Talking About Topics — Combining Patterns

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to combine は (wa), です (desu), basic particles (が, を, に, で), and demonstratives (これ, それ, あれ, この, その, あの) into short, natural Japanese exchanges. You'll move from single sentences to mini-conversations.

---

In Japanese, you can build sentences by stacking patterns you already know:

• A は B です = "A is B"
• これ / それ / あれ = "this / that / that over there"
• この / その / あの + noun = "this ___ / that ___ / that ___ over there"
• が, を, に, で = subject, object, location/target, means/place of action

When you combine them, you create natural dialogue—not just textbook sentences.

---

Step 1: Demonstrative + は + です

Use これ, それ, あれ as the topic.

Step 2: この/その/あの + noun + は + です

Use この, その, あの to specify which noun.

Step 3: Add particles for more detail

• が marks the subject (often in questions or new info)
• を marks the direct object
• に marks location or target
• で marks means or place of action

Step 4: Combine into exchanges

Exchange 1: Identifying an object

A: これは何ですか？
Kore wa nan desu ka?
What is this?何

B: それはペンです。
Sore wa pen desu.
That is a pen.

Exchange 2: Asking about ownership

A: その本はあなたのですか？
Sono hon wa anata no desu ka?
Is that book yours?本

B: いいえ、この本は友達のです。
Iie, kono hon wa tomodachi no desu.
No, this book is my friend's.本友達

Exchange 3: Describing location

A: あの猫はどこにいますか？
Ano neko wa doko ni imasu ka?
Where is that cat over there?猫

B: あの猫は机の下にいます。
Ano neko wa tsukue no shita ni imasu.
That cat is under the desk.猫机下

---

1. これは新しいスマホです。
   Kore wa atarashii sumaho desu.
   This is a new smartphone.新

   新

2. そのペンで書きます。
   Sono pen de kakimasu.
   I write with that pen.書

   書

3. あの店に友達がいます。
   Ano mise ni tomodachi ga imasu.
   There is a friend at that store.店友達

   店友達

4. この本を読みましたか？
   Kono hon o yomimashita ka?
   Did you read this book?本読

   本読

---

❌ これはペンがあります。
(Kore wa pen ga arimasu.)
→ Incorrect: は and が are mixed. Use は for topic, が for existence.

✅ これはペンです。
(Kore wa pen desu.)
→ Correct: "This is a pen."

✅ ここにペンがあります。
(Koko ni pen ga arimasu.)
→ Correct: "There is a pen here."

---

Fill in the blanks with the correct word.

1. ___ は本です。 (pointing to something near you)
   → これ本

   本

2. ___ 猫は白いです。 (pointing to a cat far away)
   → あの猫白

   猫白

3. そのペン ___ 書きます。
   → で書

   書

4. このかばん ___ 何がありますか？
   → に何

   何

---

You can now combine は, です, particles, and demonstratives into natural exchanges. Practice by describing objects around you using これ, それ, あれ and この, その, あの with particles.

Next step: Learn verbs in the present tense to make your exchanges even more dynamic—like "I eat this" or "I go to that store."