文型A1

Copula です/だ

The copula です/だ for stating identity and description

Learning Goal

Can identify and describe things using the copula

Exam Skills:JLPT N5 GrammarJLPT N5 Reading

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

これは本です。

This is a book.

私は田中です。

I am Tanaka.

あの人は先生です。

That person is a teacher.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

です / だ — The Copula

Japanese uses です (polite) or だ (casual) where English uses 'is/am/are'. Unlike English, there is no conjugation for person or number — です works for all subjects.

Pattern: [Topic] は [Noun/Na-adjective] です。

StyleFormExampleMeaning
Polite〜です私わたしは学がく生せいです。I am a student.
Casual〜だ僕ぼくは学がく生せいだ。I'm a student.

Usage notes:

  • Use です in class, with strangers, at work — any situation requiring politeness
  • Use だ with close friends, in inner monologue, in casual writing
  • Women sometimes omit だ entirely in casual speech: 「元げん気き？」「うん、元げん気き。」
Forgetting です at the end of polite sentences; Using だ with teachers or strangers. 🇬🇧 English speakers: Try to add articles — Japanese has no 'a/the'. 学生です means 'am a student' without any article.

これは本です。

This is a book.

これ (this) + は (topic marker) + 本(ほん, book) + です (is, polite copula)

私は田中です。

I am Tanaka.

私(わたし, I) + は + 田中(たなか, Tanaka) + です — introducing yourself

あの人は先生です。

That person is a teacher.

あの(that) + 人(ひと, person) + は + 先生(せんせい, teacher) + です

Practice in course

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