Adjective and Adverb Study Overview
You have learned a variety of adjective forms in your previous studies in Japanese Levels One and Two, and you have continued to review and learn more adjective forms in this Japanese Level Three course. You will review and add a few new adjective forms here in this section of Unit 4 (Entertainment), including how to use them as “adverbs” with verbs to describe how actions are done.
Remember that all the previous adjective forms covered through Level One and Level Two were reviewed in Unit 2 (Descriptions) in Section 4, and a few new forms were also added there. Please continue to return to that section to review and refresh your skills with adjectives as you cover this section.
Adjective Forms Covered in Unit 2 (Descriptions) Section 4:
The Two Groups of Adjectives: いーAdjectives and なーAdjectives (and other description words)
Noun and なーAdjective Conjugation
Conjugation Choices for Nouns and なーAdjectives
Noun and なーAdjective Choices for Modifying a Noun Directly
Connective Forms of なーAdjectives
How なーAdjectives are Connected
いーAdjective Conjugation
Conjugation Choices for いーAdjectives
Noun Forms of いーAdjectives Colors
Adjective Forms of いーAdjective Colors
Noun and いーAdjective Forms for Modifying a Noun Directly
Connective Forms of いーAdjectives
Adjective/Adverb Forms Reviewed and/or Introduced in Unit 5 (Shopping) Section 4:
Set One: Review of い and な Adjectives
REVIEW of the Two Groups of Adjectives
This topic was initially covered in Unit 2 (Descriptions) Section 4 (Adjective Review) in This Course
As you have studied previously, Adjective Conjugation in Japanese is a bit more complex than it is in English, partly because there are TWO main groups of adjectives and each group conjugates differently.
This is a brief review of the adjective groups you have used this year in this course (and in previous courses). The two Adjective Groups are important to helping you conjugate adjectives correctly so be sure to learn to “categorize” adjectives into the なーAdjectives andいーAdjectives as you review these conjugation forms.
Then you will learn some NEW ways to use Adjectives and Adverbs in Japanese.
You will complete a Review Worksheet to practice the Adjective and Adverb forms reviewed and introduced in this Section. Then you take a Review Test on this material.
REVIEW of なーAdjective Conjugation
This topic was initially covered in Unit 2 (Descriptions) Section 4 in This Course
なーAdjectives conjugate the same way nouns conjugate in present and past tense, for both positive and negative forms. They have their own forms for use in front of the noun being modified, and for connective forms.
EXAMPLES:
“Quiet” なーAdjective しずか（静か）
IS Quiet しずかです（静かです）
Is NOT Quiet しずかでは（Orじゃ）ありません（Orないです）
WAS Quiet しずかでした（静かでした）
Was NOT Quiet しずかでは（Orじゃ）ありませんでした
A Quiet Person しずかなひと（静かな人） （な is added）
A Quiet AND Kind Person しずかで、しんせつなひと （で is added）
REVIEW of いーAdjective Conjugation
This was initially covered in Unit 2 (Descriptions) Section 4 in This Course
いーAdjectives conjugate in a DIFFERENT way than nouns and なーAdjectives conjugate in present and past tense, for both positive and negative forms. They have their own forms for use in front of the noun being modified, and for connective forms, and these are also different from なーAdjectives.
EXAMPLES:
“Interesting” おもしろい（面白い）
IS Interesting おもしろいです（面白いです）
Is NOT Interesting おもしろくないです（Or もしろくありません）
WAS Interesting おもしろかったです（面白かったです）
Was NOT Interesting おもしおろくなかったです（Or おもしろくありませんでした）
An Interesting Person おもしろいひと（面白い人）（NO Change or Particle Needed）
An Interesting and Fun Person おもしろくて、たのしいひと（いDrops,くてAdded）
Set Two: Describing Verbs with Adjectives
Describing Verbs with Adjectives
This topic was initially covered in previous units and levels, and in Unit 2 (Descriptions) Section 4 (Adjective Review) in this course, but additional ways to use describe verbs using adjectives will be introduced in this section. Verb
Examples studied previously are included for review and comparison, and then the adjective examples are presented as new information.
REVIEW Pattern: VerbPlainForm のがAdjectiveです。
NEW Pattern: VerbPlainFormのことがAdjectiveです。REVIEW Pattern: VerbてForm もいいです（か）Or かまいません
NEW Pattern: AdjectiveStem（で・くて）もいいです（か）Or かまいませんREVIEW Pattern: VerbてFormはいけません Or だめです
NEW Pattern: AdjectiveStem（で・くて）はいけません Or だめですREVIEW Pattern: VerbPlainFormそうです。
NEW Pattern: AdjectiveStemそうです。
See the separate tabs below for examples of these two patterns.
