22
Military Japanese
When they are used as predicate nominative, the position is the same, too.
- Watakushi wa himojii desu I am hungry.
The comparison of adjectives is done by the use of special adverbs: For example, take the adjective yoi (good), and compare:
| Positive | yoi | good |
| Comparative | motto yoi; yori yoi | better |
| Superlative | ichiban yoi | best |
| Kore ga yoi | This is good. |
| Kore ga motto yoi | This is better. |
| Kore ga ichiban yoi | This is the best. |
The negation of adjectives is obtained by changing the final -i to ku and adding nai
| Kore wa yoi desu | This is good. |
| Kore wa yokunai desu | This is not good. |
| | |
| Himojii desu ka | Are you hungry? |
| Himojikunai desu ka | Are you not hungry? |
3. Type sentences:
| Taihen yoi desu | Very good. |
| Ano shikan wo shitte imasu ka | Do you know that officer? |
| Hai, shitte imasu. Tanaka Shōsa desu. | Yes, I know (him); he is Major Tanaka. |
| Anata wa shikan desu ka kashikan desu ka | Are you an officer or a non-commissioned officer? |
| Anata wa kaigun shikan desu ka rikugun shikan desu ka | Are you a navy officer or an army officer? |
| Kaigun shikan desu | I am a navy officer. |
| Soko wa chikai desu ka tōi desu ka | Is that place near or far? |
| Chikai desu | It is near. |
| Doko ga itai desu ka | Where does it pain? |
| Himojii desu ka | Are you hungry? |
| Iie, himojikunai desu | No, I am not hungry. |
| Soko wa tōi desu ka | Is that place far? |
| Iie, tōkunai desu | No, it is not far. |
