Breakdown of kono tiiki ha sizuka desu.
はha
topic particle
ですdesu
to be
静かsizuka
quiet
このkono
this
地域tiiki
area
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Questions & Answers about kono tiiki ha sizuka desu.
What does この mean and how does it differ from その or あの?
この means “this” and is used before a noun to indicate something close to the speaker.
- その means “that” (near the listener).
- あの means “that over there” (far from both speaker and listener).
What kind of word is 地域 and how is it different from 場所 or エリア?
地域 (ちいき) is a Sino-Japanese noun meaning “area” or “region,” often with a slightly formal or administrative nuance.
- 場所 (ばしょ) is a more general word for “place” (anywhere you can go).
- エリア is an English loanword (area) used in casual speech, advertising, etc.
Why is は used here instead of が?
は marks the topic of the sentence (“As for this area”). It sets what you’re talking about.
- が marks the subject or introduces new information/emphasis (“It is this very area that is quiet”).
In most descriptive sentences about a known topic, は is the natural choice.
Why is 静か written without an い, and why isn’t there a に after it?
静か (しずか) is a な-adjective (also called an adjectival noun).
- To use it with the copula, you simply add です (→ 静かです).
- If you used に (静かに), you’d turn it into an adverb meaning “quietly.”
What does です do here, and can I use だ instead?
です is the polite copula “to be.” It makes your statement polite.
- In casual (plain) speech you replace です with だ:
この地域は静かだ。
How do you form the negative or past of this sentence politely?
Start with 静か + the polite copula endings:
- Negative present: この地域は静かではありません or 静かじゃありません.
- Past affirmative: この地域は静かでした.
- Past negative: この地域は静かではありませんでした.
Why doesn’t Japanese use a verb like “quiet” as English does?
In English, quiet can behave like a verb (“The room quiets down”). Japanese prefers describing states with adjectives or adjectival nouns plus the copula:
- 静かです = “(It) is quiet.”
Verbs meaning “become quiet” exist (e.g. 静まる), but for simple descriptions you use 静かです.