fbpx

0 Comments

June 29, 2021

JLPT N5 Grammar: です・でした desu / deshita

です・でした


 ABOUT: 
■ です is a copula. You can think of it as like the English "to be" except it does not show existence--Japanese uses two other verbs for that いる iru and ある aru for that. A copula links the subject of a sentence with an expression that describes or renames the subject. In English, this is "to be."

One function of です is like an equal sign.

クレイです。 "I am Clay." [I = Clay]
これは、(ほん)です。 "This is a book." [this = book]

It also describes some property or state of the subject.

この(ねこ)は、(しろ)です
This cat is white.
[white describes the cat.]


 How to Use:

■ There are two forms: polite and informal, each with negative and past forms.


Polite

Informal

Non-past

です

Non-past Negative

ではありません
or
じゃありません

ではない
or
じゃない

Past

でした

だった

Past Negative

ではありませんでした or
じゃありませんでした

ではなかった
or
じゃなかった


Sharing is caring!

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Level up your Japanese!

free-kanji-or-hiragana-offer-final

For Total Beginners

Japanese for beginners - Beri-Beri Shoshinsha

This 15-book study guide + worksheets bundle is ON SALE. For just one-time payment only, you will get this bundle for a very low price plus you will get future contents for free (no additional charge).

Easy to follow and understand

This bundle is perfect for absolute beginners. It's thorough without being wordy, giving you exactly enough information to understand the concepts without overloading you with information. 

TheJapanShop.com Customer

Makoto+ Membership

You'll notice many TheJapanesePage.com lessons have bonus content for Makoto+ Members. Well, membership goes well beyond that. Members also get our monthly magazine for learners of Japanese (Beginners to Intermediates), weekly exclusive lessons, Podcast bonus content, and much more.

>