Desu, the Copula
Desu is a copula (see yellow box below for definition) and has one of the very few irregular forms in Japanese. Desu can act like the English 'to be' (You know - is, am, are...) in the sense desu is used to explain who or what something or someone is. It is also used when equating one thing with another. Let's take a look:
ゾウは 大きい です。
zou wa ookii desu .
Elephants are large.
これ は ねこ です 。
kore wa neko desu .
This is a cat.
Most of the time you want to use the to be verb you will use desu . Later we will learn other forms to show existence.
MAIN POINTS:
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is, are, am |
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always at the end |
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It doesn't change like its English cousin (is, are, am) in the present tense |
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usually pronounced like "dess" HEAR IT!  WAV 11 k |
Definition of Copula - from Wikipedia A copula is sometimes (though not always) a verb or a verb-like part of speech. In English primary education grammar courses, a copula is often called a linking verb. The term is generally used to refer to the main copular verb in the language: in the case of English, this is " to be ". It can also be used to refer to all such verbs in the language: in that case, English copulas include "to be", "to become", "to get", "to feel", and "to seem". Other verbs have secondary uses as copulative verbs, as fall in "The zebra fell victim to the lion." For a complete list see: List of English copulae . |
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I am not Zxyggrhyn
I am not Zxyggrhyn 〓「私はザイッグリンではありません。」
I was Zxyggrhyn 〓「私はザイッグリンでした。」
I wasn't Zxyggrhyn 〓「私はザイッグリンではありませんでした。」
You'll learn that there are other words that also mean "to be": ある and いる
Negative form
I am Zxyggrhyn = 私はザイッグリンです。
I am not Zxyggrhyn = 私はザイッグリン(what should I say here?)
Please Help.
Maraming Salamat Po (どうもありがとうございます)!