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5.2: Xは (wa) Yじゃないです (janai desu)。(X is not Y.)

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    289584
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    This module will introduce you to the negative forms of the ‘XはYです’ sentence pattern, building on your understanding of the affirmative and question forms.

    Do you remember the phrase we learned in Module 3.3?

    XはYがあまり好(す)きじゃないです。

    X wa Y ga amari suki janai desu.

    X doesn’t like Y very much.

     

    To negate the XはY です sentence pattern, you can use the same ending form じゃないです (janai desu):

    XはYです。

    X wa Y desu.

    X is Y.

    XはYじゃないです。

    X wa Y janai desu.

    X is not Y.

     

    Alternatively, for a more formal tone than じゃないです (janai desu), you can use じゃありません (ja arimasen) or the even more formal ではありません (de wa arimasen) to express ‘X is not Y’.

    Here’s how they align in terms of formality:

    Polite yet conversational じゃないです janai desu
    Formal じゃありません ja arimasen
    More Formal ではありません de wa arimasen

    It’s important to recognise that ではありません is typically used in written language or formal speech rather than daily conversation. Additionally, there are other formal negation expressions that you will encounter beyond this textbook.

     

     

    Exercise 1

    Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)

     

     

     


    This page titled 5.2: Xは (wa) Yじゃないです (janai desu)。(X is not Y.) is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Iori Hamada (Council of Australian University Librarians Initiative) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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