Japanese for English speakers Zoo · Lesson 1

Past -i adjectives

Past tense of い-adjectives — drop 〜い, add 〜かった — 安い (cheap) → 安かった (was cheap). Plus comparisons with より and percentages 〜パーセント.

Conversation

  1. Muri Muri

    切符は高くないですか？

    kippu wa takakunai desu ka?

    Isn't the ticket expensive?

    Tip: <kippu> = ticket <takai> = expensive, high, tall ("i" adjective)

  2. Yaya Yaya

    そうですね

    sō desu ne

    Yeah, you're right

  3. Muri Muri

    先週は今日より安かったですね

    senshū wa kyō yori yasukatta desu e.

    Last week was cheaper than today

    Tip: <senshū> = last week <yasui> = cheap, inexpensive ("i" adjective) Past of "i" adjectives: take away the final "i" and replace it with "katta". <Takai desu> = it is expensive. <Takakatta desu> = it was expensive

  4. Yaya Yaya

    確か10％ぐらい安かったですよね

    tashika juppasēnto gurai yasukatta desu yone

    If I am right, it was 10% cheaper

    Tip: <jūppāsento> = 10%

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'it was cheap' in Japanese?

安かったです (yasukatta desu) — drop い from 安い, add かった.

How does the past tense work for い-adjectives?

Always drop the final い and add かった: 楽しい → 楽しかった, おいしい → おいしかった.

What is 先週 (senshū)?

'Last week'. Related: 今週 (this week), 来週 (next week).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Zoo Past of -na ending adjectives →