VerbPlainForm のが Adjectiveです。
In previous levels of Japanese you learned how to “describe” an action using the action verb in plain/dictionary form, and making it a “noun clause” (“nominalizing it”) by adding the particle combination のが (Note that other particles can be combined with の in this way).
EXAMPLES:
Describing an Verb with an Adjective: VerbPlainFormのがAdjectiveです。
I like to eat sushi. 私はすし（寿司）を食べるのが好きです。
Going to the circus is fun. サーカスに行くのがたのしい（楽しい）です。
Watching a movie is interesting. えいが（映画）を見るのがおもしろい（面白い）です。
He is skilled at playing tennis. かれ（彼）はテニスをするのがじょうず（上手）です。
VerbPlainFormのことがAdjectiveです。
In this section of this Japanese course you will learn how to “describe” an action using the action verb in plain/dictionary form, and adding making it a “noun clause” (“nominalizing it”) by adding the particle combination のことが between the plain verb and the adjective describing it.
The word こと means “thing(s)” in the abstract sense, and adds the sense of meaning that “the thing that is ADJECTIVE is VERB” (as seen in the examples provided here). This is similar to the pattern you have already learned to express things you “CAN DO” in the pattern shown here:
I can play golf. (The “thing” I can do is play golf.) 私はゴルフをすることができます。
The difference in this section is that you are describing something about the action (verb) using an adjective instead of the verb “CAN DO” or できます。 Note that the extra particle の is added in this NEW pattern for adjectives.
I like to play golf. (The “thing” I like to do is play golf.) 私はゴルフをするのことが好きです。
See more examples in the tab below.
EXAMPLES:
Describing an Verb with an Adjective: VerbPlainFormのがAdjectiveです。
I like to eat sushi. (The thing I like to do is eat sushi.)私はすし（寿司）を食べるのことが好きです。
Going to the circus is fun. (The thing that is fun is going to the circus.) サーカスに行くのことがたのしい（楽しい）です。
Watching a movie is interesting. (The thing that is interesting is a movie.) えいが（映画）を見るのことがおもしろい（面白い）です。
He is skilled at playing tennis. (The thing he is skilled at is playing tennis.)かれ（彼）はテニスをするのことがじょうず（上手）です。
As you can see, there are really TWO different ways to modify a verb using an adjective in sentences like this, using the TWO patterns you have now learned as shown in the contrasting examples below:
I like to eat sushi. 私はすし（寿司）を食べるのが好きです。
The thing I like to eat is sushi. 私は寿司を食べるのことが好きです。
Permission Forms with Verbs
Permission Forms were covered in Unit 4 (Entertainment) Section 4 for verbs in this course, but additional ways to use the pattern for “permission” are shown here using adjectives.
REVIEW Pattern for Verbs: VerbてForm もいいです（か）（Or かまいません）
EXAMPLES:
May I go to the restroom? (Is it okay if I go to the restroom?)
私はおてあらい（お手洗い）に行ってもいいですか。（Or かまいません）
Yes, you may go to the restroom. (Yes, it is okay for you to go to the restroom.)
はい、あなたはお手洗いに行ってもいいですか。（Or かまいません）
No, you may NOT go the restroom. (No, it is NOT okay for you to go to the restroom.)
あなたはお手洗いに行ってもよくないです。（Or かまいません）
Permission Forms with Adjectives
In this Section 4 (Unit 5) of this Japanese course you will learn how to ask or give PERMISSION for an adjective pattern. Note that the pattern is slightly different depending on whether you are using a なー
Adjective versus an いーAdjective.
