Grammar - Grade 2 List View

Review these list items to study and edit your keyphrase and other memory aids.
Grammar Point
Godan verb with 'ru' ending (irregular verb)
v5r-i 
formal or literary term
form 
copula
cop 
A Keyphrase should be a short phrase that brings to mind and helps to remember the information on this frame.
である

be, is

Noun / Adjective + である

である is a formal version of the copula 'to be' (だ or です). It is primarily used in academic writing, literature, official documents, and formal speeches. It sounds more objective and authoritative than the standard polite or informal forms.

Noun + である

When used with a noun, it simply states that 'A is B' in a formal, written style.

He is a doctor.

This is a fact.

な-Adjective stem + である

When used with な-Adjectives, the dictionary form of the adjective (the stem without 'な') is followed by である.

This place is quiet.

Health is important.

Note

While である is formal, it is not used in normal polite conversation where です would be used. It is also common in the middle of sentences to link clauses, such as 'であり'. When used with な-Adjectives, the 'な' is dropped before adding である.

Words: 
である
Radicals of radicals