Adjectives as Nouns | ～の

Adjectives as Nouns with の

の can stand in for a noun you've already mentioned, so you don't have to repeat it. Like "one" in English: "I have a big dog. I have a small one too." If you're still getting comfortable with い-adjectives and な-adjectives, start with our lesson on adjectives first.

い-Adjectives + の

Just add の directly:

• 大(おお)きい犬(いぬ)がいます。小(ちい)さいのもいます。
  I have a big dog. I have a small one too.

• 赤(あか)いのをください。
  Give me the red one.

な-Adjectives + なの

Add なの:

• 静(しず)かなのがいい。
  I want a quiet one.

Noun + の (Possession)

の also replaces a noun in possessive patterns:

• Q: これは田中(たなか)さんの傘(かさ)ですか。 (Is this Tanaka's umbrella?)
• A: はい、田中(たなか)さんのです。 (Yes, it's Tanaka's.)

Example Sentences

新(あたら)しいのがほしい。
I want a new one.

安(やす)いのはありますか。
Do you have a cheap one?

きれいなのを選(えら)んだ。
I chose a pretty one.

これは私(わたし)のです。
This is mine.