Spoken in Japan.

The written language

Uses Chinese characters and other Japanese alphabets (for example, Kana).

Sentence structure and word order

• Usual pattern is S-O-V, with the verb at the end of a clause, but subject and object do not need to be expressed. 37c, 62b.
• Information that in English would form an adjective clause or phrase precedes the noun it modifies, with no relative pronoun: *He gave me a too difficult for me book. (He gave me a book that is too difficult for me.) 62b.
• A subordinating conjunction occurs after the dependent clause. 37e.
• Has postpositions (after the noun), not prepositions. 63.

Nouns and pronouns

• Nouns do not have plural forms. 58a, 60a.
• No distinction between countable and uncountable nouns. 60b.
• Many nouns can function as adjectives and adverbs, this leads to confusion between danger and dangerous, safe, safety, and safely. 45.
• Possessive pronouns can be omitted: *He hurt shoulder. (He hurt his shoulder.) 44b.
• Pronoun subject not expressed: "wakarimasen" is a single word that means: I don’t understand, he doesn’t understand. 38d, 62a.

Verbs and verbals

• Modal verbs follow main verbs. 41c.
• A verb can stand alone, with subject and object understood: *Kaimasita: (I) bought (it). 38d, 44a, 62a.
• Verb forms and tenses contain only one word. 41d.
• Verbs do not change for person or number. Japanese writers have difficulties with agreement with third person singular subject. 41a, 43.
• No equivalent of auxiliary do. 41c.
• In reported speech, the tense of the direct speech is used. 41i.
• Different limits on what can be used in the passive voice: *They were stolen their luggage. (Their luggage was stolen.) 42.

Adjectives and adverbs

• Complex adjective phrases can precede a noun: *The responsible for the changes committee. (The committee responsible for the changes) 62b.
• Expressions with easy and difficult are used as subject complement to refer to a person: *I am easy to fix a car. (I find it easy to fix a car.) 64e.

Articles

• No system for referring to number or to countability: *Computer is expensive. (The computer is expensive.) *She bought coat last week. (She bought a coat last week.) 60.