XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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16. Can you say “Japanese books are this one and this one” in Japanese?

 16. Connecting Nouns with "N1 to N2"



The "と(to)" particle in this structure pattern is used to link two words, N1 and N2, that are related in some way.

リンさんとウォンさんは中国語の学生です。
Rin-san to Ō-san wa chūgokugo no gakusē desu. 
Ling and Wong are Chinese students.

日本語の本はこれとこれです。
Nihongo no hon wa kore to kore desu. 
Japanese books are this one and this one.

このクラスの先生は田中先生と木村先生と山田先生です。
Konokurasunosensē wa Tanaka-sensē to Kimura-sensē to Yamada-sensē desu.
The teachers of this class are Ms Tanaka, Mr Kimura and Ms Yamada.


Please note that the particle "to" in this structure pattern is not exactly the same as "and" in English. In Japanese, "to" is not used to connect two adjectives, verbs, or sentences.

[Incorrect]
メアリーさんはきれいとやさしいです。
Mearī-san wa kirei to yasashī desu. 
Mary is beautiful and kind.

先週、（わたしは）東京へ行きましたとお寺を見物しました。
Senshū, (watashi wa) Tōkyō he ikimashita, to otera o kenbutsu shimashita.
Last week, I went to Tokyo and visited a temple.

[Correct]
メアリーさんはきれいでやさしいです。
Mearī-san wa kirei de yasashī desu. 


先週、東京へ行ってお寺を見物しました。
Senshū, (watashi wa) Tōkyō he itte otera o kenbutsu shimashita.
To express the sentences mentioned above, you need to change "と(to)" into the "te-form." We will cover the te-form in a later chapter.


Location: Japan

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