Japanese grammar is an essential part of learning the Japanese language.

 It is the set of rules that govern the way words are combined to form sentences in the Japanese language. Japanese grammar is known for its complex system of particles, which are small words that are added to the end of nouns or verbs to indicate the grammatical function of the word in the sentence. 

In this post, We will talk about JLPT N3 Grammar: じゃない

JLPT N3 Grammar: じゃない (janai) Meaning

じゃない is a form of the copula (linking verb) です that negates the verb or adjective that precedes it. It is used to express that something is not the case or to negate a previous statement.

For example:

1. 彼女は学生じゃない。 (She is not a student.)

2. これは日本のテレビ番組じゃない。 (This is not a Japanese TV program.)

3. それは面白いじゃない。 (That is not interesting.)

Note that in spoken Japanese, the final い in じゃない is often dropped, resulting in forms like じゃなかった or じゃなくて.

じゃない and ではない are both negative forms of the copula (linking verb) です and can be used to negate a verb or adjective that comes before it. However, there is a difference in nuance between the two.

じゃない is more colloquial and is commonly used in spoken Japanese. It is often used to negate a previously stated fact or assumption or to express doubt.

ではない, on the other hand, is more formal and is commonly used in written Japanese. It is used to negate a statement or describe that something is not the case.

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:

1. これは日本のテレビ番組じゃない。(This is not a Japanese TV program. [colloquial])
2. これは日本のテレビ番組ではありません。(This is not a Japanese TV program. [formal])
3. 私たちは明日会わないじゃないか。(We won’t meet tomorrow, will we? [colloquial])
4. 私たちは明日会わないでしょうか。(We won’t meet tomorrow, will we? [formal])
5. 彼女はまだ来ていないじゃない。(She has not yet come, has she? [colloquial])
6. 彼女はまだ来ていませんか。(She has not yet come, has she? [formal])

Here are seven more examples of sentences using じゃない:

1. 彼は僕の兄弟じゃない。(He is not my brother.)
2. この本は英語の本じゃない。(This book is not an English book.)
3. 私たちは明日会わないじゃないか。(We won’t meet tomorrow, will we?)
4. 彼女はまだ来ていないじゃない。(She has not yet come, has she?)
5. これはまだ朝じゃない。(This is not yet morning.)
6. このレストランは日本料理屋じゃない。(This restaurant is not a Japanese restaurant.)
7. 彼はまだ大学生じゃない。(He is not yet a college student.)