At first, let us review ways to modify a noun. Putting aside adverbs and adverbials to modify a verb, we are just focusing on modification for a noun. The basic thing is that a modifying word is placed in front of a modified word as below;
[Modifying Word] + [Modified Word]
1. I-adjective modifies a noun
– [ Stem of I-adj ] + I + [ Noun ]
example: Aoi Sora (bule sky), Sabishii Kimochi (sad feeling)
2. Na-adjective modifies a noun
– [ Stem of Na-adj ] + na + [ Noun ]
example: Kireina Hana (beautiful flower), Shizukana Toshokan (quiet library)
3. Noun modifies another Noun
– [ Noun1 ] + no + [Noun2]
example: Nihon no Kuruma (Japanese cars), Watashi no Neko (my cat)
Then, is there a way to modify a noun with a verb? It is what we are learning today.
Recently we have learned “concise endings” in the section 20. They are a kind of writing style*, because they are used for sentence endings in a writing such as newspaper, technical report, and contract document. But the same patterns of verb predicates can also be used for a middle of a sentence, that is to be placed in front of a noun, in order to modify the noun.
The followings are examples of noun-modification with verb clause;
<1> Modified Noun is the object (-o) of a verb
– Present/future-positive:
Example: Kodomo ga Taberu Okashi (snack that kids eat)
The verb “Taberu” is in dictionary form, modifying the noun “Okashi”. “Okashi” is a noun usually being an object of the transitive verb “Taberu/Tabemasu” as “Okashi o Tabemasu”
– Present/future-negative:
Example: Kodomo ga Tabenai Okashi (snack that kids don’t eat)
– Past-positive:
Example: Kinou Tabeta Okashi (snack that I ate yesterday)
– Past-negative:
Example: Kinou Tabenakatta Okashi (snack that I didn’t eat yesterday)
<2> Modified Noun is the subject (-ga) of a verb
– Present/future-positive:
Example: Shukudai o Suru Gakusei (a student who does homework)
The verb “Suru” is in dictionary form, modifying the noun “Gakusei”. “Gakusei” is a noun usually being a subject of the verb “Suru/Shimasu” as “Gakusei ga Shukudai o Shimasu.”
– Present/future-negative:
Example: Shukudai o Shinai Gakusei (a student who doesn’t do homework)
– Past-positive:
Example: Shukudai o Shita Gakusei (a student who did homework)
– Past-negative:
Example: Shukudai o Shinakatta Gakusei (a student who didn’t do homework)
<3> Application of “V-te Iru” to Modification of a Noun
– Present-positive:
Example: Ima Aruite iru Michi (a path that I am walking on now)
“Atuite” is the Te-form of “Aruku/Arukimasu”.
– Present-negative:
Example: Dare mo Aruite inai Michi (a path that no one is walking on.)
– Past-positive:
Example: Tomodachi ga Aruite ita Michi (a path that my friend was walking on.)
– Past-negative:
Example: Dare mo Aruite inakatta Michi (a path that no one was walking on.)
*: Concise ending can also be speech style by putting ending particle like “-yo.”, “-ne”, and “-yone.” I omit mentioning this just for sake of simplicity.
This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section22 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
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