1) X は Y です。

The basic structure of a sentence.

~です。It is…

The easiest ending and one of the most commonly used one’s in Formal speech.

__にほんご__です。It is in Japanese.

__アメリカじん__です。(I am) American.

Subject is often implied in sentences, so if someone asks “What color is the book” , you would commonly just say “It’s Red” and not “The book is Red.” Same as Above^ your saying responses to a question or a commonly known subject

~は~

Your very first particle and is used as a subject marker. It defines the subject of the sentence and maybe the next few if necessary.

When combined with ～です。The easiest sentence you can make in Japanese.

I am a Student (I is Student) → わたひ　は　がくせい　です。

James is a Teacher → James　は　せんせい　です。

2) Question Sentences

Something you will be doing a lot once you start learning Japanese, asking questions…

There are 2 main learning points here. The question word and the ending

The magic word(s) : なん・なに　（何）

These 2 pronunciations mean the same thing, “What”, the characters after define what it is asking for and by itself it just means “what”

なん__ねんせえ__ → What school year?

なん__さい__ → How old?

なん__じ__ → What time?

The question word: ～か。

Putting this one small character changes a sentence into a question, it is that simple.

りゅうがくせいです。(I am an) International Student.

りゅうがくせいですか。(Are you an) International Student.

3) Noun1 の Noun2

Your second particle and probably the easiest particle to use. It helps specify a subject.

If you just say “He is a Teacher,” you will probably ask what type of teacher? College, High School, Math, History. Using (の) helps define it for you.

にほんご　の　せんせい → A Japanese Teacher

だいがく　の　がくせい → A College Student

Using everything in this chapter you can now say things like.

たけしさん　の　おかあさん　は　こうこう　の　せんせい　ですか。

Is Takeshi’s Mother a High School Teacher?