In English we say "I eat rice." The word rice is the thing we are acting on.
In Japanese, you mark that thing with the particle を (pronounced "o").
• ごはんをたべます。 — I eat rice.
• コーヒーをのみます。 — I drink coffee.
Put the thing first, then を, then the verb.
Japanese verbs come at the end of the sentence.
Pattern: [noun]を [verb]ます。
• 〜ます — I do it (positive)
• 〜ますか？ — Do you…? (question — just add か)
• 〜ません — I don't (negative)
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| たべます | tabemasu | eat |
| のみます | nomimasu | drink |
| よみます | yomimasu | read |
| みます | mimasu | watch / see |
| ききます | kikimasu | listen / hear |
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| ごはん | gohan | rice / meal |
| パン | pan | bread |
| みず | mizu | water |
| コーヒー | kōhī | coffee |
| ほん | hon | book |
| テレビ | terebi | TV |
| えいが | eiga | movie |
| おんがく | ongaku | music |
Activity 1: Match the English verb
Click the correct English meaning.
1. たべます
2. のみます
3. よみます
4. ききます
5. みます
Activity 2: Pick the right ending
Which ending fits the English sentence?
1. ごはんをたべ（ ）。 — I eat rice.
2. コーヒーをのみ（ ）？ — Do you drink coffee?
3. テレビをみ（ ）。 — I don't watch TV.
4. おんがくをきき（ ）。 — I listen to music.
Activity 3: Build the sentence
Click the words in the correct order.
1. I eat rice.
2. I drink coffee.
3. I don't read books.
Pattern: [noun]を [verb]ませんか？
You already know 〜ません means "I don't…" (from Pattern A).
When you add か to the end, it becomes a friendly invitation — like "Shall we…?" or "Would you like to…?"
Same ending, but a totally different feeling — it's a warm offer, not a "no"!
| 〜ません (negative) | 〜ませんか？ (invitation) |
|---|---|
|
コーヒーをのみません。 I don't drink coffee. |
コーヒーをのみませんか？ Shall we drink coffee? |
|
えいがをみません。 I don't watch movies. |
えいがをみませんか？ Shall we watch a movie? |
You'll hear these in class — you don't need to memorize them, just recognize them:
• はい、いいですね。 — Yes, sounds good!
• すみません、ちょっと… — Sorry, a little… (polite "no")
Activity 1: Negative or invitation?
Pick the Japanese that matches the English meaning.
1. Shall we drink coffee?
2. I don't watch movies.
3. Would you like some bread?
4. Shall we listen to music?
Activity 2: Build the invitation
Click the words in the correct order.
1. Shall we watch a movie?
2. Would you like some bread?
3. Shall we drink water?
In class — especially in the listening activity — you'll hear a few extra words. Just recognize them when you hear them; you don't need to produce them.
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| あさ | asa | morning |
| まいあさ | maiasa | every morning |
| よる | yoru | night / evening |
| ねるまえに | neru mae ni | before sleeping / before bed |
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| でも | demo | but… |
| そして | soshite | and then… |
• も — "also / too". It replaces を or は when you want to say also.
みずものみます。 — I drink water too.
• は with a negative verb often marks contrast: "as for X, I don't…"
テレビはみません。 — As for TV, I don't watch it. (I don't watch TV.)
• うち = home / house
• うちで = at home. The little で marks where an action happens. You'll meet it properly in a later lesson — just recognize it for now.
うちでほんをよみます。 — I read books at home.
• します = "do". You'll hear it in questions like:
なにをしますか？ — What do you do?
You'll see these in class hint boxes — just recognize.
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| おちゃ | ocha | green tea |
| ぎゅうにゅう | gyūnyū | milk |
| にく | niku | meat |
| さかな | sakana | fish |
| やさい | yasai | vegetables |
| ケーキ | kēki | cake |
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| まんが | manga | comic / manga |
| ニュース | nyūsu | news |
Read through the conversation slowly. The words in italics are the patterns you are learning. English translations are below each line.
YUKI: アレックスさん、なにをのみますか？
Alex, what will you drink?
ALEX: わたしはコーヒーをのみます。
I'll drink coffee.
YUKI: いっしょにパンをたべませんか？
Shall we eat bread together?
ALEX: はい、いいですね！ゆきさんはなにをたべますか？
Yes, sounds good! What will you eat, Yuki?
YUKI: わたしはごはんをたべます。みずものみます。
I'll eat rice. I'll drink water too.
ALEX: いいですね！
Sounds good!
• のみます / たべます — Pattern A positive
• のみますか / たべますか — Pattern A question
• たべませんか — Pattern B invitation!
Imagine you're at a small Japanese restaurant. Read the conversation out loud!
WAITER: いらっしゃいませ！なにをたべますか？
Welcome! What will you eat?
YOU: わたしはすしをたべます。
I'll have sushi.
WAITER: なにをのみますか？
What would you like to drink?
YOU: おちゃをのみます。
I'll have green tea.
WAITER: パンもたべますか？
Will you also eat bread?
YOU: いいえ、パンはたべません。
No, I won't eat bread.
YOU: おねがいします！
Please (please bring it)!
• たべます / のみます — "I will eat / drink"
• たべますか / のみますか — "Will you eat / drink?"
• たべません — "I won't eat" (polite refusal)
Prestudy Checklist:
KEY EXPRESSIONS — もういちどよんでみましょう！
You now know the key patterns and vocabulary for Lesson 5. In class, you will practice saying what you eat, drink, read, watch, and listen to — and invite your tutor to make weekend plans together!