2.3 The Particle の (no)

Possession and linking

の (no) links two nouns, showing possession or relationship: 私の本 (watashi no hon) = my book, 日本語の先生 = Japanese(-language) teacher.

Order: owner first

The owner/modifier comes first, then の, then the thing: A の B = 'B of A' or 'A's B.' 東京の大学 = a university in Tokyo.

の as a pronoun

の can also replace a noun: 赤いの (akai no) = 'the red one.' And it turns statements into casual questions: 元気なの？

Key terms

の (no)

links nouns: possession/relationship

私の本

watashi no hon — my book

A の B

'A's B' / 'B of A' (owner first)

日本語の先生

nihongo no sensei — Japanese teacher

の as pronoun

赤いの — 'the red one'

Try an AP-style question

"わたしのほん" means…

1. my book
2. a book for me
3. books
4. I book