HOME | DD
LearningJapanese — Text: Negative Desu Form
Published: 2012-02-03 19:07:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 3271; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 14
Redirect to original
Description
Now you should by now know how to say that something /is/ something (x wa y desu). But how about something is /not/ something?To negate an affirmative "desu" statement, you change "desu" to "ja arimasen". Let's see it in action:
わたしはだいがくせいです。
Watashi wa daigakusei desu.
I am a college student.
Now change "desu" to "ja arimasen".
わたしはだいがくせいじゃありません。
Watashi wa daigakusei ja arimasen.
I am not a college student.
Aside from "desu" changing, everything else remains the same and stays in the same place.
Another way to negate "desu" sentences is using the noncontracted form (and also the more formal form) of 'ja' which is 'dewa'.
これはえんぴつでわありません。
Kore wa enpitsu dewa arimasen.
This is not a pencil.
アレックスさんはこうこうせいでわありません。
Arekkusu-san wa koukousei dewa arimasen.
Alex is not a high school student.
Feel free to combine things you've learned previously with this.
それはわたしのじてんしゃじゃありません。
Sore wa watashi no jitensha ja arimasen.
That is not my bicycle.
これもアレックスさんのかさでわありません。
Kore mo Arekkusu-san no kasa dewa arimasen.
This is also not Alex's umbrella.
Related content
Comments: 3
Isn't another way to say a negative 'ja nai' at the ending?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes, I haven't gotten to informalities yet, so far I'm just teaching the formal stuff
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
