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N4

The One That... with の

About 8 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core idea

When the noun is obvious from context, の can replace it. This is similar to saying 'the one' in English.

  1. Target signal

    赤いのがほしいです。

    I want the red one.

    の stands for an understood noun like かばん or シャツ.

    Vocabulary notes
    ほしいです
    want; would like
    ほしい
    wanted; desired
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

  2. Compare in context

    昨日買ったのはこれです。

    The one I bought yesterday is this.

    A relative clause can also come before substitute の.

    Vocabulary notes
    これ
    this
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are
    昨日きのう
    yesterday

Section 2 of 3

Patterns you will see often

Adjectives, demonstratives, and relative clauses can come before の. The missing noun is understood from context.

  1. Target signal

    大きいのより、小さいのをください。

    Please give me the small one rather than the big one.

    Both big and small items are understood from context.

    Vocabulary notes
    ください
    please give; please do
    大きいおおきい
    big; loud
    小さいちいさい
    small

  2. Preview

    私が作ったのを食べてください。

    Please eat the one I made.

    作ったの means 'the one I made.'

    Vocabulary notes
    てください〜てください
    please do ...
    ください
    please give; please do
    食べてたべて
    eat and...

Section 3 of 3

Reading and nuance

Substitute の is common in everyday conversation, shopping, and messages. Do not confuse it with explanatory の in patterns like んです.

  1. Target signal

    どのケーキが人気ですか。― チョコレートのが人気です。

    Which cake is popular? — The chocolate one is popular.

    Here の stands for the omitted cake noun after チョコレート.

    Vocabulary notes
    チョコレート
    chocolate
    ケーキ
    cake
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

  2. Preview

    机の上にあるのはだれのですか。

    Whose is the one on the desk?

    Here の stands for an omitted object.

    Vocabulary notes
    のですか
    is it that...?; explanatory question
    のです
    it is that / explanatory tone
    あるありません
    there is not; do not have

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how The One That... with の changes the meaning before you check the translation.

赤いのがほしいです。 昨日買ったのはこれです。 大きいのより、小さいのをください。 私が作ったのを食べてください。 どのケーキが人気ですか。― チョコレートのが人気です。 机の上にあるのはだれのですか。

Show English translation

I want the red one. The one I bought yesterday is this. Please give me the small one rather than the big one. Please eat the one I made. Which cake is popular? — The chocolate one is popular. Whose is the one on the desk?

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 The One That... with の 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 The One That... with の changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of The One That... with の 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

What does の do in 赤いのが好きです?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (The One That... with の).

赤いのが＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

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

  1. 1昨日買ったのはこれです。
  2. 2大きいのより、小さいのをください。
  3. 3赤いのがほしいです。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of The One That... with の in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

What does の do in 赤いのが好きです?