のPossession / noun modifier
の connects NOUN + NOUN. The basic meaning is “A’s B” or “B of A”. Use it for possession (わたしの ほん), belonging (ともだちの かばん), and description/category (にほんの たべもの). Think of の as a simple linker that turns the first noun into a modifier for the second noun.
Key points
Quick reminders for how to use it.
- A の B = B related to A (possession, belonging, type).
- Use の to answer “whose?”: だれの 〜ですか。
- You can chain nouns: にほんの ともだちの いえ (my Japanese friend’s house).
Patterns
Common structures you’ll see.
わたしの 〜
watashi no ~
my ~
〜の 〜
~ no ~
~'s ~ / ~ of ~
だれの 〜ですか。
dare no ~ desu ka?
Whose ~ is it?
きょうの 〜
kyou no ~
today’s ~
Common mistakes
Watch out for these.
- ×Using の after verbs/adjectives (in N5, focus on noun+noun).
- ×Forgetting that の modifies the noun after it (B), not before it.
- ×Overusing の when a simple adjective is better (e.g., おいしい たべもの).
Examples
Real sentences with notes.
これは わたしの かさです。
kore wa watashi no kasa desu.
This is my umbrella.
👉 わたしの modifies かさ: “my umbrella”.
それは ともだちの かばんです。
sore wa tomodachi no kaban desu.
That is my friend’s bag.
👉 Possession/belonging: friend’s bag → の.
にほんの たべものは おいしいです。
nihon no tabemono wa oishii desu.
Japanese food is delicious.
👉 Category: “food of Japan” → Japanese food.
がっこうの せんせいです。
gakkou no sensei desu.
I’m a teacher at the school.
👉 Relationship: school’s teacher (teacher belonging to that school).
だれの じてんしゃですか。
dare no jitensha desu ka?
Whose bicycle is it?
👉 だれの asks “whose”.
きょうの よていは なんですか。
kyou no yotei wa nan desu ka?
What is today’s plan?
👉 Time relation: “today’s plan” → の.
かいしゃの ひとです。
kaisha no hito desu.
A person from the company / company staff.
👉 Association: company-related person → の.
インドネシアの ともだちが います。
indoneshia no tomodachi ga imasu.
I have an Indonesian friend.
👉 Descriptor: “friend of Indonesia” → Indonesian friend.
Compare with
Related particles to review next.