Sentence Order and ○○は ○○です

What You Will Learn in This Unit

Japanese sentences are arranged in the order subject, object, predicate. In this unit, you will learn the particles that mark each element and make self-introduction sentences by attaching です to nouns. You will also distinguish the conditions under which the subject can be omitted and the difference between the polite style and the plain style.

Word Order and Particles That Mark Elements

The basic word order in Japanese is subject → object → predicate. The position of a word does not determine its element; the particle attached after the word shows the word's role. Therefore, even if the order of the sentence changes slightly, you can identify the element by its particle.

The basic frame of a sentence is subject は object を predicate. Sentences that use a verb as the predicate are covered after Unit 24. The predicate in this unit is a noun with です attached.

は is written は, but when used as a particle it is pronounced [wa] (わたしは [watashiwa]). は marks the topic of what is being said and is often used in the subject position. わたしは is translated as 'I' or 'as for me,' but its role is to present me as the topic.

が is the particle that directly marks the subject, and its usage differs from は. The difference between the two particles is covered in Unit 19. を marks the object and is pronounced [o].

Noun + です — Polite and Plain Styles

Attaching です to a noun creates a predicate equivalent to 'is' or 'am' in polite speech. です is the polite style, and its plain-style counterpart with the same meaning is だ. だ is used in speech among family members or close friends, and in writing such as memos and diaries. The method of attaching です or だ is the same for any noun.