The pattern for なーAdjectives is: Adjective・Noun（で）もいいです（か）（Orかまいません）
The pattern for いーAdjective is: Adjective（くて）もいいです（か）（Orかまいません）
EXAMPLES:
Is it okay to go to the birthday party? (Verb Example)
誕生日パーティーに行ってもいいですか。（Or かまいませんか）
Is Saturday okay for a birthday party? （Noun Example）
誕生日パーティーは土曜日でもいいですか。（Orかまいませんか）
Is a quiet birthday party okay? （なーAdjective Example）
誕生日パーティーはしずかで（静かで）もいいですか。（Orかまいませんか）
Is a loud birthday party okay? （いーAdjective Example）
誕生日パーティーはうるさくて（煩くて）もいいですか。（Orかまいませんか）
Is an inexpensive (cheap) present okay for the birthday party? （いーAdjective Example）
たんじょうび（誕生日）パーティーはやすくて（安くて）もいいですか。（Orかまいません）
Is it okay to take a test on Monday? （Verb Example）
しけん（試験）は月曜日にとって（撮って）もかまいませんか。（Or いいですか）
Is Monday okay for the test? (Noun Example)
試験は月曜日でもかまいませんか。（Or もいいですか）
Is it okay for the test to be important/serious? （なーAdjective Example）
試験はまじめで（真面目で）もかまいませんか。（Or いいですか）
Is it okay for the test to be long? いーAdjective Example）
試験はながくて（長くて）もかまいませんか。（Or いいですか）
Prohibition Forms with Verbs
In Unit 4 (Entertainment) Section 4 of this Japanese course you learned how express PROHIBITION for an action (verb). This could be in the form of a “rule” or a direct “command” not to do something. The particle は is used after the てForm of the verb because the verb becomes the subject/topic of the sentence in this form.
The pattern is: VerbてFormは いけません（More Like a Rule）Or だめです（More Like an Order）
EXAMPLES:
You should not (must not) talk in the library. (Order: Do NOT talk in the library.)
としょかん（図書館）ではなしてはだめです。
You should not (must not) wear hats at school. (Order: do NOT wear hats at school.)
学校でぼうし（帽子）をかぶってはだめです。
You should not (must not) run in the middle of the street.
みち（道）の中ではしって（走って）はいけません。
You should not (must not) eat food in the classroom.
きょうしつ（教室）で食べ物を食べてはいけません。
Prohibition Forms with Adjectives
In this Section 4 (Unit 5) of this Japanese course you will learn how to express PROHIBITION for an adjective pattern. Note that the pattern is slightly different depending on whether you are using a なーAdjective versus an いーAdjective.
The pattern for なーAdjectives is: Adjective・Noun（で）はいけません（Or だめです）
The pattern for いーAdjective is: Adjective（くて）はいけません（Or だめです）
EXAMPLES:
You should not (must not) talk quietly during an emergency. (Verb Example)
あなたはきんきゅじ（Emergency）にしずかに話してはいけません。
You should not (must not) be quiet in an emergency. (なーAdjective Example)
あなたはきんきゅじ（Emergency）にしずかではいけません。
Order: Do NOT be quiet in an emergency.（なーAdjective Example）
あなたはきんきゅじ（Emergency）にしずかではだめです。
You should not (must not) be loud during a test.（いーAdjective Example）
あなたはしけん（試験）にうるさくてはいけません。
Order: Do NOT be loud during a test.（いーAdjective Example）
あなたは試験にうるさくてはだめです。
You must not (should not) wear green clothes.（Verb Example）
あなたはみどりなふくをきて（着て）はいけません。
Your clothes should not (must not) be purple. （なーAdjective Example）
あなたのふく（服）はみどりで（緑で）はいけません。
Your clothes should not (must not) be red.（いーAdjective Example）
あなたの服はあかくて（赤くて）はいけません。
Saying Something “Looks Like” an Adjective
In this Section 4 (Unit 5) of this Japanese course you will learn how to express that something LOOKS LIKE an adjective. Note that the pattern is the same whether you are using a なーAdjective or an いーAdjective.
The pattern for なーAdjectives is: Adjective・Nounそうです。
The pattern for いーAdjective is: Adjectiveそうです。
EXAMPLES:
It seems (looks like it is) quiet in the room.（なーAdjective Example）
へや（部屋）はしずか（静か）そうです。
It seems (looks like it is) loud in the room.（いーAdjective Example）
部屋はうるさい（煩い）そうです。
The test seems easy.
しけん（試験）かんたん（簡単）そうです。
The test seems difficult.
試験はむずかしい（難しい）そうです。
Some Adverbs in Japanese
Although the previous and current levels of Japanese courses have not talked a lot about “adverbs” as a separate group specifically, you have been using them since the first level, primarily as “frequency” and “extent” words. They are easy to use and don’t require a lot of “grammar” work or changes, and they can appear anywhere in sentences and they don’t require particles
You will review these previous adverbs, and add a few new ones in this section.
