Japanese word order: building a sentence

The idea

A common starting pattern is topic は + object を + verb, with the main verb at the end: 私はパンを食べます. Modifiers come before the word they describe. Particles mark roles: を marks many direct objects, で the place of an action, and に or へ a destination. Time and place phrases often come before the object.

Examples

• 私わたしは朝あさお茶ちゃを飲のみます。I drink tea in the morning.
• 田中たなかさんは駅えきで友達ともだちを待まちます。Tanaka waits for a friend at the station.
• 明日あした、図書館としょかんで本ほんを読よみます。Tomorrow I will read a book at the library.
• 毎日まいにち、学校がっこうへ歩あるいて行いきます。I walk to school every day.
• 妹いもうとは家いえで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。My younger sister studies Japanese at home.
• この店みせでパンを買かいます。I buy bread at this shop.

Watch out

The order of marked phrases can change for emphasis; it is not a rigid word-for-word template. A topic or subject can be omitted when context makes it clear.

Try it yourself

1. Put the parts in sentence order. （飲のみます／私わたしは／水みずを）

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   私は水を飲みます

   私は水を飲みます — A common starting pattern is topic は + object を + verb, with the main verb at the end: 私はパンを食べます. Modifiers come before the word they describe.

2. Choose the form that completes the sentence. 私わたしは＿＿読よみます。（本ほんを／本ほんが）

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   本を

   本を — Particles mark roles: を marks many direct objects, で the place of an action, and に or へ a destination. Time and place phrases often come before the object.

3. Choose the form that completes the sentence. 妹いもうとは家いえ＿＿勉強べんきょうします。（で／を）

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   で

   で — Particles mark roles: を marks many direct objects, で the place of an action, and に or へ a destination. Time and place phrases often come before the object.

Use it today

Cover the examples. Make two new sentences using the pattern, then check them against the table.