Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 11/24

後(あと)の + (Noun)

…left, Rest, Remaining, In, …to, …else

Structure

あと + の + Noun
あと + Phrase
あと + Number +（Counter)

Details

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About 後(の) Noun

One of the common uses for the noun 後(あと) 'behind' is to express a remainder, or everything after a certain point. This can be translated as 'what's left of (A)', 'the rest of (A)', 'what's remaining of (A)', or even 'other than (A)'. Let's have a look at a few examples.

後(あと) will be grouped with the case marking particle の before nouns, come directly before numbers, or be used at the beginning of whole phrases.

Despite having many different translations, the base meaning of 後(あと) will always just be to identify a sequence of things, and what comes 'after' or 'behind' a specific point in that sequence.

Examples

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    子供(こども)がお隣(となり)さんと話(はな)している：「うちでは７匹(ひき)動物(どうぶつ)を飼(か)ってるんです。猫(ねこ)が５匹(ひき)、後(あと)の２匹(ひき)は犬(いぬ)です。」

    A child is talking with a neighbor: 'We have 7 animals at home. 5 are cats and the remaining ones are dogs.'

    学生(がくせい)１：「明日(あした)は試験(しけん)なのに、どうして一日中(いちにちじゅう)ゲームなんてしてたの！？」
    学生(がくせい)２：「うそっ！？試験(しけん)まで後(あと)一日(いちにち)しかないなんて聞(き)いてないよ！」

    Student1: 'Why did you play games all day long even though there is an exam tomorrow?'
    Student2: 'No way! I didn't hear anything about having only one day left until the exam!' (remaining)

    SF映画(えいが)：「ヨーロッパを除(のぞ)いて、後(あと)の世界(せかい)は全(すべ)てあなた方(がた)のものだ。」

    Sci-fi Movie: 'Except for Europa, the remaining worlds belong to you.'

    砂漠(さばく)で独(ひと)り言(ごと)を言(い)う：「ガソリンが後(あと)7リットルしかない。足(た)りるかな？」

    Talking to oneself in the desert: 'There are only 7 liters of gasoline left. I wonder if it is enough?' (remaining)

    妻(つま)は夫(おっと)と話(はな)している：「後(あと)少(すこ)ししか砂糖(さとう)がないから、コンビニに買(か)いに行(い)ってくれない？」

    A wife talking with her husband: 'Since there is only a little sugar left, won't you go to the convenience store and buy some?' (remaining)

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      後(の) Noun – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • rextruong

        rextruong

        Hi there, I’m having some confusion with the first example of this grammar point. Specifically,

        あとの２匹は犬いぬです。

        Here why is 「の」being used when it’s succeeded by a counter 「２匹」? To expand on this, are they interchangeable, i.e. 「の」can either be present or not?

        Thanks in advance.

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @rextruong Thank you for your question! Omitting the の in this sentence would change the intended meaning of the speaker.

        あとの２匹 - The remaining two animals are… (dogs)
        あと２匹 - There are two animals remaining (they haven’t come yet or been counted/identified)

        The の identifies what is being talked about makes あと a noun. I hope this makes sense. Cheers!

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