と: joining Japanese nouns

The idea

Put と between nouns to list them as a definite set. The whole list can be the subject, followed by が. When the list is the object, the particle を follows the final noun.

Examples

• 朝あさご飯はんにパンと卵たまごを食たべます。I eat bread and an egg for breakfast.
• かばんに本ほんとノートがあります。There is a book and a notebook in the bag.
• 庭にわに猫ねこと犬いぬがいます。There is a cat and a dog in the garden.
• 土曜日どようびと日曜日にちようびは休やすみです。Saturday and Sunday are days off.
• 赤あかと青あおが好すきです。I like red and blue.
• 父ちちと母ははは日本にほんにいます。My father and mother are in Japan.

Watch out

This noun-linking と does not join verbs; と can also mean “with” in a different construction.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. 本ほん＿＿ノートを買かいます。（と／を）

   Show answer or example answer

   と

   と — Put と between nouns to list them as a definite set.

2. Choose the correct option. 犬いぬと猫ねこ＿＿います。（が／を）

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   が

   が — The whole list can be the subject, followed by が.

3. Choose the correct option. お茶ちゃと水みず＿＿飲のみます。（を／が）

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   を

   を — When the list is the object, the particle を follows the final noun.

Use it today

Make two sentences about your own life with this pattern. Check their form and meaning against the examples.