Rules

Question 1

When do you use “は”/ what is the purpose?

What does it sound like as a sentence particle?

Answer 1

“は” is pronounced as “Wa” when used as a particle.

It is usually called a Topic Particle; it indicates the noun before it is the topic of the sentence

Ex. たかださん は エンギニアです。
Mr. Takada is an engineer.

Question 2

What is “です” roughly translated in English?

Answer 2

“です” roughly translates to the verb “To be”, and does not change form to agree with the subject in number or person.
*Also marks a certain level of politeness.

Question 3

What is “ではありません”?

When speaking informally what does it become?

Answer 3

“ではありません” is the negative form of “です”.

When speaking informally it is common to say “じゃありません”.

Question 3

What is “の” used for/ roughly translated into?

Answer 3

“の” is used to mark possession; to connect and relate nouns and pronouns, which create a noun phrase.
(Think “‘s” is roughly “の”)

Ex. わたし の ほんです
My book.

Question 4

When do you use the prefix “お-“?
When do you drop the prefix “お-“?

(Prefix “お-“ example can be “おなまえ” “name”)

Answer 4

You use the prefix “お-“ when asking someone else’s name, residence, etc.

You drop the prefix when referring to yourself.

Ex. おなまえは なんですか。
なまえは ブラウンです。
What is your name?
My name is Mr. Brown.

Question 5

Where would one use “か”?

What is it roughly translated into?

Answer 5

“か” is roughly the equivalent to “?” In English, and works with positive and negative sentences in Japanese.

Adding “か” to the end of a sentence makes the sentence a question.

Ex. “-ですか。” or “-ありませんか。”