What does ～の（possession/modification） mean? Japanese grammar N5

How to use it

Connect noun to noun: possession, belonging, description.

• N1 の N2: N1 modifies N2. The order is REVERSED compared to Vietnamese/English — "my book" is わたしの本 (I + の + book).
• の isn't just "of": it also expresses an attribute (日本語の本 = a Japanese-language book), or a place one belongs to (大学の学生 = a university student).
• It can be chained: わたしの学校の先生 (the teacher of my school).

Examples

• これはわたしの本(ほん)です。

  This is my book.

• 日本語(にほんご)の先生(せんせい)は山田(やまだ)さんです。

  The Japanese teacher is Ms. Yamada.

Keep in mind

• When the noun that follows is already clear from context, it can be omitted: 「これはだれの本ですか。」「わたしのです。」 (Whose book is this? / Mine.)

Common mistakes

• Wrong本(ほん)のわたしです。

  Correctわたしの本(ほん)です。

  The order is reversed: the possessor comes BEFORE の, and the possessed noun comes AFTER.

Related patterns

• ～は～です