Page 48 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

ko 子 child

GRAMMAR NOTE Past Form of Noun Predicates

As seen above, X desu and X ja nai desu are the Non-past form of the noun
predicate. Their Past versions are X deshita and X ja nakatta desu. They are all

Formal forms and are shown below. Make sure you do not use deshita in Past
Negative form.

Noun Predicates
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Non-past X desu. It’s X. X ja nai desu. It’s not X.

Past X deshita. It was X. X ja nakatta desu. It
wasn’t X.

The Past forms are also used to express recollection of information, even when
this information is about an event scheduled in the future.
Ano shigoto wa ashita deshita That work was (is due)

ne. tomorrow, right?
-Iya, kyō ja nakatta desu ka. No, wasn’t it today?

GRAMMAR NOTE The Conjunction Kedo “But”

Kedo “but” connects two sentences to make one. The two sentences typically
contain contrasting ideas. In some instances, the first sentence simply serves as
an introduction and prepares the listener for the second sentence.
Kore wa Nihon-go desu kedo, are wa Eigo desu.
This is in Japanese, but that is in English.

Sumimasen kedo, kore, onegai-shimasu.
I’m sorry but please give this to me.
Ano hito desu kedo, nani-jin desu ka.
It’s about that person; what is his nationality?

In some cases, the second sentence is left unexpressed. Either the second
sentence is clear from the context or the speaker hesitates to mention it for some
reason.
Mae wa NTT deshita kedo… I worked for NTT before, but …