Which” 「どれ(do re)」(不定称=Fu te i sho u) is not determined how far from you.

Type of sentence

Categorization of meaning

Declarative sentence 平叙文(he i jo bu n): It is a sentence that describe a meaning of assertion and guess. It is common that a declaration phrase is the final form of inflection or auxiliary verb.
- e.g.) 私は会社員です。(wa ta shi wa ka i sha i n de su)=I’m a office worker.

Interrogative sentence 疑問文(gi mo n bu n): It is a sentence that states a meaning of interrogation and rhetorical question. It is common that a declaration phrase’s end with “ka(?)” of a particle.
- e.g.)今日のお昼ご飯は何を食べましたか。(kyo u no o hi ru go ha n wa na ni wo ta be ma shi ta ka)=What did you eat for lunch today?

Exclamatory sentence 感嘆文(ka n ta n bu n): It is a sentence that meaning of impression. It is often accompanied by interjection and the proportional particle that express a meaning of impression.
- e.g.)ああ、素敵な景色だ。(a a ki re i na ke shi ki da)=Wow, what a beautiful landscape!

Imperative sentence 命令文(me i re i bu n): It is a sentence that describes a meaning of instruction, prohibition, and desire. A declaration phrase finish the form of instruction and 「な(na)」that express prohibition.
- e.g.)ここでたばこは吸うな。(ko ko de ta ba ko wo su u na)=Do not smoke here.

Categorization of structure

Simple sentence 単文(ta n bu n): It is a sentence that consists only of a relationship between subject and predicate.
- e.g.)私は会社員です。(wa ta shi wa ka i sha i n de su)=I’m a office worker.

Complex sentence 複文(hu ku bu n): It is a sentence that has multiple relationships between subject and predicate and is not in a parallel relationship.
- e.g.)私は会社員を辞め、教師になった。(wa ta shi wa ka i sha i n wo ya me kyo u shi ni na tta)=I quit a office worker and became a teacher.

Compound sentence 重文(ju u bu n): It is a sentence that has multiple relationships between subject and predicate and is a parallel relationship.
- e.g.)私は教師になり、彼は医師になった。(wa ta shi wa kyo u shi ni na ri ka re wa i sha ni na tta)=I became a teacher and he became a doctor.