[Ellembri]

の [no] and 「こ、そ、あ、ど」 ("ko, so, a, do")

Now that we can describe what things are and are not, let's get a little more specific! The particle の [no] gives possession to things and further describes nouns. For this we use the structure A の B, meaning "B of A" or in the possessive case "A's B". Let's look at a few examples:

あみさん　の　かばん --->The bag of Ami's , or, Ami's bag
Ami-san no kaban

れきし　の　せんせい ---> the teacher of history
rekishi no sensei

おかあさん　の　ほん ---> The book of Mother's, or, Mother's book
okaasan no hon


You can also use の　[no] with simple direction words like これ　(kore), それ (sore), あれ　(are), and どれ (dore) to make your intended meaning more clear to the listener. これ meaning 'this' (something that is close to yourself), それ meaning 'that' (something that is close to the listener), あれ meaning 'that over there' (which is far away from both parties), and どれ meaning 'which'. With these it is easier to define the things around you. Examples:

これ　は　ペン　です。 ---> As for this (right here), it is a pen.
kore [wa] pen desu.

それ　は　えんぴつ　です。 ---> As for that (by you), it is a pencil.
sore [wa] enpitsu desu.

あれ　は　としょかん　です。 ---> That over there, is the library.
are [wa] toshokan desu.

どれ　です　か。 ---> Which is it?
dore desu ka.

When you replace the　「れ」　with 「の」 on each of these you can then link it with a noun to specify which thing you are talking about and where it is in relation to yourself. Examples:

この　ペン　は　にひゃく　えん　です。 ---> As for this pen, it is 200 yen.
kono pen [wa] nihyaku en desu.

その　かばん　は　だれ　です　か。 ---> As for that bag, whose is it?
sono kaban [wa] dare desu ka.

あの　たてもの　は　としょかん　です。 ---> As for that building over there, it is the library.
ano tatemono [wa] toshokan desu.

どの　たてもの　です　か。 ---> Which building is it?
dono tatemono desu ka.

With these structures you can better clarify the noun you are talking about and the meaning you are trying to convey to your partner.

Can you think of other sentences and questions using の　[no] and 「こ、そ、あ、ど」? Let's try!
がんばります！ (ganbarimasu!) Do your best!  

[Angel of Light and Sound]

Kai no neko. <(^_^)> Thanks to you I was able to put that together. Arigatou !  

[Vilacrimis]

Watashi no neko kawaii desu.

Would that mean "My cat is cute"?  

[Amyroth]

Rakuyo Kaotori

Watashi no neko kawaii desu.

Would that mean "My cat is cute"?

Very close!
You need to mark "My cat" as the subject of your sentence.
You do this with particle は, or 'wa.'
"Watashi no neko wa kawaii desu."  

[Vilacrimis]

Oh, I see! Thanks! ^^  

[i EaT SPo0nS]

IM STARTING TO GET JAP. THANKS SENSEI whee  

[jak_dex2000]

kanichiwa sensai, watashi wa nan dare desu ka
(hello teacher, my bag is way over there)
is that right i don't know im trying to learn  

[Shizuka Ren x]

So if you wanted to say "Today is my birthday." would u say it like this:
"Watashi no tanjobi wa kyoo desu."

 

[lennersmii]

xX Social Riot Machine Xx

So if you wanted to say "Today is my birthday." would u say it like this:
"Watashi no tanjobi wa kyoo desu."

Yep!! Just a minor correction, kyoo=kyou, tanjobi = tanjoubi (:  

[Shizuka Ren x]

lennersmii

xX Social Riot Machine Xx

So if you wanted to say "Today is my birthday." would u say it like this:
"Watashi no tanjobi wa kyoo desu."

Yep!! Just a minor correction, kyoo=kyou, tanjobi = tanjoubi (:

right thanks xD ^^

 

[Nana Shinu Ai]

Hi Sensei im new here. im sort of nervous how to say to say Japanese word correctly im sort bad at it. Since im azn im sort of embarrass of my self not know my own language. this why im taking this class to learn.
trying to say my older brother is strange
Watashi no ani wa strangetu

is this right sensei? im not sure how to say strange in Japanese  

[Kakigoori_Oujo]

Phoniex of Darkness

Hi Sensei im new here. im sort of nervous how to say to say Japanese word correctly im sort bad at it. Since im azn im sort of embarrass of my self not know my own language. this why im taking this class to learn.
trying to say my older brother is strange
Watashi no ani wa strangetu

is this right sensei? im not sure how to say strange in Japanese

It's within my range of ability so I will answer it.
I think it should be "ani wa hen desu."
You don't need "watashi no" to state it is your brother because "ani" can only refer to your own older brother and cannot be used to refer to other people's older brothers (you would have to use oniisan in that case).  

[Nana Shinu Ai]

okay thank you for fixing it sensei. Arigatou.  

[LadyAnisina]

kono inu wa tiny desu.
as for this dog, his name is tiny. is that right senseis?  

[lennersmii]

LadyAnisina

kono inu wa tiny desu.
as for this dog, his name is tiny. is that right senseis?

Correct 3nodding