の
Connects two nouns, shows possession
You’ll be able to link two nouns to show possession, origin, or belonging in natural phrases.
これは私の本です。
kore wa watashi no hon desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
This is my book.
Connect one noun to another
The particle の links two nouns. The first noun gives information about the second, such as whose it is, where it comes from, or what kind of thing it is. In the image sentence, focus on 私の本: 私 describes who the book belongs to.
母の時計です。
haha no tokei desu.
It is my mother’s watch.
Put the describing noun first
Place の between two nouns. The second noun is the main item; the first noun describes its relationship to it.
日本の映画です。
nihon no eiga desu.
It is a Japanese movie.
先生の名前は佐藤です。
sensei no namae wa satou desu.
The teacher’s name is Sato.
学校の先生は田中さんです。
gakkou no sensei wa tanaka-san desu.
The school teacher is Tanaka.
Replace an understood noun
When the object you are talking about is already clear from context, you can drop the second noun. Noun + の then means “mine,” “yours,” or “someone’s.”
本は私のです。
hon wa watashi no desu.
The book is mine.
傘は先生のです。
kasa wa sensei no desu.
The umbrella is the teacher’s.
田中さんのです。
tanaka-san no desu.
It is Tanaka’s.
私のかばんです。
watashi no kaban desu.
It is my bag.
父の車です。
chichi no kuruma desu.
It is my father's car.
母の時計です。
haha no tokei desu.
It is my mother's watch.
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