Relative Clauses Lesson 8
This lesson focuses on using relative clauses to describe nouns using the 'no' particle and complex noun phrases, specifically focusing on the structure where a clause modifies a noun that acts as a possessor or a specific attribute.
Describing the World Around Us
In Japanese, we often need to be very specific about which object or person we are talking about. Instead of just saying 'the book,' we might need to say 'the book that I bought yesterday' or 'the person who is wearing a red hat.'
The Structure of Relative Clauses
A relative clause in Japanese always comes *before* the noun it modifies. Unlike English, where we use 'that' or 'which' after the noun, Japanese simply places the entire descriptive sentence directly in front of the noun.
Watch out
Seeing it in Action
Here are examples of how to build these descriptive phrases.
昨日買った本を読みました。
I read the book that I bought yesterday.
あそこで話している人は誰ですか。
Who is the person talking over there?
これは私が【作った】料理です。
Hint: Use the past plain form of 'to make'.
This is the food that I made.
Nuance and Register
Relative clauses are essential for formal and informal Japanese. Using them correctly allows you to avoid repetitive sentences.
Relative Clause vs. Simple Sentence
本を買いました。面白いです。
Two separate sentences.
I bought a book. It is interesting.
買った本は面白いです。
Relative clause.
The book I bought is interesting.
Which particle is preferred inside a relative clause to mark the subject?
- は
- ✓ が
- を
- に
Inside a relative clause, the subject is marked with 'が' to distinguish it from the main topic of the sentence.
Advanced Modifiers
Sometimes you might see clauses modifying nouns that aren't the direct object of the verb.
Lesson Summary
Relative clauses allow you to condense information by turning a full sentence into a modifier for a noun. By using the plain form of verbs and the 'が' particle for the subject, you can create complex, descriptive sentences.