や and など: giving examples in a list

The idea

Use や between nouns to give examples rather than an exhaustive list. Add optional など after the examples to mean “and so on”; it can also follow a single noun. A particle such as が or を follows the complete list, including など.

Examples

• 机つくえにペンや本ほんがあります。There are pens, books and other things on the desk.
• 箱はこに手紙てがみや写真しゃしんなどがあります。The box contains letters, photographs and other things.
• 日曜日にちようびにパンや果物くだものを買かいました。On Sunday I bought bread, fruit and other things.
• 庭にわに犬いぬや猫ねこなどがいます。There are dogs, cats and other animals in the garden.
• 店みせでりんごなどを買かいます。I buy apples and other things at the shop.
• 休やすみに海うみや山やまへ行いきます。On holidays I go to the sea, the mountains and other places.

Watch out

Unlike や, と presents the named items as a definite set; neither here joins whole verb clauses.

Try it yourself

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

   Show answer or example answer

   や

   や — Use や between nouns to give examples rather than an exhaustive list.

2. Choose the correct option. りんご＿＿を買かいます。（など／から）

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   など

   など — Add optional など after the examples to mean “and so on”; it can also follow a single noun.

3. Choose the correct option. 本ほんやペンなど＿＿あります。（が／を）

   Show answer or example answer

   が

   が — A particle such as が or を follows the complete list, including など.

Use it today

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