We have already learned two functions of I- and Na-adjectives
1. Adjective as a predicate.
– Satou-san wa Shinsetsu desu. — Na-adjective (Ms. Sato is kind.)
– Satou-san wa Yasashii desu. — I-adjective (Ms. Sato is kind.)
2. Adjective to modify a noun
– Satou-san wa Shinsetsuna Hito desu. — Na-adjective (Ms. Sato is a kind person.)
– Satou-san wa Yasashii Hito desu. — I-adjective (Ms. Sato is a kind person.)
As shown in 2 above, when Na-adjective modifies a noun, “na” is used to connect a noun;
3. Shinsen + na + Sakana : Fresh fish
4. Oishi + i + Sakana : Delicious fish
Do you remember that when a noun modifies another noun, how the two nouns are connected?
5. Umi + no + Sakana : Sea fish
If you say “Shinsen no Sakana”, it’s not completely wrong because Na-adjectives came from the combination of noun and auxiliary verb. But you should use “na” between a Na-adjective and a noun.
If you say “Oishii no Sakana”, it is completely wrong. You need to know the difference between the two;
– [Noun1] + no + [Noun2]
– [I-Adjective] + i + [Noun]
Practice and remember the following conversation.
A : Oosaka wa Donna Machi desuka. (What kind of city is Osaka?)
B : Oosaka wa Ookii Machidesu. (Osaka is a big city.)
A : Ja, Kyouto wa Donna Machi desuka. (Well, then, what kind of city is Kyoto?)
B : Kyouto wa Furui Machi desu. (Kyoto is an old city.)
<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。>
Agony or Fun?! Second Language Learning 