Japanese Sentence Breakdowns for Beginners

My name is Sato.

• 私(わたし)の my [私(わたし) (I); の (‘s; possessive particle)]
• 名(な)前(まえ) name
• は as for (topic marker) [indicates the subject of the sentence]
• 佐(さ)藤(とう) Sato [a common Japanese surname; In Japanese, it's common to introduce yourself with your family name rather than your given name, particularly in more formal situations.]
• です polite copula [follows noun or adjective at the end of a sentence; です is polite copula、and だ is plain copula]

I study Japanese every day.

• 私(わたし) I
• は as for (topic marker) [indicates the topic]
• 毎日(まいにち) every day [毎(まい) (every); 日(にち) (day)]
• 日(に)本(ほん)語(ご) Japanese language [日(に)本(ほん) (Japan); 語(ご) (language)]
• を object marker [indicates the direct object of the verb]
• 勉強(べんきょう)します (I) study [polite form of 勉強(べんきょう)する (to study); 勉強(べんきょう)し (ます- stem) of勉強(べんきょう)する ;  “ます- stem V + ます” is the polite form of verbs]   

I went to Tokyo Tower yesterday.

• 昨日 yesterday [also pronounced as さくじつ which sounds very formal]
• 東京タワー Tokyo Tower [a famous landmark in Tokyo]
• に to (Tokyo Tower) [particle that indicates the direction, destination or goal of an action and etc.]
• 行きました went [past polite form of 行く (to go); plain past form is 行った (went)]

Do you like cats?

• 猫 cat
• は (contrast marker) [In addition to being the topic marker, it contrasts. 好き (to like; to be found of) is an adjective, not a verb, therefore を (direct object marker) can’t be used here. When it comes to 好き, が (subject marker) is usually used as in “猫が好きです”(I like cats). は here adds emphasis on 猫 by making a contrast to other potential pets. Both “猫が好きですか？” and “猫は、好きですか？” means the same thing. It’s a matter of nuance in relation to the whole context of a conversation. Consider the sentence withは as “As for cats, do you like them?”]
• 好き like; be fond of
• です polite copula
• か question marker [makes a sentence into a question]

This is my pencil.

• これ this
• は as for (topic marker)
• 私の my
• えんぴつ pencil
• です polite copula

She is my friend.

• 彼女 she
• は as for (topic marker)
• 私の my
• 友だち friend
• です polite copula

I have a test next week.

• 来週 next week [来 (upcoming; next); 週 (week)]
• 試験 test; exam
• が (subject marker)
• あります exist; there is; have [あります is polite form of ある(to exit; there is ; to have); used to indicate the existence of inanimate objects or events.]

Where is your room?

• あなたの your [‘s; possessive particle]
• 部屋 room
• は as for (topic marker)
• どこ where
• です polite copula
• か question marker

This is a red apple.

• これ this
• は as for (topic marker)
• 赤い red; red colored [adjective form of noun, 赤 (red; red color)]
• りんご apple
• です polite copula

I want to eat sushi.

• 私 I
• は topic marker
• おすし sushi
• が (subject marker) [おすし is the direct object of the verb: 食べたい (to want to eat), and usually を is used for it. However, when you want to emphasize the subject, が is used.]
• 食べたい want to eat [食べ (ます- stem of 食べる(to eat)); たい (to want; auxiliary verb); used in the form: “ます- stem V + たい”. ]