Page:An elementary grammar of the Japanese language.djvu/41

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Rules.
27

Pon, hon, or bon is used for a number of trees or plants:—

itt-pon, one tree.
Ki ni-pon, two trees.
san bon, three tress.
Hon is of general use; pon for 10, 20, 30, &c.; bon for 3, and 1000; as, Watakusi wa konnichi tori san ba, or (san ba no tori) to san nin no hito, or hito san nin, to uma san biki, or san biki no uma, to sanbon no ki, or ki sanbon, wo mimasita, I have seen to-day three birds and three persons, and three horses, and three trees.

XVII. Are or arera, the personal pronouns of the third person, are seldom used; generally the demonstrative adjectives kono (this), or sono (that), and the nouns hito or okata (person), are used instead; as, Watakusi wa kono okata wo sakuzitu mimasita, I have seen him (or this person) yesterday.

XVIII. When any adjective qualifies a noun which is understood, the adjective changes its termination, as follows:—

Adjectives ending na, such as kireina, ōkina, &c., change their terminations into ni:
Kore wa kireina niwa de gozarimasu, It is a beautiful garden.
Kono niwa wa kireina gozarimasu, That garden is a beautiful (one).
Kireina, kireini, beautiful, fine.
Akirakana, akirakani, clear, bright.
Attakana, attakani, warm.