Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1

誰の〜dare no ~

ask who owns it

Use 「誰の〜」 to ask who owns something, and answer with the owner’s name or pronoun.

Start the interactive lessonIllustrated cards, audio and speaking practice

How it works

When you see a bag and don’t know its owner, use “誰の” to ask who it belongs to.
“誰の + noun” means “whose …”. “誰のカバン” means “whose bag”.
To answer, replace “誰” with the owner: “彼のカバンです。” means “It’s his bag.”
When the item is already clear, you can omit the noun after “誰の”: “この眼鏡は誰のですか。”
You can omit the item’s name in the answer too: “田中さんのです。” means “It’s Tanaka’s.”
If the item isn’t yours, you can answer “わたしのではありません。”: “It isn’t mine.”

Example sentences

これkoreはわwa誰だれdareのnoカバンかばんkabanですdesuかka
Whose bag is this?
彼かれkare

In a conversation

A
すみません。すみませんこれはわ誰だれの財布さいふですか。か
A: Excuse me. Whose wallet is this?
B
それはわ田中さんたなかさんのです。です

Check yourself

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Whose wallet is this?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
あれはノートですか。
Whose notebook is that?

More grammar in this theme

誰の〜ask who owns it

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