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Adjectives as Nouns | ～の

Use の to replace a noun after an adjective (a big one, the red one)

N4い-adj + の | な-adj + なの | noun + の

Step 45 of 66 in the N4 study path

N4Japanese Grammar

Use の to replace a noun after an adjective (a big one, the red one)

Formation:い-adj + の | な-adj + なの | noun + 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

Tap any sentence to hear it read aloud.

Speed

  1. 新(あたら)しいのがほしい。

    I want a new one.

  2. 安(やす)いのはありますか。

    Do you have a cheap one?

  3. きれいなのを選(えら)んだ。

    I chose a pretty one.

  4. これは私(わたし)のです。

    This is mine.

  5. 大(おお)きいのをください。

    I'll take the big one, please.

  6. 赤(あか)いのと青(あお)いの、どちらがいいですか。

    Which would you like, the red one or the blue one?

  7. もっと軽(かる)いのはありませんか。

    Do you have a lighter one?

  8. 有名(ゆうめい)なのを一(ひと)つ教(おし)えてください。

    Could you tell me one that's famous?

Quiz Time

Adjectives as Nouns | ～の

6 questions to test what you actually remember.

3 multiple choice2 fill in the blank1 error correction

Want to mix this with other grammar points? Practice in the full Japanese Grammar Quiz.

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