Changes

"No" can appear many times in a single sentence. However, one must remember that Japanese reverses the order of nouns, as opposed to English. Japanese nouns run from large to small, or from general to specific. So, you might say in English, "The names of the countries in Europe," in Japanese you would say "Yooroppa '''no''' kuni '''no''' namae." (Europe's countries' names).

"No" can appear many times in a single sentence. However, one must remember that Japanese reverses the order of nouns, as opposed to English. Japanese nouns run from large to small, or from general to specific. So, you might say in English, "The names of the countries in Europe," in Japanese you would say "Yooroppa '''no''' kuni '''no''' namae." (Europe's countries' names).

Japanese has no possessive personal pronouns (his, hers, theirs, etc), but forms these by adding "no" to the pronoun. Thus, you get:

Japanese has no possessive personal pronouns (his, hers, theirs, etc.), but forms these by adding "no" to the pronoun. Thus, you get:

* ''watashi'' (I) becomes ''watashi '''no''''' (my)

* ''watashi'' (I) becomes ''watashi '''no''''' (my)

* ''atashi'' (I (fem)) becomes ''atashi '''no''''' (my (fem))

* ''atashi'' (I (fem)) becomes ''atashi '''no''''' (my (fem))

Another way to illustrate how "de" indicates where an action is taking place, is by comparing the sentences "I live in Tokyo" and "I work in Tokyo." Although much the same in English, there is a subtle difference in Japanese. Because Tokyo is the place I live in, I would use the particle "ni" - "Toukyou '''ni''' sunde imasu", but because the action of my working takes place in Tokyo, I would say "Toukyou '''de''' sousaite imasu."

Another way to illustrate how "de" indicates where an action is taking place, is by comparing the sentences "I live in Tokyo" and "I work in Tokyo." Although much the same in English, there is a subtle difference in Japanese. Because Tokyo is the place I live in, I would use the particle "ni" - "Toukyou '''ni''' sunde imasu", but because the action of my working takes place in Tokyo, I would say "Toukyou '''de''' sousaite imasu."

Similarly, in the sentence, "Shinkansen '''de''' Ousaka '''e''' ikimash''''ita." (I went by Bullet Train to Osaka" the action of my going to Osaka was performed by the Bullet Train. If I was going to use the Bullet Train at some point in future to go to Osaka, then I would say "Shinkansen '''de''' Ousaka '''ni''' ikimasu. (I am going by Bullet Train to Osaka).

Similarly, in the sentence, "Shinkansen '''de''' Ousaka '''e''' ikimash''''ita." ("I went by Bullet Train to Osaka") the action of my going to Osaka was performed by the Bullet Train. If I was going to use the Bullet Train at some point in future to go to Osaka, then I would say "Shinkansen '''de''' Ousaka '''ni''' ikimasu. (I am going by Bullet Train to Osaka).

"De" also qualifies an amount or a period of time, indicating that the amount or period indicated should be the maximum required. So, "Zenbu '''de''' senjuu-en desu," means "Together they cost thirty yen" and "Ichi-jikan '''de''' ikemasu" means 'I can be there in one hour."

"De" also qualifies an amount or a period of time, indicating that the amount or period indicated should be the maximum required. So, "Zenbu '''de''' senjuu-en desu," means "Together they cost thirty yen" and "Ichi-jikan '''de''' ikemasu" means 'I can be there in one hour."

==To (と) & Ya (や)==

==To (と) & Ya (や)==

"To" (pronounced "toh" rather than "toe") is the connecting particle, much like the English "and", although it only connects nouns and pronouns, never phrases and clauses. For example, "Cats and dogs" would be "neko '''to''' inu" - although because Japanese always ranks nouns from large to small, it would be more corect to say, "Inu to neko."

"To" (pronounced "toh" rather than "toe") is the connecting particle, much like the English "and", although it only connects nouns and pronouns, never phrases and clauses. For example, "Cats and dogs" would be "neko '''to''' inu" - although because Japanese always ranks nouns from large to small, it would be more correct to say, "Inu to neko."

It also connects the speaker with somebody else that they did something with, much like the English "together with". "I went to watch a film together with her" would translate as "kinou kanojo '''to''' eiga '''o''' mi '''ni''' ikimash''''ita. (Yesterday she (and I) film (to) see went)"

It also connects the speaker with somebody else that they did something with, much like the English "together with". "I went to watch a film together with her" would translate as "kinou kanojo '''to''' eiga '''o''' mi '''ni''' ikimash''''ita. (Yesterday she (and I) film (to) see went)"