Plain clause + noun
Describe nouns with non-past clauses
You’ll be able to describe a noun with a plain non-past clause for habits, ongoing states, and future plans.
駅に行くバスはどれですか。
eki ni iku basu wa dore desu ka.
What do you think this sentence means?
Which bus goes to the station?
Describe a noun with a non-past clause
A plain non-past clause can come directly before a noun to describe a habit, an ongoing state, or a future plan. Japanese does not add a relative pronoun such as “who” or “that.”
これは明日着る服です。
kore wa ashita kiru fuku desu.
These are the clothes I will wear tomorrow.
Put the non-past clause before the noun
End the describing clause with a plain non-past form such as 使う, 住んでいる, or ある, then place the noun directly after it.
日本に住んでいる友達です。
nihon ni sunde iru tomodachi desu.
This is a friend who lives in Japan.
毎日使うかばんです。
mainichi tsukau kaban desu.
It is the bag I use every day.
駅の近くにある店です。
eki no chikaku ni aru mise desu.
It is a shop that is near the station.
Particles inside the clause stay in place
Keep particles such as が, を, に, and で inside the describing clause. Place the complete clause directly before the noun it describes.
母が作る料理が好きです。
haha ga tsukuru ryouri ga suki desu.
I like the food my mother makes.
公園でサッカーをする子どもです。
kouen de sakkaa o suru kodomo desu.
This is a child who plays soccer in the park.
学校に持っていくお弁当です。
gakkou ni motte iku obentou desu.
This is the lunch I take to school.
父が読む新聞はテーブルの上にあります。
chichi ga yomu shinbun wa teeburu no ue ni arimasu.
The newspaper my father reads is on the table.
あそこに立っている人は山田先生です。
asoko ni tatte iru hito wa yamada sensei desu.
The person standing over there is Mr. Yamada.
スーパーで働く人は私の姉です。
suupaa de hataraku hito wa watashi no ane desu.
The person who works at the supermarket is my older sister.
10 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.