ISORI

の

JLPT N5:

possessive / modifier

Joins two nouns so the first describes the second: 私(わたし)の本(ほん) (my book), 日本(にほん)の車(くるま) (a Japanese car).

How to form it

  • Put の between two nouns. The second noun is the main one; the first says whose it is, where it is from, what kind it is, or what it belongs to.
  • The order is the reverse of English "of": 先生(せんせい)の名前(なまえ) is the name of the teacher.
  • When the second noun is clear from context, it can be left out: この傘(かさ)は私(わたし)のです (this umbrella is mine).

Examples

これは私(わたし)の傘(かさ)です。

This is my umbrella.

友達(ともだち)の家(いえ)に行(い)きました。

I went to my friend's house.

Notes

  • の can be chained: 私(わたし)の友達(ともだち)の車(くるま) (my friend's car).

Common mistakes

  • Putting の between an adjective and a noun. Say 大(おお)きい犬(いぬ) and 静(しず)かな町(まち), with no の.

Same form, different meaning

  • 〜のnominalizer

    The same の after a verb turns the clause into a noun: 泳(およ)ぐのが好(す)き (I like swimming).