Unit 3 - Section 1: Xは Yです (Affirmative)

Practice Quiz

Grammar Explanation

X は Y です

This is the most basic sentence pattern in Japanese, used to express "X is Y."

Sentence Structure
[Noun] + は + [Noun/Adjective] + です
  • は: Topic-marking particle, pronounced "wa"
  • です: Copula verb, indicates a state/identification, equivalent to English 'is/am/are'

Example Sentences

私わたしは学生がくせいです。
[Watashi wa gakusei desu]
Translation: I am a student.
マイクさんは先生せんせいです。
[Maiku san wa sensei desu]
Translation: Mr. Mike is a teacher.
これは本ほんです。
[Kore wa hon desu]
Translation: This is a book.
東京とうきょうは日本にほんの首都しゅとです。
[Tokyo wa Nihon no shuto desu]
Translation: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

Vocabulary

私わたし
I / me
学生がくせい
student
先生せんせい
teacher
会社員かいしゃいん
company employee / office worker
医者いしゃ
doctor
本ほん
book
日本人にほんじん
Japanese person
中国人ちゅうごくじん
Chinese person

Study Key Points

Important Notes:
  • The particle 「は」 is written as "ha" but pronounced as "wa"
  • 「です」 is the polite form; in casual speech it is sometimes omitted
  • The subject can be omitted when it is clear from context
  • 「さん」 is an honorific title, equivalent to "Mr./Ms." in English
Practice Recommendations
  1. Make sentences using your own information: 「私は＿＿です」
  2. Introduce someone near you: 「＿＿さんは＿＿です」
  3. Describe an object around you: 「これは＿＿です」
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz