Unit 23Phase G · Adjectives
なけいようし
な-adjectives — describe things
＋なbefore a noun
Slip な between the adjective and its noun.
きれいな はな = a pretty flower
めいしと おなじconjugates like noun+です
です / じゃありません / でした / じゃありませんでした.
しずかでした = it was quiet
しずかな へやですね。
“It's a quiet room, isn't it?”
Step 1
Words & modifying a nounことば と めいし
First, some な-adjectives. 🔊 Tap any word to hear it.
To describe a noun, add な between the adjective and the noun.
Step 2
The four formsかつよう
As a predicate, just change the ending. 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.
かたち Form | れい（きれい） Example | いみ Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Present げんざい | It's pretty. | |
Negative ひてい | It's not pretty. | |
Past かこ | It was pretty. | |
Past negative かこ・ひてい | It wasn't pretty. |
This is the same as a noun + です. So you can now also say がくせいでした (“was a student”) and がくせいじゃありませんでした (“wasn't a student”).
Step 3
Q&A — describe thingsかいわ
Ask and answer with な-adjectives — present and past.
この へやは しずかですか。
Is this room quiet?
いいえ、しずか じゃありません。
No, it's not quiet.
こうえんは きれいでしたか。
Was the park pretty?
はい、 きれいでした。
Yes, it was pretty.
Step 4
な-adjective quizクイズ
Pick the right word and form — the English tells you which な-adjective and which tense.
Question 1 / 6 · 0 correct
fill the blankこの えきは blank。This station isn't convenient. (negative)