〜です

N5

to be (polite)

Formation

Noun + です

Explanation

です (desu) is the polite copula, equivalent to 'is/am/are' in English. It is one of the first grammar points every learner encounters and is used to make polite statements.

Examples

学生です。
がくせいです。
I am a student.
これは本です。
これはほんです。
This is a book.

Common Mistakes

  • !Don't confuse です with だ — です is polite, だ is casual

Related Grammar

〜じゃないis not (casual negative)〜でしたwas (polite past)〜ますpolite verb ending
All N5 Grammar →Japanese Words →

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