A's B (shows possession); the A B
In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A

彼の猫の目が迚も素敵だ。
That cat's eyes are wonderful.
16
彼女のパソコンは古い。
Her computer is old.
0
13
彼の先生の指導は素晴らしいと評判だ。
That teacher's guidance is reputed to be wonderful.
0
19
此れは誰の帽子?落とし物かな。
Whose hat is this? I wonder if someone lost it.
0
12
来週の予定は、カレンダーに書いて有ります。
Next week's plans are written on the calendar.
0
Getting the sentences
List
の
We're going to focus on the particle の.
Its most common use is to mark possession.
That means it helps create the words "my", "your", "her", "their", etc.
わたし の
あなた の
カオちゃん の
This would be "my" ("I" + の).
This would be "my" ("I" + の).
And this is "your" ("you" + の).
You can use any noun, not just pronouns. This would be "Kao-chan's".
わたし の なまえ
It's used in front of nouns, like this!
It's used in front of nouns, like this!
You've got "I" + の + name (なまえ), which is...
"my name"!
わたし の なまえ は カオ です
Now, let's roll this up with the です verb we learned before.
Now, let's roll this up with the です verb we learned before.
If you recall, we used the basic AはBです, or "A is B" structure.
We know the first half is "My name", and the second part has "カオ" (a name).
So, this sentence reads "My name is Kao." (You didn't forget that my name is Kao, right?)
わたし の おとうと は カオ です
カオ は わたし の おとうと です
Let's try this one. We've got わたし の おとうと (← little brother).
Let's try this one. We've got わたし の おとうと (← little brother).
The second part again contains カオ.
That leaves us with "My little brother is Kao."
Now, you can move the possessive to the 2nd half if you'd like.
Were you to translate this, it would be "Kao is my little brother."
きょう の てんき
にほんご の せんせい
There are a few other uses of の that deal with nouns and don't involve possession. Let's look at one of the more common ones.
There are a few other uses of の that deal with nouns and don't involve possession. Let's look at one of the more common ones.
For example, きょう (today) の てんき (weather) is "today's weather". This adds more information to the second noun.
This example is similar. The base noun せんせい (teacher) is changed to "Japanese teacher" when the にほんご の is added.
This one particle の can help you start to expand your writing and speaking.
This one particle の can help you start to expand your writing and speaking.
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
先生の鞄 (the teacher's bag)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
The A one
Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A
1
新しい靴は安いのを買う積もりです。
For my new shoes, I plan on buying inexpensive ones.
0
4
珈琲は濃いのが好きな乃だ。
For coffee, I like strong ones.
0
12
此れを青いのと取り替えて下さい。
Please change this for a blue one.
0
17
其の黄色いのを頂きましょう。
I will take the yellow one.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
安いの (the cheap one)
清潔なの (the clean one)
私の (mine)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A
8
綾子には其の話をきちんと伝えたの?
Did you accurately tell Ayako about that discussion?
0
8
ちゃんと宿題は遣ったの?
Did you do all your homework?
0
15
休みの日は何を為て居るの?
What do you do on days off?
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
御茶なの (is this tea?)
Basic Examples:
寒いの (are you cold?)
Basic Examples:
どうしたの? (What happened?)
Basic Examples:
有名なの (is it famous?)
Related Expressions
だい
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
「のです」・「のだ」is a separate entry. It's not listed at the site at the time of typing this.
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
A directly modifies B, B of A
Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A
15
彼からのメールが久しぶりに届いた。
I got the first email from him in awhile.
0
17
大学の中の映画館で良く映画を見ます。
I often go see movies at the movie theatre in the university.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
日本の会社 (a Japanese company)
亜米利加迄の切符 (a ticket to America)
友達からのプレゼント (a present from a friend)
貴方への手紙 (a letter for you)
東京でのイベント (an event in Tokyo)
御母さんとの話 (a talk with Mom)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
C which/whose A is B. C's A is B
Used as a relative clause to describe C
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A
7
彼の髪の長い人は私の妹です。
That person with the long hair is my younger sister.
0
5
赤ちゃんの可愛い服を探して居ます。
I'm looking for clothes that are cute on a baby.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
皮の薄いオレンジ (a thin-skinned orange)
Notes
The の is usually written as が if the clause is written as a standalone sentence.
Basic Examples
彼は頭がいいです -> 頭のいい彼
その子は背が高い -> 背の高い子
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
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B who/that is a(n) A
- A's B (shows possession); the A B In the second usage, A is used to add information to the main noun B
- The A one Used to abbreviate after a noun has already been mentioned. The の directly replaces the noun.
- Follows A; turning the sentence into a question (casual).
- A directly modifies B, B of A Broadly works as the preposition 'of'
- C which/whose A is B. C's A is B Used as a relative clause to describe C
- B who/that is a(n) A
13
総理大臣の佐藤さんは近所に住んで居る。
The Prime Minister Sato lives nearby.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!