Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 3: 4/13

With

Structure Legend

Structure

Noun (A) + は + Noun (B) + + Verb

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Case Marking Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    格助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About と

In this lesson about , we will look at the common translation of 'with' that is associated with this particle. shows that there is a relationship between (A) and (B), regardless of if that relationship is translated as 'and', or 'with'. In each case, the things that are marked with are usually all performing some mutual action (that mutual action may simply be existing).
  • カレー(はん)()
    I eat curry with rice. (I eat rice 'and' curry)
  • コーヒー(つま)()
    I drink coffee with my wife. (I 'and' my wife drink coffee)
When is used as 'with', it means that both/all people or objects are equally involved in the action. However, highlights that one person is the target (destination) of an action, so will result in something sounding a lot more one sided.
  • 先生(せんせい)(はな)
    I will talk with my teacher. (Focus on both people talking)
  • 先生(せんせい)(はな)
    I will talk to my teacher. (Focus on only one person talking)
Here we can see that both people are talking when is used. It is a mutual conversation. When is used, however, the person marked by is being talked 'to', and is usually not actively participating in the conversation.

Examples

  • トム(はな)

    I talk with Tom.

  • (ぼく)友達(ともだち)ごはん()べる

    I will eat food with my friend.

  • ゆうこさんみおさんコーヒー()

    Yuko-san drinks coffee with Mio-san.

  • タキミツハ(はし)

    Taki runs with Mitsuha.

  • たなかさんやまださん(はな)

    Tanaka-san talks with Yamada-san.

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と – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • seigani

    seigani

    About 1 month ago

    I want to ask regarding this example

    僕は友達とごはんを食べる。

    why it is not “僕友達とごはんを食べる”?

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    About 1 month ago

    That sounds more like someone else is eating with your friend

    You don’t have to specify your friend. The topic of the sentence is you. What will you do? Eat, with a friend. We can assume it’s your friend since there isn’t a mention of it being anyone else’s friend/friends.

    Same with English, “I’m going to eat with friends today” you don’t have to say my friends (unless you feel the need to point out to the listener that the friends belong to you, not them, and they are not apart of that group)

  • seigani

    seigani

    About 1 month ago

    Okeyyy. Thanks <3

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