N4

Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics

Learn how Japanese clauses come before nouns and how to read basic noun-modifying structures smoothly.

Understand that Japanese relative clauses come before the noun they modify.Read basic noun-modifying patterns with verbs and adjectives.Track particles correctly inside the modifying clause.

Guided study

Core idea

In Japanese, a clause can directly modify a noun without a relative pronoun like 'who' or 'that.' The whole clause comes before the noun.

昨日買った本を読みました。

I read the book that I bought yesterday.

The whole clause 昨日買った modifies 本.

Interactive word chips will appear once token metadata is added.

駅の近くにある店は安いです。

The store that is near the station is cheap.

駅の近くにある describes which 店.

Interactive word chips will appear once token metadata is added.