Japanese Sentence Plain form no desu -
Intermediate Lessons: 3

This lesson will teach you how to make your Japanese sentence sounds more natural using the grammar Plain form のです (Plain form no desu).

After learning Japanese for some time, you will notice that native Japanese speak differently from what you have learned so far.

One of the differences is that they like to add a の (no) at the end of a sentence.

This is to make the sentence sounds more natural. Besides, the speaker used this grammar to:

1. confirm if something he/she has seen or heard is true
2. seek an explanation (more information)
   
3. show curiosity (strong interest)

Sentence Pattern

Let's look at the sentence pattern of this grammar...

While the above sentence pattern is used in writing, it's changed to Plain form んです (Plain form n desu) when it's used in conversation because it's easier to pronounce.

There is one condition when using this Japanese sentence. In order to use it, something should be obvious on whatever you have seen or heard.

Let's use some examples to explain this condition.

When NOT to Use Plain form no desu?

Let's say summer vacation in coming soon. The teacher is asking the students where they are going for their holidays. The teacher probably says...

• どこへ行きますか。
  doko e ikimasu ka
  Meaning: Where are you going?

As the students are still in the classroom wearing their school uniform, the teacher has no idea where they are going for their holidays.

Therefore she can only ask with a question like "どこへ行きますか" (doko e ikimasu ka).

When TO Use Plain form no desu?

Let's say now that you see your neighbour is waiting for taxi with his travel suitcase beside him and he is also carrying a camera.

It's obvious that your neighbour is going for travel. You want to make sure that he is really going for travel. In this case you can ask him...

• どこへ行く の ですか。
  doko e iku no desu ka
  Meaning: Where are you going?

As opposed to the first example, it's obvious that your neighbour is going for travel. And you want to confirm that. In this case you can use Plain form no desu in the Japanese sentence.

More Examples on Plain form no desu

Assume you are inside the office. If you want to ask someone if it's raining outside, how do you ask? You will probably ask...

• 雨が降っていますか。
  ame ga futte imasu ka
  Meaning: Is it raining?

However, if you see your colleague carrying a wet umbrella into the office, you should use Plain form no desu.

• 雨が降っている の ですか。
  ame ga futte iru no desu ka
  Meaning: Is it raining?

It's not a mistake to say "雨が降っていますか。" (ame ga futte imasu ka) for the second case. But native Japanese use Plain form no desu for something obvious, as it's more natural.

Let's see another example to make sure what situation is considered as obvious.

Suppose today you notice that your colleague who used to maintain long hair suddenly appeared in front of you with short hair. You are surprised and ask her...

• 髪を切った の ですか。
  kami wo kitta no desu ka
  Meaning: Did you cut your hair?

You have seen your colleague with long hair until yesterday. It's obvious that she had cut her hair. Therefore it's natural to use Plain form no desu in the Japanese sentence here.

However, if you are talking to your colleague through phone without knowing her new hair style, you will ask her...

• 髪を切りましたか。
  kami wo kirimashita ka
  Meaning: Did you cut your hair?

Japanese Sentences Ended with Noun or Na-adjective

For sentences ended with Noun or Na-adjective, instead of ending だ (da), change it to な (na).

For example, if you see a tourist carrying a Japanese passport in his hand, it's obvious that he is a Japanese. So you can ask him the following to confirm...

• 日本人 なの ですか。
  nihonjin na no desu ka
  Meaning: Are you a Japanese?

However if it's not obvious (he is not carrying a Japanese passport), you can only ask him...

• 日本人ですか。
  nihonjin desu ka
  Meaning: Are you a Japanese?

In summary, you can only use this Japanese sentence when something is obvious, either you have seen or heard about it. It also shows your curiosity and you are seeking for an explanation.

Asking for Reason and How to Answer It

And since you are using this Japanese sentence to ask questions, it always goes with the question word どうして (doushite - why).

The answer to this type of questions is always "Plain form からです" (Plain form kara desu), as shown in the following sentence patterns...

As から (kara) also has the meaning of "reason", it always paired with どうして (doushite) question. For example...

Don't forget that the Japanese grammar Plain form no desu is usually used in writing. However during a conversation, の (no) is changed to ん (n).

Related Pages

Lesson 20: Japanese Grammar for Cause and Reason.

Lesson 34: Particle de (で) for Cause or Reason.

FAQ Page: How to use から (kara) in Japanese for reason.

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