This lesson focuses on one of the fundamental grammar patterns in Japanese: "A の B　 です。". This pattern is used to indicate possession or the relationship between two things. Let's break it down step by step and understand how it works.

The pattern "A の B　 です。" is composed of three parts. The first part, A, represents the possessor or owner. It can be a person, an object, or even an abstract concept. For example, in the sentence "かのじょ　 の 車　です。", the possessor is "かのじょ" which means "she," and the object is "車" meaning "car." Therefore, the English translation of this sentence would be "It is her car. or The car belongs to her."

Moving on to the second part, の, functions as a possessive marker. It connects the possessor and the object, indicating that something belongs to someone. For instance, in the sentence "わたし　 の 本　です。", the possessor is "わたし" meaning "I," and the object is "本" which means "book." Therefore, the English translation of this sentence would be "It is my book. or The book belongs to me."

The final part of the pattern is です, which is the copula verb "to be" in Japanese. It helps to link the possessor and the object together. So when we say "A の B　 です", we are stating that A (the possessor) is B (the object). This pattern is especially useful when we want to express ownership or establish a connection between two things. With practice, you'll be able to use it effortlessly and convey possessive relationships in Japanese.

1. What is the main purpose of the grammar pattern "A の B です" in Japanese?

a) To ask questions

b) To express negation

c) To indicate possession or a relationship between two things

d) To describe actions

2. What does the particle "の" do in the sentence structure "A の B です"?

a) It indicates the subject of the sentence.

b) It marks the end of the sentence.

c) It functions as a possessive marker.

d) It serves as a question marker.

3. In the sentence "かのじょ の 車　です", who is the possessor or owner?

a) かのじょ (she)

b) 車 (car)

c) 本 (book)

d) わたし (I)

4. How would you say, "It is my book" in Japanese using the grammar pattern "A の B です"?

a) わたし の 車 です。 (Watashi no kuruma desu.)

b) わたし の 本 です。 (Watashi no hon desu.)

c) かれ の 学校 です。 (Kare no gakkou desu.)

d) かれ の 家 です。 (Kare no ie desu.)

5. What does "わたし の 本 です" translate to in English using the grammar pattern "A の B です"?

a) It is her book.

b) It is my book.

c) It is his book.

d) It is their book.

Answers:

c) To indicate possession or a relationship between two things

c) It functions as a possessive marker.

a) かのじょ (she)

b) わたし の 本 です。 (Watashi no hon desu.)

b) It is my book.