Combined Particles

Last time, you learned what functions the particle の has, which are Possessor, Author (Creator), Explanation, Position, and Apposition. Since each particle has various functions, your expression will be more colorful if you can use them together. In this lesson, you will learn how to use combined particles.

Explanation for Combined Particle by Using Focus Particle and Noun Phrase

First of all, the patterns of combination are already defined. You will learn just two patterns here. By following the rule, you can make a natural sentence.

Focus Particle は and も

For the sake of explanation, let us call は and も a “Focus Particle.” This is because は and も have a special function (You will see it in the advanced topic). The first pattern is to attach は or も to other particles. Let’s check some examples.

That’s easy, isn’t? Please focus on the functions that each particle has. Here are more examples.

Note: You CANNOT combine は and も with the particle が and を. If you’d like to express contrast or inclusion in が and を parts, you have to replace them.

Noun + Particle + Particle の + Noun

The basic function of the particle の is to make a noun phrase by connecting two nouns like 日に本ほん語ごの先生せんせい. You can consider 日に本ほん語ごの先生せんせい as a single noun. In practice, other particles sometimes appear before の, which forms the sentence pattern: Noun + Particle + Particle の + Noun. This is another pattern of combined particles.

Reword a Sentence with a Noun Phrase

The above examples essentially have the same meaning. If you use only the particle の, the phrase “図と書館しょかんの勉べん強きょう” would mean “studying about libraries.” By placing the particle で, which indicates locations of action, you can reword the sentence.

This expression can be utilized like the above. The role of the noun phrase is determined by the particle placed after that, which is は in this example. Here are more examples.

Note: You CANNOT combine the particle の with the particle に, は, も, が and を. Regarding the particle に, if it indicates “destination” or “direction,” you can express the same meaning by using the particle へ like the second example.

Noun Phrase with the Particle から and まで

These are actually not combined particles. から and まで can form noun phrases with other particles and so it resembles combined particles. That’s why we will pick this up here.

You can consider １２じゅうに月がつから３さん月がつまで as a single noun. The role is determined by the particle placed after that, which is が in this example. Since this is just a noun, から and まで can be used with even が and を unlike combined particles. Here are more examples.

That’s simple, isn’t it? One thing you should pay attention to is that particles placed after noun phrases are sometimes omitted. In that case, you need to guess the roles of noun phrases based on the context. The following are also correct.

(Advanced) Focus Particle は and も with Verbs and Adjectives

The focus particle は and も can be placed after verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Although you can spice up your expression more, you need to conjugate them properly. Let’s go over the rules.

U-verbs: Stem + i + Focus Particle + する

書かく: to write

Ru-verbs: Stem + Focus Particle + する

見みる: to see, look, watch

Two Exceptions

来くる: to come

する: to do

Na-adjective and Nouns: Adding で + Focus Particle + ある/ない

きれい: beautiful

I-adjective: Replacing い with く, and Adding Focus Particle + ある/ない

寒さむい: cold

Examples

The concept is the same as the combined particles. By looking at the function of the focus particles, you can figure out the meaning of whole sentences. This time, we will make examples with も.

The particle も expresses inclusion. With the example above, it implies that Tanaka-san won’t read or do any other activities. Thus, it can roughly be translated as “even” and implies surprise or unexpectedness.

Note: this usage, especially for when you modify adjectives and nouns in affirmative sentences, will sound a little formal. Thus, you may not often hear this in conversation, while the negative form sounds neutral.

Summary

1. You can attach は or  も with other particles as a combined particle except for が and を.
2. You can form noun phrases by combining の with other particles except for に, は, も, が, and を.  
3. You can form noun phrases by combining から or まで with other particles (including が and を).
4. Focus particle は and を can modify verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

We hope that you don’t have any difficulty in this lesson. Japanese can be easily figured out if you know the usages of the Japanese particles. Thus, if you had tough time, you may review what you have learned so far. Next, you will learn something related to noun phrases. You can even use verbs and adjectives as a noun like “doing,” “to do,” and “being….”