NihonGo
Unit 23 · Phase G

けいようし

-adjectives — describe things

な-adjectives take before a noun (きれい はな). As a predicate they conjugate exactly like a 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.

しずかな へやですね。

“It's a quiet room, isn't it?”

Step 1

ことば と めいし

Words & modifying a noun

First, some な-adjectives. 🔊 Tap any word to hear it.

To describe a noun, add between the adjective and the noun.

Step 2

かつよう

The four forms

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

かいわ

Q&A — describe things

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

クイズ

な-adjective quiz

Pick the right word and form — the English tells you which な-adjective and which tense.

Question 1 / 6 · 0 correct

fill the blankきのうは ◯◯Yesterday I wasn't free. (past negative)
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