Noun Negatives

JLPT N5 Japanese self-study　·　~10 min　·　じゃない · ではない · じゃありません

'This is not a pen.' — You learned 'A は B です' but how do you say it's NOT B? There are several patterns, depending on formality.

What you'll learn

• Plain: じゃない / ではない
• Polite: じゃありません / ではありません
• Past negative: じゃありませんでした

How to study “Noun Negatives”

“Noun Negatives” (じゃない · ではない · じゃありません) is a JLPT N5 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 10 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.