Question 1

Why do we use the particle に after 夜?

Accepted Answer

In Japanese, に marks a specific point in time when an action happens. Attaching に to 夜 turns it into “at night.” Without に, it might still be understood, but に makes it clear that the action occurs during that time.

Question 2

Can we omit に after 夜?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With words like 朝, 昼, 夜 and days of the week, you can often drop に in casual speech and simply say:
夜、魚を食べます。  
However, using に is more precise and typical in formal or written Japanese.

Question 3

Why is 魚 followed by the particle を?

Accepted Answer

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb. Since 魚 (fish) is what is being eaten, you use 魚を to indicate “eat fish.”

Question 4

Why is there no subject (like 私) in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Japanese frequently omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here it’s understood that “I” (私) eat fish at night. You only add 私は if you need to clarify or contrast, e.g. 私は夜に魚を食べます。

Question 5

What are the readings of 夜 and 魚?

Accepted Answer

夜 is read よる (yoru, “night”) and 魚 is read さかな (sakana, “fish”).

Question 6

Why does the verb 食べます come at the end?

Accepted Answer

Japanese uses Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. You first state when the action happens (夜に), then what is affected by the action (魚を), and finally the action itself (食べます).

Question 7

How would I make this sentence negative?

Accepted Answer

Change 食べます to its negative form 食べません:
夜に魚を食べません。  
This means “I do not eat fish at night.”

Question 8

How do I say “I ate fish at night” in the past tense?

Accepted Answer

Use the past polite form 食べました:
夜に魚を食べました。  
That means “I ate fish at night.”

Question 9

Can I use は instead of を after 魚?

Accepted Answer

If you say 魚は夜に食べます。, you’re making “fish” the topic:
“As for fish, (I) eat it at night.”  
It shifts the emphasis onto fish, perhaps implying you eat other foods at different times.

yoru ni sakana wo tabemasu.

Breakdown of yoru ni sakana wo tabemasu.

Questions & Answers about yoru ni sakana wo tabemasu.

More from this lesson

Master Japanese — from yoru ni sakana wo tabemasu to fluency