Lesson article
Spot the signal, compare it, then read it in context
Read all 3 sections in order. Notice the target form, compare it with the nearby alternative, then use the reading and practice below to check the meaning in context.
Section 1 of 3
Adjectives before nouns
In Japanese, adjectives come before the noun they describe. い-adjectives appear directly before the noun, while な-adjectives take な before the noun.
Target signal
大きい白い犬がいます。
There is a big white dog.
Two い-adjectives can both appear before the noun.
Vocabulary notes
- います
- there is; exists (animate)
- 大きい
- big; loud
- いま
- now
Compare in context
静かな図書館です。
It is a quiet library.
A な-adjective needs な before the noun.
Vocabulary notes
- 図書館
- library
- かな
- I wonder; maybe
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
Compare in context
きれいな公園です。
It is a beautiful park.
You can combine an adjective and a place noun in one short phrase.
Vocabulary notes
- きれいな
- clean; pretty (before a noun)
- きれい
- pretty; neat
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
Section 2 of 3
Describing places with adjectives
After you learn the noun phrase, you can also describe a place or object as the sentence predicate. Read the adjective after the topic, then connect it to the noun or place being described.
Target signal
あの店はにぎやかです。
That shop is lively.
にぎやか is a common place-description adjective.
Vocabulary notes
- にぎやか
- lively; bustling
- あの
- that; that over there
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
Preview
この部屋は小さいです。
This room is small.
You can describe a room with a simple adjective predicate.
Vocabulary notes
- 小さい
- small
- この
- this
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
Preview
この公園は静かできれいです。
This park is quiet and beautiful.
Two qualities can be connected with て-form or read as a combined description in context.
Vocabulary notes
- きれい
- pretty; neat
- この
- this
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
Section 3 of 3
Reading short descriptions
When you read a short noun phrase, do not stop at each word. Keep the adjectives together with the noun and read them as one description unit.
Target signal
新しい小さいかばんです。
It is a new small bag.
Read 新しい + 小さい + かばん as one chunk.
Vocabulary notes
- かばん
- bag
- 小さい
- small
- 新しい
- new
Preview
駅の近くの大きい公園です。
It is a big park near the station.
A short place description can stay very compact.
Vocabulary notes
- 大きい
- big; loud
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are
- 公園
- park
Preview
きれいな白いねこです。
It is a beautiful white cat.
This pattern shows a な-adjective and an い-adjective before one noun.
Vocabulary notes
- きれいな
- clean; pretty (before a noun)
- きれい
- pretty; neat
- です
- to be (polite); is; am; are