Page 116 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

It is there. It is not there It was there. It was not there
(casual). (casual).
Arimasen. Arimasen
It is not there. deshita.
It was not
there.

Noun Sushi desu. Sushi ja nai Sushi deshita. Sushin ja
predicate It is sushi. desu. It was sushi. nakatta desu.
It is not sushi It was not sushi
(casual). (casual).
Sushi ja Sushin ja

arimasen. arimasen
It is not sushi. deshita.
It was not
sushi.
Adjective Takai desu. Takaku nai Takakatta Takaku

Predicate It is expensive. desu. desu. nakatta desu.
It is not It was It was not
expensive expensive. expensive
(casual). (casual).
Takaku Takaku
arimasen. arimasen

It is not deshita.
expensive. It was not
expensive.

An important warning is in order. Do not confuse the following sentences.
Kagi ja arimasen/nai It’s not a key. (Identity)

desu.
Kaigi wa arimasen/nai There is no key. (Existence)
desu.

Also note that as seen earlier, X desu can replace any predicate that is
understood from the context. Thus, it commonly replaces ni arimasu/imasu.
Kagi wa doko ni Where is the key?
arimasu ka.