Relative Clauses Lesson 6
Mastering complex noun modification using relative clauses with specific focus on time and location markers.
Where did we meet?
Imagine you are catching up with an old friend. You want to talk about a specific place or time where something memorable happened. In English, you might say, 'That is the park where we first met' or 'That was the day when it started raining.'
The Structure of Place and Time Clauses
To modify a noun like 'place' (ところ) or 'time' (とき) with a clause, simply place the clause directly before the noun.
Tip
Examples in Context
Observe how the verb conjugates to plain form before the noun.
ここは私たちが初めて会ったところです。
This is the place where we first met.
彼が日本に来た日を覚えていますか。
Do you remember the day he came to Japan?
ここが私がよく行く【ところ】です。
Hint: The word for 'place'
This is the place I often go to.
Nuance and Usage
Relative clauses are essential for building complex sentences in Japanese. Unlike English, which uses 'where' or 'when', Japanese relies on the noun's inherent meaning.
Relative Clause vs. Simple Sentence
ここで会いました
I met (someone) here.
Simple statement
会ったところ
The place where I met.
Noun phrase
Which form is correct for a relative clause?
- 会いましたところ
- ✓ 会ったところ
Relative clauses must use the plain form (会った), not the polite form (会いました).
Advanced Particles
Sometimes you might see particles like 'ni' or 'de' before the noun.
Lesson Recap
In this lesson, we learned that to modify a noun with a clause, we use the plain form of the verb. This is a foundational skill for N3-level Japanese, allowing you to describe specific times and locations with precision.