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です

is, am, are (polite)

Noun + です

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です links a topic to what it is, the way "is" or "am" does in English: 私は学生です, "I'm a student". It goes at the very end of the sentence, after the noun.

Two things surprise English speakers. First, です never changes with the subject: I am, you are and it is are all です. Second, the subject is left out whenever it's obvious, so 学生です alone is a complete sentence: "(I'm) a student."

です is the polite form, the one textbooks start with and the one to use with anyone you don't know well. Among friends it becomes だ, or disappears altogether. The final す is so light it usually sounds like "des".

Register: Polite. The default with anyone you don't know well: strangers, teachers, shop staff, colleagues.

Examples

  • 私わたしは学生がくせいです。

    I'm a student.

  • これは私わたしの本ほんです。

    This is my book.

  • 田中たなかさんは先生せんせいです。

    Mr Tanaka is a teacher.

  • 今日きょうは月曜日げつようびです。

    Today is Monday.

  • 山田やまだです。よろしくお願ねがいします。

    I'm Yamada. Nice to meet you.

  • 駅えきはあそこです。

    The station is over there.

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