Grammar

The Japanese sentence structure is of course different from English and other languages but perhaps in ways you didn’t realize.

SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) – English Sentence Order

  • In English, we say things in the order:
    Subject + Verb + Object.

Example in English:

  • “I eat sushi.”
    • I (subject)
    • eat (verb)
    • sushi (object).

This is the structure English speakers are used to, so the verb comes before the object.

SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) – Japanese Sentence Order

  • In Japanese, the typical order is:
    Subject + Object + Verb.

Example in Japanese:

  • 私は寿司を食べます。(Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu.)
    • 私 (watashi) = I (subject)
    • 寿司 (sushi) = sushi (object)
    • 食べます (tabemasu) = eat (verb).

Notice that the verb (eat) always comes at the end in Japanese.

Key Difference

  • English: Action happens (verb) before the object.
    • “I eat sushi.”
  • Japanese: Action happens (verb) after you mention the object.
    • “I sushi eat.”

How to Get Used to SOV Order

Tip 1: Practice Building Sentences Backwards

  • Always put the verb last. Start simple:
    • Think: “What is the action?” → Place it at the end.
    • Add the subject and object before it.

Example:

  • English: “I watch TV.”
  • Step 1: “watch” (verb).
  • Step 2: Add “TV” (object) → “TV watch.”
  • Step 3: Add “I” (subject) → “I TV watch” (私はテレビを見ます).

Tip 2: Use Particles to Guide You

  • Japanese particles (は, を, が) help show which word is the subject or object.
    • Subject: は (wa) → Topic
    • Object: を (o) → Thing being acted on

Example:

  • “I drink water.”
    • 私 (I) → は (topic)
    • 水 (water) → を (object marker)
    • 飲みます (drink) → Verb at the end.
    • Full sentence: 私は水を飲みます (Watashi wa mizu o nomimasu).

*I will get more into Japanese particles below

Tip 3: Think of Verbs as the “Punchline”

  • In Japanese, the verb is like the conclusion of the sentence.
    • Instead of saying “I eat sushi” right away, think of it as “I sushi… eat.”

Tip 4: Practice with Examples

Here’s how common sentences would look:

  • English: “She reads a book.”
    • Japanese: 彼女は本を読みます (Kanojo wa hon o yomimasu).
  • English: “They write letters.”
    • Japanese: 彼らは手紙を書きます (Karera wa tegami o kakimasu).

Tip 5: Start Small

  • Begin with short sentences: Subject + Object + Verb.
  • Gradually add more elements, like time and place:
    • “I eat sushi.” → 私は寿司を食べます。
    • “I eat sushi at a restaurant.” → 私はレストランで寿司を食べます (Watashi wa resutoran de sushi o tabemasu).

The key is to immerse yourself in Japanese and practice a lot. Over time, SOV will start feeling natural

Particles


Japanese particles are like the glue that holds a sentence together. They’re small words that show the relationship between the other words in a sentence, helping to clarify the meaning.


Think of particles as tiny labels that tell you the role of each word in a sentence. In English, we rely on word order to understand a sentence (like “I ate cake” vs. “Cake ate I”), but in Japanese, particles do that job. Native speakers will still understand you, if you mix them up, so don’t worry too much about them at first.

Common Particles and What They Do

は (wa) – Topic Marker

  • Highlights what the sentence is about.
  • Example:
    • 私は学生です。(Watashi wa gakusei desu.)
      • “I am a student.” (The sentence is about “me.”)

が (ga) – Subject Marker

  • Points out the subject, often something new or important.
  • Example:
    • 猫がいます。(Neko ga imasu.)
      • “There is a cat.” (Focusing on the cat itself.)

を (wo/o) – Object Marker

  • Marks the thing being acted upon.
  • Example:
    • 本を読みます。(Hon o yomimasu.)
      • “I read a book.” (“Book” is the object.)

に (ni) – Time or Direction

  • Shows where something is going or when something happens.
  • Examples:
    • 学校に行きます。(Gakkou ni ikimasu.)
      • “I go to school.” (“To school.”)
    • 六時に起きます。(Roku-ji ni okimasu.)
      • “I wake up at 6 o’clock.” (“At 6 o’clock.”)

で (de) – Place or Means

  • Tells where an action happens or how it’s done.
  • Examples:
    • 図書館で勉強します。(Toshokan de benkyou shimasu.)
      • “I study at the library.” (“At the library.”)
    • 車で行きます。(Kuruma de ikimasu.)
      • “I go by car.” (“Using a car.”)

の (no) – Possession or Description

  • Works like “‘s” in English or connects two nouns.
  • Examples:
    • 私の本です。(Watashi no hon desu.)
      • “It’s my book.” (“My.”)
    • 日本の食べ物。(Nihon no tabemono.)
      • “Japanese food.” (“Of Japan.”)

へ (e) – Direction Marker

  • Shows movement toward something (like “to”).
  • Example:
    • 家へ帰ります。(Ie e kaerimasu.)
      • “I return home.” (“Toward home.”)

Why Are Particles Important?

Without particles, a Japanese sentence is like a puzzle with missing pieces.
For example:

  • 本を読む (Hon o yomu) = “Read a book.”
  • 本読む (Hon yomu) = “Book read” (It sounds unnatural and confusing).

Particles add clarity and polish to your sentences.

If you want to learn more about Japanese grammar, check out the 26 sentences.

26 Sentences
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