Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1
describe a place with adjectives
Use い- or な-adjectives with 「です」 to describe a place politely.
Look at how the two towns differ. 「は」 introduces the topic; what follows describes the town.
The lake is beautiful, and the sea is nearby. Both types of adjective can end a sentence with 「です」 for a polite description.
Adjectives describe both characteristics and states. 「近い」 describes distance, and 「寒い」 describes how cold it is.
「近い」 is an い-adjective. To describe a present characteristic, keep the final 「い」 and add 「です」.
「静か」 is a な-adjective. At the end of a sentence, say 「静かです」. Do not add 「な」 here.
Although 「きれい」 ends in 「い」, it is a な-adjective. Learn each word together with its adjective type.
To check a characteristic, add 「か」 at the end: 海は近いですか。This means “Is the sea nearby?”
Japan is beautiful.
Shanghai is lively. It's not quiet.
A: Is your town lively?
B: No. My town is not very lively. It's quiet.
A: What kind of city is Kyoto?
A: What kind of place is Shanghai?
B: It's very lively. It's a big city.
A: What kind of city is Beijing?
B: It's a large capital city. It's cold in winter.
A: Is this lake beautiful?
B: Yes, it's very beautiful.
A: Is the sea close?
B: Yes, the sea is close. The mountains are also close.
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Tokyo is lively.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
上海 です。静かじゃありません。
Shanghai is lively. It's not quiet.
B: It's a famous city. There are temples and shrines.
