Eng 
日本語 
5. no – の
の Can be used to express possession of an object – the following sentences show that it is an easy sentence pattern to learn and remember.
[Posession]
watashi no kuruma – My car.
私の車
tomodachi no hon – My friend’s book.
友達の本
の Can also be used to express affiliation to an organization in Japanese such as the following sentences.
[Affiliation]
A-sha no shain – An employee of Company A
A 社の社員
A-Daigaku no gakusei – A Student of University A
A-大学の学生
Further to this – の can be used to describe an attribute of a person or object’s identity. Just like in English – we have the ability to do this by saying that someone is a “Japanese Teacher” – we can use の in the same way.
[Attribute (Type/Nature)]
Nihongo no sensei – Japanese Teacher
日本語の先生
ichigo no shabetto – Strawberry Sherbert
いちごのシャーベット
Additionally, の can be used for Apposition / when there is a relationship between two people
[Apposition]
Tomodachi no Yoko-San – My friend yoko
友達のよこ
otto no Tomu – My Husband Tom
夫のトム
There is one more use for the の particle – which is using it as a pronoun. We have the same pattern in english – we can say “the X one”.
[Pronoun]
akai no – The red one.
赤いの
atsui no – The hot one.
暑いの
6. to – と
The to – と particle in Japanese can be used to signify partnership in action – or to form pairs – here are several examples of the Japanese particle in use.
[A partner in an action]
Tomodachi to eiga o mimashita. – I saw a movie with my friend.
友達と映画を見ました。
Eri-san to kekkon shimashita. – I married Eri-san.
エリさんと結婚しました。
Shacho to hanashimasu. – I will speak with the CEO/Boss.
社長と話します。
[Parallel phrases]
pan to tomago – Bread and Eggs
パンと卵。
7. mo – も
The mo も particle is used to signify similarity and agreement in Japanese. Additionally it can be used to add emphasis to a particular statement in Japanese.
[Sameness / Agreement]
Kore mo onegaishimasu – I’ll have this too please.
これもお願いします.
Watashi mo eiga ga suki desu. – I also like movies.
私も映画が好きです.
[Emphasis]
Wain o go-hon mo nomimashita. – I drank five bottles of wine!
ワインを五本も飲みました.
8. kara – から
Kara is used in Japanese to signify the origin of duration or origin of motion.
[Origin of duration or motion]
Uchi kara gakko made sanjuppun kakarimasu. – It takes thirty minutes to get from our house to the school.
うちから学校まで三十分かかります.
9. made – まで
Just like with Kara – Made (まで) is used to signify the end point of a duration or motion.
[Termination of duration or motion]
Ku-ji kara juichi-ji made benkyo shimasu. – I study from nine until eleven o’clock.
九時から十一時まで勉強します。
10. Ga – が
The Ga (が) Particle can be used for several cases. Although the particle “ga” essentially follows the subject of a sentence, it sometimes provides a function similar to other particles. Because this can make “ga” confusing to use, try to remember the five patterns below.
[The subject of an interrogative sentence that uses an interrogative word]
Dare ga kimasu ka – Who is coming?
誰が来ますか?
Itsu ga ii desu ka. – When would be a good time?
いつがいいですか ?
[The subject of a sentence denoting possession or location]
Uchi ni pasokon ga arimasu. – We have a computer at our home.
うちにパソコンがあります。
Toire ni neko ga imasu. – There is a cat in the restroom.
トイレに猫がいます。
[The subject of an embedded clause modifying a noun phrase]
Kore wa Betoben ga tsukutta kyoku desu. – This is a piece of music that is composed by Beethoven.
これはベートーヴェンが作った曲です。
[Objects]
(1) suki, kirai, jouzu, heta (Like, Dislike, Be Good At, Be Bad At)
好き、嫌い、上手、下手
Sakka ga suki desu. I like Soccer.
サッカが好きです。
(2) wakaru, dekiru, mieru, kikoeru (understand, can do, can see, can hear)
わかる、できる、見える、聞こえる
Koko kara Fuji-san o miru koto ga dekimasu. – It is possible to see Mount Fuji from here.
ここから富士山を見ることができます。
(3) hoshii, shitai (want/need, want to do)
欲しい、したい
Atarashii terebi ga hoshii desu. – I want a new TV.
新いテレビが欲しいです。
Nihongo ga benkyou shitai desu. – I want to study Japanese.
日本語が勉強したいです。
[An aspect of part of the subject.]
Imoto wa kami ga nagai. – My younger sister has long hair.
妹うは髪が長い。
Nihon wa hanzai ga sukunai.
日本は犯罪が少ない。
Nihongo Fun & Easy
Content originally appeared in Nihongo Fun & Easy – written by Teachers from Coto Japanese Academy – Get it here:
If you find this article helpful, Check out our other Basic Japanese Grammar Guide Series
Basic Grammar Guide Part I
Basic Grammar Guide Part II
Basic Grammar Guide Part IV
