On this page, you can learn how to put words in a correct order in a sentence.
It is a very good idea to understand how a Japanese sentence is structured, if you are a beginner of learning Japanese. There are two basic word orders.
Order 1
You need to follow the two rules below if you find a subject at the beginning of a sentence.
- Firstly, translate the subject followed by は (wa), which is a subject marking particle.
- Secondly, translate backwards from the end of the sentence.
Example of Order 1
Let’s say you need to change the English sentence below into Japanese.
I go to school by bus on Monday.
↓
This is how you place Japanese words for the English sentence above.
I, は, Monday, on, bus, by, school, to, go
↓
This is the final sentence in Japanese.
私 は 月曜日 に バス で 学校 に 行く。
Order 2
You need to go to the end of the sentence straight away to translate backwards if you use the following sentence patterns:
- There is + noun
- Some people + verb
- Please + verb
- Let’s + verb
- Why don’t you + verb
- It is adjective + to + verb
- Sentence to start with ‘You’
- Sentence to start with ‘It’ to describe time or weather
Example of Order 2
Let’s say you need to change the English sentence below into Japanese.
There is a man behind a car.
↓
This is how you place Japanese words for the English sentence above.
a car, behind, a man, there is
↓
This is the final sentence in Japanese.
車 の後ろに 男 がいます。