Lesson 5Basic Japanese sentence models
How do you make Japanese sentences ?
In this page, you will learn some important tips to converse in Japanese and "basic Japanese sentence models". You can plug in any words in those sentence models to make your own sentences !
Four important tips to converse in Japanese
Point 1Use short sentences
It could quickly become confusing when trying to construct a long sentence. Focus on constructing short sentences and connect them using linking words (therefore, however…). List of linking words
Point 2Learn question words
Conversations naturally involve asking and answering questions. If you know question words, you can ask questions correctly and also understand what is being asked. List of question words
Point 3Memorize common expressions
When having a conversation, we naturally use a lot of short expressions like "Really ?" "Sure !" "Probably…" "Amazing !" as fillers. If you don't know these expressions, it is difficult to join a conversation even if you understand what others are saying. If you know how to use these expressions, you can be a part of the conversation even if you don't know how to construct a sentence. List of useful short phrases
Point 4Listen to native speakers' conversations frequently
It is very important to listen to native Japanese speakers' speak with the correct pronunciation and natural intonation. If you repeatedly listen to their conversations, you will begin to naturally imitate their pronunciation and the sentence structure without even thinking !
Basic Japanese sentence models
Here are 20 sentence models. Replace words to make your own sentences !
Click on + mark to see examples.
Subjects of Japanese sentences are sometimes omitted. Click here for more.
にほんじんです。
I am Japanese.
ぎんこうは やすみでした。
The bank was closed.
この くるまは わたしの ではありません。
This car is not mine.
The verb comes at the end of the sentence in Japanese. Additional information (what, when, where, who...etc.) are placed between the subject and the verb. Click here for more.
わたしは アニメを みます。
I watch cartoons.
きのう、マンガを よみました。
I read a comic book yesterday.
The verb あります(ari-masu) means "to exist" or "to be present", but they can also be used for "to have/to own". It is used in a question form to ask "Do you have ~?" or "Is there ~?"
パンフレットは ありますか。
Do you have brochures ?
トイレは ありますか。
Is there a toilet ?
ちゅうしゃじょうは ありますか。
Is there a parking space ?
The verb います(i-masu) and あります(ari-masu) indicate "to exist" or "to be present", but they can also be used for "to have/to own". Use います(i-masu) for living organisms and あります(ari-masu) for plants and non-living things.
さいきん、じかんが ありません。
I don't have time lately.
わたしは いもうと が います。
I have a younger sister.
あなたは こどもが いますか。
Do you have children ?
The verb います(i-masu) and あります(ari-masu) mean "to exist" or "to be present". They are usually translated as "there is (are) …". Use います(i-masu) for living organisms and あります(ari-masu) for plants and non-living things.
にわに いぬが います。
There is a dog in the yard.
つくえのうえに ほんが ありました。
There was a book on the desk.
ちゅうしゃじょうに くるまが あります。
There is a car in the parking lot.
The verb います(i-masu) and あります(ari-masu) mean "to exist" or "to be present". They are usually translated as "there is (are) …". Use います(i-masu) for living organisms and あります(ari-masu) for plants and non-living things.
ボブは へやに います。
Bob is in the room.
トイレは あそこ に あります。
The toilet is over there.
ぎんこうは スーパー の まえに あります。
The bank is in front of the supermarket.
すき(suki) is a "な(na) adjective" that means "to like". Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o) to indicate the object (the thing that you like). Click here for more.
ちち は ビールが すきです。
My dad likes beer.
さかな と やさいが すきです。
I like fish and vegetables.
むすこは テレビゲームが すきです。
My son likes TV games.
できます(deki-masu) is a verb that means "can do" or "have an ability to do". Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o) to indicate the object (what the subject can do). Click here for more.
ちち は りょうりが できます。
My dad can cook.
にほんごが できますか。
Can you speak Japanese ?
11じ に チェックインが できますか。
Is it possible to check-in at 11:00 ?
わかります(wakari-masu) is a verb that means "understand". Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o) to indicate the object (what the subject understands). Click here for more.
ジョンは にほんごが わかりますか。
Does John understand Japanese ?
いみが わかりません。
I don't understand the meaning.
しつもんが わかりましたか。
Did you understand the question ?
じょうず(jōzu) is a な(na) adjective that means "being good at" or "being able to do something well". Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o) to indicate the object (what the subject is good at). Click here for more.
あねは ピアノが じょうずです。
My older sister plays piano well.
えいごが じょうずですね。
You speak English well, you know.
おっとは うんてんが じょうずです。
My husband drives well.
