Japanese Learning: Another use of I- and Na-adjectives that modifies a noun; [I-Adjective]+i+[Noun] / [Na-adjective]+na+[Noun]

To begin with, the followings are answers of quiz on February 21.

Quiz: Make “present-negative” endings;

example: Iidesu. (is good) => Yokunaidesu. (is not good)

Q1: Atarashiidesu. (is new) => Atarashikunaidesu. (is not new)

Q2: Oishiidesu. (is tasty) => Oishikunaidesu. (is not tasty)

Q3: Omoshiroidesu. (is interesting) => Omoshirokunaidesu. (is not interesting)

Q4: Takaidesu. (is expensive/tall/high) => Takakunaidesu. (is not so expensive)

Q5: Kireidesu (is beautiful/clean) => Kirei dewa arimasen / Kirei ja arimasen (is not beautiful)

Q1 to Q4 are I-adjectives, and Q5 “Kirei” is a Na-adjective.

So far, we have learned how to use I- adjectives and Na-adjectives as the predicate of a sentence. In addition, there is another major use of an adjective. Look at the followings;

– The sky is blue. — Predicative use of adjective

– I saw a blue sky. — Restrictive use of adjective

Similar things happen for Japanese adjectives.

1. Sora wa Aoi desu. — Adjective as a predicate

2. Watashi wa Aoi Sora o Mimasihta. — Adjective to modify a noun

Where;

– Sora: noun; sky

– Aoi: I-adjective; blue

The sentence 2 is a sentence of transitive verb predicate. Its structure is as follows;

[Subject] + [Object] + [Transitive verb]

= [Watashi]wa + [Aoi Sora]o + [Mi] mashita.

You see, in the object “Aoi Sora”, that adjective “Aoi” modifies noun “Sora”. Note that a modifying word (adjective) is placed in front of a modified word (noun) like “blue sky”.

Now, it’s about time to tell you definitions of Na-adjective and I-adjective. Look at the examples of these adjectives that modify nouns.

3. Shizuka + na + Kouen : Quiet park

4. Atarashi + i + Kouen : New park

Na-adjective uses “na” to modify a noun as in 3.

I- adjective uses “i” to modify a noun as in 4.

Let us continue to learn use of adjectives as modifiers for nouns tomorrow.

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A3”の内容を参照しています。>