JLPT N5 grammar

Linking adjectivesmeaning and usage

Meaning

Links adjectives to give two or more qualities of the same subject. An い-adjective changes its final い to くて when linking to the next description.

How to form it

  • い-adjective (-く form)て
  • な-adjective (stem)で
  • nounで

How it is used

Links two or more qualities: い-adjectives change to 「〜くて」 (「いい」 becomes 「よくて」); な-adjectives and nouns add 「で」. When one quality is good and the other bad, as in “expensive but tasty”, 「けど」 or 「が」 sounds more natural.

Examples

  1. 部屋は暗くて汚いです。

    The room is dark and dirty.

  2. この店は安くておいしいです。

    This place is cheap and the food is good.

  3. 私の町はきれいで静かです。

    My town is clean and quiet.

About the example The linking form 「暗くて」 connects 「暗い」 with 「汚い」, describing the room as both dark and dirty.