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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    「次(つぎ)の電車(でんしゃ)はいつくるの？」
    「後(あと)八分(はっぷん)で来(く)るよ。」

    'When is the next train coming?'
    'It will be coming in eight minutes.' (after)

    いすずちゃん：「この問題(もんだい)は私(わたし)がやるわ。」
    かにえくん：「じゃあ、後(あと)はこっちに任(まか)せてくれ。」

    Isuzu: 'I will deal with this problem.'
    Kanie: 'If so, then leave the rest to me.' (remaining)

    チトゲさん：「ラクさんが来(く)るまで、後(あと)何分(なんぷん)？」
    オノデラさん：「まだ後(あと)五(ご)分(ふん)！」

    Chitoge: 'How many minutes left until Raku comes?'
    Onodera: 'Still 5 minutes left!' (remaining)

    彼女(かのじょ)：「たまごと牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)はあるの。」
    彼氏(かれし)：「後(あと)は何(なに)が必要(ひつよう)なの？」

    Girlfriend: 'We have eggs and milk.'
    Boyfriend: 'Do we need anything else?' (remaining)

    ヨツバちゃん：「ミクとイツキは先(さき)に行(い)ったわ。」
    フウタロウくん：「後(あと)の連中(れんちゅう)は？」
    ヨツバちゃん：「全然(ぜんぜん)わからないわ。」

    Yotsuba: 'Miku and Itsuki went ahead.'
    Fuutarou: 'And the rest of the group?'
    Yotsuba: 'I have no idea.' (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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