たい(tai) means "would like to" or "want to" (same in Japanese !) and it conjugates exactly like い(i) adjective. Add たい です(tai desu) to the verb instead of ます(masu) to say "would like to verb". Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o) to indicate the object (what the subject wants to do). Click here for more.
しゅうまつ ゴルフが したいです。
I would like to play golf on the weekend.
はやく かえりたいです。
I would like to go home soon.
いきたくないです。
I don't want to go.
ほしい(hoshii) is an い(i) adjective that means "would like to have" or "want to have" (same in Japanese !). Use the particle が(ga) instead of を(o), to indicate the object (what the subject would like to have). Click here for more.
わたしは あたらしい くるまが ほしいです。
I would like to have a new car.
もっと じかんが ほしいです。
I would like to have more time.
あかちゃんが ほしいです。
I would like to have a baby.
やさい と くだもの を かいました。
I bought vegetables and fruits.
ロック と ポップ が すきです。
I like rock and pop music.
さいふ と かぎ が あります。
There is a purse and a key.
やさい や くだもの (など) を かいました。
I bought vegetables and fruits, etc.
ロック や ポップ (など) が すきです。
I like rock and pop music, etc.
さいふ や かぎ (など) が あります。
There is a purse and a key, etc.
おみず を ください。
Give me water please.
かみ と ペンを ください。
Give me a paper and a pen please.
すし と てんぷらを ください。
I would like sushi and tempura.
きれいですが、たかいです。
It's beautiful but expensive.
やさいがきらいですが、たべます。
I don't like vegetables, but I eat them.
マリーはいきませんが、わたしはいきます。
Mary is not going, but I am.
から(kara) indicates that the preceding sentence is the reason. In Japanese sentences, the reason is placed at the beginning of the sentence and the conclusion in the second part of the sentence. Click here for more.
たかいですから、かいません 
I don't buy it because it is expensive.
にほんにいきますから、にほんごをべんきょうします。
I study Japanese because I'm going to Japan.
てんきがいいですから、でかけましょう。
Since the weather is nice, let's go out !
Question sentence models
Followings are 20 question sentence models using question words.
Replace words to make your own sentences !
これは なんですか。
What is this ?
あなたのなまえは なんですか。
What is your name ?
なんじ ですか。
What time is it ?
なんじ に かえりますか。
What time do you come back ?
Question words "nan" and "nani" both means "what ?". If followed by a word that begins with T, D, or N, use "nan". Otherwise, use "nani".
(!) If you are asking about numbers or quantity, use "nan" even though the following word starts with T, D or N. Click here for more.
なにを のみますか。
What do you drink ?
なんで かきますか。
What do you use to write ?
かのじょは なにが すきですか。
What does she like ?
トイレは どこ ですか。
Where is the toilet ?
あなたのうちは どこ ですか。
Where is your home ?
どこで ならいましたか。
Where did you learn ?
ケイトは どこ に いきますか。
Where is Kate going ?
あのひとは だれ ですか。
Who is that person ?
あなたのせんせいは だれ ですか。
Who is your teacher ?
だれが きましたか。
Who came ?
だれが はなしますか。
Who will talk ?
たんじょうびは いつ ですか。
When is your birthday ?
しけんは いつ ですか。
When is the exam ?
いつ かいましたか。
When did you buy it ?
マイクは いつ にほんに いきますか。
When is Mike going to Japan ?
あなたのペンは どれ ですか。
Which one is your pen ?
ジョーのくるまは どれ ですか。
Which one is Joe's car ?
どの パンが おいしいですか。
Which bread is good ?
どの ひとが すずきさんですか。
Which person is Mr. Suzuki ?
これは いくら ですか。
How much does it cost ?
このカメラは いくら ですか。
How much does this camera cost ?
てんきは どう でしたか。
How was the weather ?
しごとは どう ですか。
How is your job ?
あなたは どう おもいますか。
What do you think ?
かんじで どう かきますか。
How do you write it in kanji ?
どうやって くうこうまで いきますか。
How do you get to the airport ?
どうやって おこさんは ひらがなを おぼえましたか。
How did your kids learn hiragana ?
どんな ひと ですか。
What kind of person is he ?
どんな りょうりが すきですか。
What kind of dish do you like ?
どうしてですか。
Why is that ?
どうしてきませんでしたか。
Why didn't you come?
どうしていそがしいですか。
Why are you busy ?
どうして ジェーンは にほんごを ならいますか。
Why does Jane learn Japanese ?
あめですから。
Because it is raining.
にほんにいきますから。
Because I am going to Japan.
どのぐらいかかりますか。
How long does it take ?
どのぐらい サム は ワインを のみましたか。
How much wine did Sam drink ?
Once you feel comfortable with everything you've learned,
you can progress even further with 
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