Japanese made easy!

Copula, simple word order, & prefix:O/Go               

Copula?! Desu,da!!

 
     Copula tte nani?! - Whats a copula?

 

       Copula = is/am = Desu/da* 

 

     da is just an informal version of desu* 

 

 However! look at this: 

 

  Desu     Desu 

 

 

Are they the same? 0.o Look hard!

..........

 ..................

............................ 

 

No!!! 

They aren't the same!

 

One is the copluar and one isn't!

 

Confused yet? 

^_^ 

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If: Sentence ends in a noun

Then: Copula! desu/da

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If : Sentence ends in an adjective

Then: NO COPULA!
 

             But "desu" can be added to make the sentence polite,          However this "desu" is not the copula! Remember above? They look alike.. but they aren't the same.. Here the Desu is optional, to be polite, BUT above in the pink, it is NEEDED!

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      What about verbs you ask? What about verbs? lol.

When ending in a verb..  The verb is a  copular in it's self,

so NO desu/da is needed or aloud.  XXXXX

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   What? Now you want examples?!

ok... 

 

     Noun: Sore ha inu desu - That is a dog  

  (The desu is needed... It's the copula)

 

Noun: Kore ha neko da - This is a cat

(The da is needed... It's the copula) 

 

Adjective: Hana ha kirei desu - The flower is pretty 
 (Desu makes it formal, however it is not needed)

 

 *[Adjective: sora ha aoi da - The sky is blue]*

*(WRONG! - da can't be used! NO NO!!)* 

 

Verb: Uchi ni kaerimasu- (I'm) returning home 

(NO desu/da, It's a copular in itself) 

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Final words on Copula
 

There are sometimes when "Desu/da" can be omitted from a sentence with a noun at the end.  With the presence of "ne" or "yo" attached to the end.  This is irregular and in all cases informal.  It it in your best interest to learn, and get into the habit of speaking formal Japanese, since it's most needed in Japan. Believe me.

  Simple word order


Subject - object - verb 

English word order: I love you

 

Japanese word order: I you love

 

 Prefix: O and Go

 

Go is for words that originated in China, but not  O.  However both are prefix's.  They both go before certain words, although O is more common than Go. It doesn't change the meaning of the word, it just makes it more polite. However using these prefix are kinda like honorifics you can't use them when refering to yourself.  Actually if your a girl like me, and don't use  the O's, then your speech man seem rough and manly.


 

ex.    Oname-name

         Osushi-sushi

                  Osake - rice wine 

                   Ohashi-chopsticks

                  Okusuri- medicine

          Oyasumi- rest

          Okane-money

                Oisogashii  -busy

 

  ex.  GOissho- With

                         GOshokai- introduction

                        GObuji- safe, unhamed

               GOkozoku -family