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Nouns: definiteness (a/the) and noun phrases

Learn noun phrases you can actually reuse (not isolated dictionary forms).

Noun phrases

Learn noun phrases as chunks you can reuse in conversation.

  • No articles (‘a/the’). Use これ/それ/あれ (this/that) and context.
  • Possession uses の: 私の本 = my book.
  • Plural is often optional; counters are common.
  • Good news: no articles. Focus on the noun phrase patterns you hear.
  • Treat common phrases as single chunks.
私の本
watashi no hon
my book
この水
kono mizu
this water
ここにいます。
Koko ni imasu
I am here.
水がほしいです。
Mizu ga hoshii desu
I want water.
わかりません。
Wakarimasen
I don't understand.
英語を話しますか？
Eigo o hanashimasu ka
Do you speak English?
トイレはどこですか？
Toire wa doko desu ka
Where is the toilet?
これは私の友だちです。
Kore wa watashi no tomodachi desu
This is my friend.

Mini‑quiz

Mini-quiz
1/8 • Score: 0
Which sentence matches “my book”?