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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20. Can you say “There are a camera, a smartphone, and so on the table” in Japanese?

 20. Listing Items: "N1 ya N2 nado" 



This structure pattern is used to list multiple items, including more than two. "Nado" is used at the end of the list to indicate that additional items are included.

テーブルの上にカメラやスマホなどがあります。
Tēburu no ue ni kamera ya sumaho nado ga arimasu.
There are a camera, a smartphone, et cetera, on the table.

私の家の前にスーパーや銀行などがあります。
Uchi no mae ni sūpā ya ginkō nado ga arimasu.
There are a supermarket, a bank, et cetera, in front of my house.

In this context, "sumaho" is the abbreviation of "sumātohon," which is a loanword from English meaning "smartphone." In Japanese, "ya" is used similarly to "and" in English to connect the listed items.


You can list more than three items using this structure pattern.

机の上にカメラやスマホや腕時計などがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni kamera ya sumaho ya udedokē nado ga arimasu.
There are items like a camera, a smartphone, a watch, and so on, on the desk.


Location: Japan

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