Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 11/24

(あと)の + (Noun)

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

Structure Legend

Structure

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

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 後(の) Noun

One of the common uses for the noun (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.
(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.
  • (いま)あなたが()っている(だん)ボール(ばこ)はキッチンまで(はこ)んでおいてください。(あと)(だん)ボール(ばこ)全部(ぜんぶ)寝室(しんしつ)までお(ねが)いします。
    Please bring the cardboard box you are carrying into the kitchen. Please take all the rest to the master bedroom.
  • (あと)ちょっとで()くからもうちょっと我慢(がまん)して。
    We will arrive in a little bit, so please be patient for a little longer.
  • 映画(えいが)公開(こうかい)まで(あと)3()
    Three days left until the movie gets released!
Despite having many different translations, the base meaning of (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

  • 子供(こども)がお(となり)さん(はな)している:「うちでは7(ひき)動物(どうぶつ)()ってるんです。(ねこ)が5(ひき)あと(ひき)(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.'

    The 'の2匹' part can be omitted since the amount is clear from the context.

  • 学生(がくせい):「明日(あした)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):「うそっ!?試験(しけん)まであと一日(いちにち)しかないなんて()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!'

    まで often precedes this use of あと.

  • SF映画(えいが):「ヨーロッパを(のぞ)いて、あと世界(せかい)(すべ)あなた(がた)のものだ。」

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

  • 砂漠(さばく)(ひと)(ごと)():「ガソリンがあと7リットルしかない。()りるかな?」

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

  • (つま)(おっと)(はな)している:「あと(すこ)しか砂糖(さとう)がないから、コンビニ()いに()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?'

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後(の) Noun – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • rextruong

    rextruong

    About 3 years ago

    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

    About 3 years ago

    @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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