文First sentences
This is that
The first pattern to learn: name something, then say what it is. It needs only three pieces.
The pattern
Topic は, then what it is, then です
What you're talking about
田中さんはTanaka-san waAs for Tanaka…
What you're saying about it
学生です。Gakusei desu.…a student, it is.
Reading it
は is pronounced “wa” here
When は marks the topic, it's said “wa”, even though the same letter is “ha” everywhere else. Japanese has no words for “a” or “the”, and no change for singular or plural, so 学生 can mean a student, the student or students.
です goes at the very end and works a bit like “is”, “am” and “are” all at once. You also don't need to say “I” or “you” when it's obvious: 学生です alone can mean “I'm a student.”
In use
Same pattern, different words
I'm a teacher.
This is water.
Tomorrow is Wednesday.
Tokyo is a city.
It's not
Saying what something isn't
I'm not a doctor.
Yesterday was a day off.
でした is the past of です.
That wasn't a station.
Add でした to the negative to put it in the past.
A handy shortcut
は can stand in for a whole verb
Once the context is clear, です can replace a longer sentence. At a restaurant, 私はコーヒーです doesn't mean “I am coffee.” It means “I'll have coffee.” Think of it as “As for me, it's coffee.” The topic sets the scene and です finishes the thought.
Check yourself
What does this sentence say?
Put it together
My mother is a nurse.
Find the mistake
Tap the part that's wrong.
。
Say it yourself
Introduce yourself
You've just met someone at a party. Tell them your job, or that you're a student.
Automatic feedback on your own answers is coming to Premium.