そば

near, close, beside; Japanese traditional buckwheat noodle

na-adjective

Conjugation Table

Present

そばだ

Negative

そばじゃない

Past

そばだった

Past Negative

そばじゃなかった

Te Form

そばで

Adverbial

そばに

Conditional

そばなら

Presumptive

そばでしょう

Example Sentences

君のそばにいるよ。

I am by your side.

Kimi no soba ni iru yo.

昨日は美味しいそばを食べた。

Yesterday, I ate delicious soba noodles.

Kinō wa oishii soba o tabeta.

彼のそばに座らないでください。

Please don't sit next to him.

Kare no soba ni suwaranai de kudasai.

Grammar Notes & Usage Tips

•Understanding Usage**: "そば" can mean "near" or "close," but it's not an adjective! Instead, it functions as a noun or a noun phrase, often needing a particle like "の" (e.g., "駅のそば" means "near the station").

•Distinguishing Meanings**: Be mindful of context! "そば" can also refer to buckwheat noodles, so if you say "そばを食べます," you're talking about eating noodles, not being near something.

•Particle Partners**: When using "そば" to describe proximity, pair it with particles like "に" (to indicate location, e.g., "家のそばに公園があります" - "There is a park near the house") to convey the correct relationship.

•Conjugation Clarity**: As "そば" is not a true adjective, it doesn't conjugate like "い-adjectives" or "な-adjectives." Treat it as a noun when forming sentences, focusing on particles to modify its meaning.

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