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N4

Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

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.

  1. Target signal

    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.

    Vocabulary notes
    した
    did
    昨日きのう
    yesterday
    をお
    object marker

  2. Compare in context

    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.

    Vocabulary notes
    あるありません
    there is not; do not have
    ある
    to exist; to have

Section 2 of 3

How the structure works

Read from the end of the phrase backward: first find the noun, then see what information before it describes it. Tense and particles stay inside the clause.

  1. Target signal

    姉が作ったケーキはおいしかったです。

    The cake that my older sister made was delicious.

    姉が is the subject inside the clause.

    Vocabulary notes
    ケーキ
    cake
    しか
    only; nothing but
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

  2. Preview

    図書館で借りた映画を見ました。

    I watched the movie that I borrowed from the library.

    Particles stay inside the modifying clause just as in a full sentence.

    Vocabulary notes
    見ましたみました
    looked at; saw
    図書館としょかん
    library
    した
    did

Section 3 of 3

Reading strategy

Do not look for a word like 'that.' Instead, treat the whole chunk before the noun as one unit. This is essential for reading longer Japanese sentences.

  1. Target signal

    日本で撮った写真を友だちに見せました。

    I showed my friend the photos that I took in Japan.

    日本で撮った works as one chunk before 写真.

    Vocabulary notes
    友だちともだち
    friend
    した
    did
    写真しゃしん
    photograph; photo

  2. Preview

    父が毎朝読む新聞です。

    It is the newspaper that my father reads every morning.

    父が毎朝読む describes 新聞 before the main predicate.

    Vocabulary notes
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are
    新聞しんぶん
    newspaper
    毎朝まいあさ
    every morning

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics changes the meaning before you check the translation.

昨日買った本を読みました。 駅の近くにある店は安いです。 姉が作ったケーキはおいしかったです。 図書館で借りた映画を見ました。 日本で撮った写真を友だちに見せました。 父が毎朝読む新聞です。

Show English translation

I read the book that I bought yesterday. The store that is near the station is cheap. The cake that my older sister made was delicious. I watched the movie that I borrowed from the library. I showed my friend the photos that I took in Japan. It is the newspaper that my father reads every morning.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

In Japanese relative clauses, where does the modifying clause appear?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics).

昨日買った本を読みま＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1駅の近くにある店は安いです。
  2. 2姉が作ったケーキはおいしかったです。
  3. 3昨日買った本を読みました。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Relative Clauses I: Noun Modification Basics in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

In Japanese relative clauses, where does the modifying clause appear?