と(並列)

N5

と(並列)

to (and)

and (nouns)

N5

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Explanation

と connects nouns in a complete list. It is like “and” in English. Use it when you want to name all items in the list. Key points: • と connects nouns: AとB • It is a complete list (no other items) • It can connect more than two nouns • Different from や, which gives examples For example, “パンと牛乳を買います” means “I buy bread and milk.” The listener understands that these are the items. If you use や, it would mean “bread, milk, and other things.” と can also connect people: “父と母” means “my father and mother.” It does not connect verbs or sentences at N5; it is mainly for nouns. Using と makes your meaning precise. If you want to say a complete list, use と. If you want to say “A, B, etc.,” use や instead. A simple test is: if you can add “and that’s all,” then と is a good choice. If you mean “and so on,” then や is a better fit.

Structure

Pattern
Noun と Noun (と Noun) + Verb
Noun と NounTwo or more nouns connected by と
Examples: パンと牛乳, 父と母, 本とペン
VerbAction with the noun list
Examples: 買います, 食べます, 持ちます

Examples

Example 1
パンと牛乳を買います。
Pan to gyuunyuu o kaimasu.
I buy bread and milk.
Breakdown
パンbread
and
牛乳milk
object marker
買いますbuy (polite)
Note: Complete list of items
Example 2
本とペンがあります。
Hon to pen ga arimasu.
There are books and pens.
Breakdown
book
and
ペンpen
subject marker
ありますexist (polite)
Note: Connecting two nouns
Example 3
父と母は日本にいます。
Chichi to haha wa Nihon ni imasu.
My father and mother are in Japan.
Breakdown
father
and
mother
topic marker
日本Japan
location marker
いますexist (polite)
Note: People connected with と
Example 4
りんごとみかんを食べます。
Ringo to mikan o tabemasu.
I eat apples and oranges.
Breakdown
りんごapple
and
みかんmandarin orange
object marker
食べますeat (polite)
Note: Two items in a set

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