How to Qualify Nouns with Sentences in Japanese

introduction

In Japanese, you can modify a noun directly with a sentence. The pattern is simple:

(Sentence) + Noun  

This structure works like an adjective, providing additional information about the noun.  

How It Works

Instead of using a single adjective (like 「大おおきい家いえ」 – a big house) to describe a noun, you use a complete sentence to explain what kind of noun it is.  

For example, to say “a book that Sakura translated”, you take the sentence 「さくらさんが訳やくしました」 (Sakura translated) and put it before the noun 「本ほん」 (book). Using the short form 「訳やくした」, it becomes:  

さくらさんが訳やくした本ほん (a book that Sakura translated)  

Similarly, to say “a friend who can speak Chinese”, you take the sentence 「中国語ちゅうごくごが話はなせます」 (can speak Chinese) and put it before 「友ともだち」 (friend). Using the short form 「話はなせる」, it becomes:  

中国語ちゅうごくごが話はなせる友ともだち (a friend who can speak Chinese)  

Key Points

• Short Form: The verb used in the sentence that modifies the noun must be in its short (plain) form. This applies to all verbs, regardless of tense or politeness in the overall sentence.
  • Remember to review verb short forms (plain forms) if needed: Lesson 8 – Level 1
• Subject Particle が: When the subject of the verb within the modifying sentence is different from the noun being modified, that subject is marked with the particle が, not は.
  • Example: 「私わたしがはじめて読よんだ日本にほんのマンガ」 (The first Japanese manga that I read). Here, 「私」 (I) is the subject of the verb 「読んだ」 (read) within the modifying sentence, so it’s marked with が, not は.  

Example Sentences

This structure can be used when the qualified noun plays various roles in the main sentence.

1. 〜は　(sentence) + N　です

これは、私わたしが図書館としょかんで借かりた本ほんです。
This is a book that I borrowed at the library.

2. (sentence) + N　は　〜です

トムさんが行いったラーメン屋やはとても有名ゆうめいです。
The ramen shop Tom went to is very famous.

3. (sentence) + N　を〜

昨日きのう 私わたしが案内あんないした店みせを覚おぼえていますか。
Do you remember the restaurant I took you to yesterday?

4. (sentence) + N　が　～です

母ははが作つくるケーキが好すきです。
I like the cake that my mother makes.

Common Mistakes

A frequent mistake is using the particle は for the subject inside the modifying sentence when it should be が.  

Example: The first Japanese manga that Nancy read is One Piece.

❌ Wrong: ナンシーさんははじめて読よんだ日本語にほんごの漫画まんがはワンピースです。
✅ Correct: ナンシーさんがはじめて読んだ日本語の漫画はワンピースです。

Practice Time

Combine the following sentences and nouns to create modifying phrases:  

• 母ははが作つくりました (Mother made) + 料理りょうり (dish)
  → 母が作った料理 (a dish that my mother made)  
• アメリカにいます (Is in America) + 有名人ゆうめいじん (famous person)
  → アメリカにいる有名人 (a famous person who is in America)  
• いま私わたしが住すんでいます (I am currently living) + 家いえ (house)
  → いま私が住んでいる家 (the house where I am currently living)  
• ジャックさんが運転うんてんしています (Mr. Jack is driving) + 車くるま (car)
  → ジャックさんが運転している車 (the car that Mr. Jack is driving)  

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering how to qualify nouns with sentences (relative clauses) is a powerful way to add descriptive detail in Japanese. Remember to use the short form of the verb and pay close attention to the subject particle が within the modifying sentence.  

🎯 Try describing some nouns around you using this pattern!