Mastering Japanese Relative Clauses & Defining with という
Welcome! In this guide, we will break down two essential grammar structures for Pearson Edexcel A Level Japanese (9JA0): Relative Clauses (連体修飾節) and Defining/Naming with という. In both Paper 1 (9JA0/01) and Paper 2 (9JA0/02), Pearson examiners explicitly look for these structures under their definition of "Complex Language" to award top marks in grammatical range and accuracy. Don't worry if complex sentences feel daunting at first—once you learn the simple formulas, building them becomes second nature!
---Part 1: Japanese Relative Clauses (連体修飾節)
In English, we describe a noun by adding extra details after it using relative pronouns like who, which, that, or where (for example: "the book that I bought yesterday"). Japanese works completely in reverse—and without any relative pronouns at all!
1. The Core Word Order Rule
In Japanese, the modifying description always sits directly in front of the head noun it describes.
Basic Formula:
\(\text{[Modifying Clause in Plain Form]} + \text{Head Noun}\)
Think of the entire clause as a giant multi-word adjective neatly packed right before the noun.
2. The Golden Rule: Plain Form Only
Predicates (verbs and adjectives) inside a relative clause must always end in the Plain Form (dictionary form, -ta form, -nai form, or -nakatta form). Polite endings like -masu or -desu are strictly forbidden inside a relative clause.
Clear Examples:
• Past Action: 昨日買った本 (The book that [I] bought yesterday)
• Ongoing Action: 図書館で勉強している学生 (Students who are studying in the library)
• Negative Action: 肉を食べない人 (A person who does not eat meat)
Did you know? Because Japanese has no words for who, which, or that, you never need to invent or translate relative pronouns like dare or doko. Simply place the plain-form action straight before the noun!
Key Takeaway for Part 1
To modify a noun with an action, take the entire action in its Plain Form and place it immediately before the noun you are describing.
---Part 2: Marking the Subject Inside a Relative Clause
When someone or something performs an action inside your relative clause, how do you mark that subject?
1. Use 「が」, Never 「は」
The topic marker 「は」 sets the broad topic for the whole sentence and cannot be trapped inside a subordinate relative clause. The internal subject of a relative clause must take the subject marker 「が」.
• Correct: 私が書いた論文 (The essay that I wrote)
• Incorrect: 私は書いた論文
2. The 「が」 \(\leftrightarrow\) 「の」 Subject Switch (ガ・ノ交替)
In Japanese, when a clause directly modifies a noun, the subject particle 「が」 can be replaced by 「の」. This is a very natural feature of advanced Japanese writing.
Formula:
\(\text{Subject} + \text{が} + \text{Verb} + \text{Noun} \iff \text{Subject} + \text{の} + \text{Verb} + \text{Noun}\)
Example:
• 私が書いた論文 \(\iff\) 私の書いた論文 (The essay that I wrote)
Memory Trick: Both 「が」 and 「の」 are one-syllable particles that give your writing a smooth, native flow. Feel free to use either in your Edexcel essays!
Key Takeaway for Part 2
Inside a relative clause, the actor takes 「が」, which can freely switch to 「の」 right before a modified noun. Keep 「は」 outside the clause.
---Part 3: Defining and Explaining with 「〜という」
The quotation-based particle structure 「という」 (literally: "saying that...") is a powerhouse construction for A Level writing tasks, research presentations, and essay analysis. There are three main ways you will use it.
1. Naming & Introducing: "A [Noun] called [Name]"
Use this when introducing a specific title, person, place, or term that the reader or listener might not recognise.
Formula:
\(\text{Proper Noun / Name} + \text{という} + \text{Category Noun}\)
Examples:
• 『坊っちゃん』という小説 (A novel called "Botchan")
• 田中という人 (A person named Tanaka)
2. Appositive Clauses: "The fact / news / opinion that..."
When you want to describe an abstract noun (such as an idea, news, rumour, or social problem) with a full sentence description, use 「[Clause in Plain Form] + という + [Noun]」.
Formula:
\(\text{[Clause in Plain Form]} + \text{という} + \text{[Abstract Noun (問題, ニュース, 意見, 話, 考え, 噂)]}\)
Examples:
• 日本の人口が減っているという問題 (The problem that Japan's population is declining)
• 彼が留学するという話を聞いた (I heard the news/story that he is going to study abroad)
Why is 「という」 needed here? In Japanese, you cannot attach an entire factual statement directly to abstract nouns like mondai (problem) or nyuusu (news) without bridging them with 「という」. It acts like the English conjunction "that" in "the fact that...".
3. General Definitions: "As for [X], it means [Y]"
Use this pattern when defining key concepts, terminology, or cultural phenomena in your essay introductions.
Formula:
\(\text{[Noun 1]} + \text{というのは} + \text{[Definition / Explanation (Noun 2 / Clause + ことだ)]}\)
Example:
• 『少子化』というのは、生まれる子どもの数が減ることだ。 ("Declining birthrate" refers to the decrease in the number of children being born.)
Key Takeaway for Part 3
Use という after names to mean "called/named", use it after full plain-form sentences to bridge thoughts to abstract nouns like mondai or iken, and use というのは to define key terms.
---Part 4: Common Pitfalls & Examiner Warnings
Watch out for these four frequent errors highlighted in Pearson Edexcel examination reports:
1. Leaving Polite Forms (ます/です) Inside Relative Clauses
• Incorrect: 昨日買いました本
• Correct: 昨日買った本
Examiner Tip: Polite forms belong only at the very end of the complete sentence, never buried inside relative clauses.
2. Using 「は」 for the Clause Subject
• Incorrect: 私は読んだ本
• Correct: 私が読んだ本 / 私の読んだ本
Examiner Tip: Save 「は」 for the main topic of your whole sentence.
3. Inserting English Relative Pronouns
• Incorrect: どこで勉強した大学 (trying to say "the university where I studied")
• Correct: 勉強した大学
Examiner Tip: Japanese uses zero relative pronouns. Place the verb clause straight before the noun.
4. Dropping 「という」 with Abstract Nouns
• Incorrect: 日本の人口が減っている問題
• Correct: 日本の人口が減っているという問題
Examiner Tip: When modifying nouns of thought, communication, or information (ニュース, 意見, 考え, 噂, 事実, 問題), always include 「という」.
Quick Reference Summary
• Relative Clause: \(\text{[Plain Form Verb/Adjective]} + \text{Noun}\)
• Clause Subject: Marked with 「が」, optionally converted to 「の」 (ガ・ノ交替)
• Naming: \(\text{Name} + \text{という} + \text{Category Noun}\) (e.g., 『坊っちゃん』という小説)
• Content Specifying: \(\text{Plain Clause} + \text{という} + \text{Abstract Noun}\) (e.g., 人口が減っているという問題)
• Definition: \(\text{Term} + \text{というのは} + \dots + \text{ことだ}\) (e.g., 少子化というのは〜ことだ)