Watashi no keetai wa kore janai
Short form | Long form | |
---|---|---|
Affirmative | kore da (statement) kore no (modifier) | kore desu |
Negative | kore janai | kore janaidesu kore jaarimasen |
Past-affirmative | kore datta | kore deshita |
Past-negative | kore janakatta | kore janakattadesu kore jaarimasendeshita |
How to make short forms
To conjugate noun, you simply add “da”, “janai”, “datta”, or “janakatta” after the nouns. There are no exceptions to this rule for the conjugation of noun.
How to use short forms
There are two kinds of usage for the short forms in Japanese.
At the end of statements
Short forms are primarily used to convey direct statements. They serve various purposes, such as in soliloquies, formal reports, and other forms of direct communication. In soliloquies, individuals often use short forms to express personal thoughts or observations succinctly. Similarly, in formal reports or presentations, short forms are employed to convey information efficiently and clearly.
Additionally, short forms play a significant role in conversational contexts, particularly in relationships where there is a sense of closeness or familiarity between speakers. In such situations, short forms are commonly used to facilitate smoother and more relaxed interactions. However, in conversational settings, they are typically accompanied by ending particles that add nuance or emphasis to the statement.
Uchuujin da!
Toukyou wa nihon no shuto da.
Kare wa nihonjin janai.
Ano hito wa satousan no kareshi datta.
As modifier (in sentences)
Short forms function as modifiers, which can also take the form of clauses. Similar to adjectives, modifiers precede nouns to provide additional information or qualification. In the sentences below, words highlighted in orange serve as modifiers for the words that follow them. When a short affirmative form is used as a modifier in Japanese, it changes to “…no” before the noun it qualifies, indicating a descriptive or qualifying relationship.
Kono chiiki no shuukan (chiiki=area, shuukan=custom)
Satousan janai dareka (someone who is not Mr. Sato)
Kyonen daigakusei datta hito (a person who was a university student last year)