Particle と (And/With)
Particle と — listing items (and) and indicating accompaniment (with)
Can use と for listing and accompaniment
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
パンとバターを買いました。
I bought bread and butter.
友達と映画を見ました。
I watched a movie with a friend.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
と — And / With
と has two main uses: (1) listing items exhaustively, (2) indicating accompaniment.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | パンと牛乳 | bread and milk |
| With someone | 友達と行きます | I go with a friend |
Note: と lists ALL items (exhaustive). For partial lists (A, B, etc.), use や: パンやケーキ = bread, cake, (and things like that).
Using と for partial lists (use や instead); Confusing と with で for means
パンとバターを買いました。
I bought bread and butter.
パン(bread) + と(and) + バター(butter) + を(object) + 買いました(かいました, bought) — exhaustive list
友達と映画を見ました。
I watched a movie with a friend.
友達(ともだち, friend) + と(with) + 映画(えいが, movie) + を + 見ました(みました, watched)
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises