い-adjectives and な-adjectives
Use the correct ending before a noun and at the end of a sentence.
An い-adjective attaches directly to a noun, as in 高い本. In a polite predicate use 高いです. Its negative is 高くないです and past is 高かったです. The common adjective いい uses よい-based forms such as よくない and よかった.
A な-adjective uses な before a noun: 静かな町. Its predicate uses noun-like endings: 静かです, 静かではありません, 静かでした. きれい is a な-adjective even though its spelling ends in い.
Examples
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- このkonothis (before a noun)
- ほんhonbook
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- たかくないtakakunainot expensiveThe negative form of the い-adjective 高い.
- です。desupolite sentence endingWith this adjective, です adds polite style; English supplies “is” in its adjective construction.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- しずかなshizukanaquiet (before a noun)静か is a な-adjective; な connects it to 町.
- まちmachitown
- です。desuis (polite)
“It” is understood from context. English adds the article “a”.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きのうkinouyesterday
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- よかったです。yokattadesuwas good (polite)The past form of いい uses the よい stem: よかった. です adds polite style.
Keep in mind
Do not infer the class from spelling alone, and do not write 静かなです at the end of a sentence.