Combined Particles

• 05.21.2016
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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
 Table of Contents
Focus Particle は and も
Noun + Particle + Partilce の + Noun
Noun Phrase with the Particle から and まで
(Advanced) Focus Particle は and も with Verbs and Adjectives
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.

わたし かあ てがみ か か
[ 私 は / が] お 母 さんには 手 紙 を 書く / 書きます

[Topic / Subject] Target & Contrast Direct Object Verb

[I will] write a letter to my mother.

*Implies that he/she won’t write a letter to other people.

わたし かあ てがみ か か
[ 私 は / が] お 母 さんにも 手 紙 を 書く / 書きます

[Topic / Subject] Target & Inclusion Direct Object Verb

[I will] write a letter to my mother, too.

*Implies that he/she will write a letter to other people, too.
That’s easy, isn’t? Please focus on the functions that each particle has. Here are more
examples.

わたし がっこう い い
[ 私 は / が] 学 校 には 行く / 行きます

[Topic / Subject] Destination & Contrast Verb

[I will] go to school.
*Implies that he/she won’t to go other places.

わたし がっこう い い
[ 私 は / が] 学 校 にも 行く / 行きます
 [Topic / Subject] Destination & Inclusion Verb

[I will] go to school, too.

*Implies that he/she will go other places, too.

わたし ケンとは あくしゅ

[ 私 は / が] 握 手 する / します

[Topic / Subject] Partner & Contrast Verb

[I will] shake hands with Ken.

*Implies that he/she won’t shake hands with other people.

わたし ケンとも あくしゅ

[ 私 は / が] 握 手 する / します

[Topic / Subject] Partner & Inclusion Verb

[I will] shake hands with Ken, too.

*Implies that he/she will shake hands with other people, too.

わたし プールでは およ およ
[ 私 は / が] 泳 ぐ / 泳 ぎます

[Topic / Subject] Location of Action & Contrast Verb

[I will] swim in the pool.

*Implies that he/she won’t swim in other place.

わたし プールでも およ およ
[ 私 は / が] 泳 ぐ / 泳 ぎます

[Topic / Subject] Location of Action & Inclusion Verb

[I will] swim in the pool, too.

*Implies that he/she will swim in other place, too.
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.
リンゴがもおいしい（です）。
=> Wrong!

リンゴもおいしい（です）。
Apples are also delicious.

た た
リンゴをも食べる / 食べます。
=> Wrong!
 た た
リンゴも食べる / 食べます。
[I will] eat apples, too.

Noun + Particle + Particle の + Noun

The basic function of the particle の is to make a noun phrase by connecting two nouns
にほんご せんせい にほんご せんせい
like 日 本 語の 先 生 . You can consider 日 本 語の 先 生 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

としょかん べんきょう
図 書 館 で 勉 強 （する / します）。
[I will] study in the library.

としょかん べんきょう
図 書 館 での 勉 強
Studying in the library
The above examples essentially have the same meaning. If you use only the particle の,
としょかん べんきょう
the phrase “図 書 館 の 勉 強 ” would mean “studying about libraries.” By
placing the particle で, which indicates locations of action, you can reword the sentence.
としょかん べんきょう こうかてき
図 書 館 での 勉 強 は 効 果 的 （だ / です）

Location of Action
Modified Noun
& Explanation

Noun Phrase: Topic / Subject Predicate

Studying in the library is effective.

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.

おおさか りょこう
大 阪 へ 旅 行 （する / します）。
[I will] travel to Osaka.
 おおさか りょこう
大 阪 への 旅 行
Travel to Osaka

かのじょ けっこん
彼 女 と 結 婚 （する / します）。
[I will] get marry to my girlfriend.

かのじょ けっこん
彼 女 との 結 婚
Marriage to my girlfriend

かあ てがみ
お 母 さんから手 紙 を（もらう / もらいます）。
[I will] receive a letter from my mother.

かあ てがみ
お 母 さんからの手 紙
Letter from my mother

ごじ しごと
５時まで仕 事 を（する / します）。
[I will] work until 5 o’clock.

ごじ しごと
５時までの仕 事
Working until 5 o’clock
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.

ふゆ じゅうにがつ さんがつ さむ
冬 は １ ２ 月 から ３ 月 までが 寒 い（です）

Starting Point Ending Point

Topic Noun Phrase: Subject Predicate

 As for winter, it’s cold from Dec to Mar.
じゅうにがつ さんがつ
You can consider １ ２ 月 から ３ 月 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.
にほんご ご きゅう べんきょう
日 本 語は ５ページから ９ ページまでを 勉 強 する / します

Starting Point Ending Point

Topic Noun Phrase: Direct Object Verb

As for Japanese, [I will] study from 5 page to 9 page.

しゅくだい ごじ じゅうじ する / します

宿 題 は ５時から １ ０ 時までで

Starting Point Ending Point

Topic Noun Phrase: Range (Period of Time) Verb

As for the homework, [I will] do [it] from 5 o’clock to 10 o’clock.

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.
ふゆ じゅうにがつ さんがつ さむ
冬 は １ ２ 月 から ３ 月 までが 寒 い（です）。

にほんご ご きゅう べんきょう

日 本 語は５ページから ９ ページまでを 勉 強 （する / します）。

しゅくだい ごじ じゅうじ
宿 題 は５時から １ ０ 時までで （する / します）。

(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
か
書く: to write
Casual Polite

Stem kak

か か
Plain Form 書きはする 書きはします
kakihasuru kakihashimasu

か か
Negative Form 書きはしない 書きはしません
kakihashinai kakihashimasen

Ru-verbs: Stem + Focus Particle + する

み
見る: to see, look, watch
Casual Polite

Stem mi

み み
Plain Form 見はする 見はします
mihasuru mihashimasu

み み
Negative Form 見はしない 見はしません
mihashinai mihashimasen

Two Exceptions
く
来る: to come
Casual Polite

Stem ku/ko/ki

き き
Plain Form 来はする 来はします
kihasuru kihashimasu
 き き
Negative Form 来はしない 来はしません
kihashinai kihashimasen

する: to do

Casual Polite

Stem su/shi

しはする しはします
Plain Form
shihasuru shihashimasu

しはしない しはしません
Negative Form
shihashinai shihashimasen

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

きれい: beautiful

Casual Polite

Plain Form きれいではある きれいではあります

Negative Form きれいではない きれいではありません

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

い
さむ
寒 い: cold
Casual Polite

Plain Form さむ さむ
寒 くはある 寒 くはあります

Negative Form さむ さむ
寒 くはない 寒 くはありません

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.

たなか ほん よ
田 中 さんは 本 を 読みも（しない / しません）

Topic / Subject Direct Object Verb + Inclusion

Tanaka-san won’t even read the book.

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.

わたし がくせい
私 は 学 生 でも（ある / あります）

Topic / Subject State-of-Being + Inclusion

I’m even a student.

*Implies that he/she is something else, too.

なっとう おいしくも（ない / ありません）

納 豆 は

Topic / Subject Predicate + Inclusion

Natto (Japanese cuisine) is not even delicious.

*Implies that Natto also smells bad or something.
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….”