Japanese learning (A2 S22): Application of Verb Modified Noun to a Predicate of Noun Predicate Sentence: [Subject] wa [Verb Clause] + [Noun] desu.

We have learned how to modify a noun with verb clause at exercise A1 in Section 22. But examples shown there were not sentence, but phrases. How can we use those phrases in a sentence? To begin with, let us think about where a noun is used in sentences.

– Noun predicate sentence: [Subject] wa [Predicate] desu.

=> [Predicate] is a noun => Exercise A2 : [Predicate] = verb-modified-noun

=> [Subject] is a noun => Exercise A3 : [Subject] = verb-modified-noun

– Transitive verb sentence: [Subject] wa [Object] o [Transitive Verb] masu.

=> [Object] is a noun => Exercise A4 : [Object] = verb-modified-noun

– Wa-ga construction : [Topic] wa [Subject] ga [Predicate]

=> [Subject] is a noun => Exercise A5 and A6 : [Subject] = verb-modified-noun

   — Predicates are adjectives in A5, and intransitive verb for existence “Aru/Arimasu” in A6.

Today we are going to learn A2 which uses “verb-modified-noun” for a predicate in noun predicate sentence.

1. [Subject] wa {[Verb clause] + [Noun]} desu.

And a quick review of “verb clause” to modify a noun is that the ending of the verb clause needs to be “concise ending”.

Take a look at the following noun predicate sentence.

2. Kore wa Kyoukasho desu. (This is a textbook.)

The sentence 2 is a correct one. But you may feel this sentence doesn’t have good information. Then let’s apply a verb modification to the predicate “Kyoukasho”.

2’. Kore wa Ichnen-sei ga Tsukau Kyoukasho desu. (This is a textbook that the first-grade students use.)

3. Satou-san wa Hito desu. (Sato-san is a person.)

This is apparently a sentence whose information is not enough.

3’. Satou-san wa Uwagi o Kite iru Hito desu. (Sato-san is the one who is wearing a Jacket.)

4. Koko wa Basho desu. (This is a place.)

This, too, lacks information. Let’s put a modification with a verb in front of the noun “Basho”.

4’. Koko wa Takushii ni Noru Basho desu. (Here is the place we get on a taxi.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section22 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”