本当

ほんとう

real, true

na-adjective

Conjugation Table

Present

本当だ

Negative

本当じゃない

Past

本当だった

Past Negative

本当じゃなかった

Te Form

本当で

Adverbial

本当に

Conditional

本当なら

Presumptive

本当でしょう

Example Sentences

本当ですか？

Is it true?

Hontou desu ka?

その話は本当だった。

That story was true.

Sono hanashi wa hontou datta.

彼の話は本当ではありません。

His story is not true.

Kare no hanashi wa hontou de wa arimasen.

Grammar Notes & Usage Tips

•Na-Adjective Alert**: "本当" (ほんとう) is a na-adjective, so remember to add "な" when it's directly modifying a noun, like in "本当の話" (ほんとうのはなし) meaning "a true story."

•Particle Pairing**: When using "本当" on its own to express truth, it's common to follow it with "に" for emphasis, as in "本当に" (ほんとうに), which means "really" or "truly," like in "本当にありがとう" (ほんとうにありがとう) meaning "Thank you very much."

•Politeness in Questions**: When asking if something is true, you can use "本当ですか?" (ほんとうですか?), which means "Is it true?" This structure is polite and common in everyday conversation.

•Negative Forms**: To negate "本当," use "本当ではない" (ほんとうではない) or "本当じゃない" (ほんとうじゃない) for a casual tone, both meaning "not true," to express disbelief or correction.

•な-adjective: Uses な before nouns, conjugates like a noun