How can you add information to a noun and explain the noun more specifically.
When you read this article, you will learn how to say that this is my pen or this is a key to a car in Japanese.
how to use の
の describes next noun.
For example, これは ねこです。This is a cat.
You want to explain who the cat belongs to.
You can say これは わたしの ねこです。This is my cat.
Now, we understand whose cat this is.
Another example is here.
これは かぎです。This is a key, but you want to explain what kind of key it is.
You can say これは くるまの かぎです。This is a key to a car.
Now, we understand what kind of key it is.
Remember that the structure is different between Japanese and English.
Therefore, A key to a car is くるまの かぎ。
how to ask and answer
You found a key and you want to ask what key this is.
You can say これは なんの かぎですか。
Then, the answer will be くるまの かぎです。
Everyone knows the subject is これ, so you don’t have to say これは くるまの かぎです when you answer.
If you want to ask whose key this is, you would say これは だれの かぎですか。
The answer would be わたしのです。
When you answer, you don’t have to say かぎ again because everyone knows we are talking about the key.
Please keep in mind that you cannot forget to add の.
If you answer これは わたしです, it means this is me.
You’re not a key, so you should add の, わたしのです.
When you want to ask where this is from, you could say これは どこの 〇〇ですか。
Where does this wine come from?
If someone ask you これは どこの ワインですか, you can say イタリアのです。
If you want to know question words more, please read this article.
Let’s learn Japanese words for question
conclusion
If you want to explain a noun more specifically, you would use の.
| Question | Answer |
| これは なんの かぎですか。 | くるまの かぎです。 |
| これは だれの かぎですか。 | わたしのです。 |
| このワインは どこの ですか。 | イタリアのです。 |
れんしゅう
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