REVIEW ADVERBS:
Frequency Words (i.e., always, never, etc)
Extent Words (i.e., a little, a lot, etc)
NEW ADVERBS:
Completion Adverbs: “Already” and “Not Yet”
NEW Adverb Forms:
Changing Adjectives to Adjectives
Click on EACH Tab below to read and see examples of review and new adverbs..
FREQUENCY ADVERBS:
Always / All the Time いつも
Usually たいてい
A Lot of the Time / Often よく（良く）
Sometimes ときどき（時々）
Rarely たまい (+Negative Adjective or Verb)
Seldom / Not Very Often あまり（＋Negative Adjective or Verb）
Never/ Not At All ぜんぜん（全然）（＋Negative Adjective or Verb）
EXTENT ADVERBS:
(Do Something) A Lot たくさん
(Do Something) Well よく（良く）
(Do Something) a Little すこし（少し）OR ちょっと
Probably / Maybe (Do Something) たぶん（多分）
EXAMPLES:
I always make up my bed. 私は（私の）いつもベッドの奇麗（奇麗い）にします。
I usually get up at 6:25 am. 私はたいてい午前六時二十五分におきます（起きます）。
I often go to school by bus. 私はよくバスで学校に行きます。
I sometimes walk to school. 私はときどき（時々）学校にあるきます（歩きます）。
I rarely take a vacation. 私はたまにりょこう（旅行）をしません。
I don’t study very often. 私はあまりべんきょうしません（勉強しません）。
I never go to the hospital. 私はぜんぜん（全然）びょういん（病院）に行きません。
I study Japanese a lot (often). 私はよく日本語を勉強します。
Well done! (You did well!) よくできました！
I watch a little TV. 私はすこし（少し）テレビを見ます。
Please wait a little (a moment). ちょっとまってください。
I will probably go to Japan this summer. 私はたぶんこのなつ（夏）に日本に行きます。
Basic Completion Adverbs:
Already (done something) もう （＋Past Tense Positive Verb）
Not yet (done something) まだ （＋Present Tense Negative Verb）
EXAMPLES:
Have you already eaten dinner?
あなたはもう晩御飯を食べましたか。
Yes, I have already eaten dinner.
はい、私はもう晩御飯を食べました。
No, I have not eaten dinner yet.
いいえ、私はまだ晩御飯を食べません。Have you already been to Japan? (Have you already had the experience of going to Japan?)
あなたはもう日本に行ったことがありますか。
Yes, I have already been to Japan. (Yes, I have already had the experience of going to Japan.)
はい、私は日本もう行ったことがあります。
No, I haven’t been to Japan yet.（No, I have not yet had the experience of going to Japan.）
いいえ、私はまだ日本に行ったことがありません。
You have learned many adjectives up to this point, and although they are not adverbs as you’ve learned them, they can be transformed into adverbs from adjectives easily. Note that “easy” is an adjective, but “easily” is an adverb (in English). Think of words that end in “ly” in English that come from adjectives to think about the difference in meaning between the two forms in Japanese!
Here are the rules for changing an adjective into an adverb in Japanese:
NOTE: Remember that the adjective “good/okay” is an “irregular” いーAdjective so it will be a little different than other いーAdjectives. For example, いい（Adjective） Becomes よく（Adverb）.
For なーAdjectives use the following pattern:
なーAdjective + に
For いーAdjectives use the following pattern:
いーAdjective (Minusい)（Plus く）
EXAMPLES:
Pretty Or Clean/Neat きれい（奇麗）Becomes 奇麗に
Lively にぎやか（賑やか）Becomes 賑やかに
Quiet しずか（静か）Becomes 静かにGood/Okay いい（良い）Becomes よく（良く）
Fast はやい（早い）Becomes 早く
Cute かわいい（可愛い）Becomes 可愛くPlease read your book quietly in the library.
あんたはとしょかん（図書館）でほん（本）をしずか（静か）にしてください。
Please clean your room (Please do your room cleanly.)
あなたのしんしつ（寝室）をきれい（奇麗）にしてください。
Please do your homework well today.
あなたは今日よくしゅくだい（宿題）をしてください。
Japanese female voice actresses often speak cutely.
日本のじょうせいせいゆう（情勢声優）よくかわいく（可愛く）話します。
Because there’s an important test tomorrow, I’m going to bed early.
明日だいじな（大事な）しけん（試験）がありますから、はやく（早く）寝ます。
おわります（The End）
Graded Assignment(s)
Please return to the Section 4 Tasks & Assignment(s) folder to complete the graded assignment for Section 4.
This completes this section.