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kono syousetu ha ninki ga arimasu.

この　小説しょうせつ　は　人気にんき　が　あります。kono syousetu ha ninki ga arimasu.
This novel is popular.
FromLesson 24inHardcore Japanese

Questions & Answers about kono syousetu ha ninki ga arimasu.

What does this sentence literally mean?
  • Literal: As for this novel, popularity exists.
  • Natural English: This novel is popular.
  • Structure: Topic (この小説は) + Subject of existence (人気が) + Verb (あります).
Why are both は and が used?
  • は marks the topic: この小説は = “as for this novel.”
  • が marks what exists: 人気が = “popularity (exists).”
  • Together they make the pattern “Topic X has Y” → XはYがある.
Is が here the same が that means “but”?
  • No. Here が is the subject-marking particle (人気が).
  • The が that means “but” connects clauses and would come between sentences/phrases, not after a noun like this.
Why is it あります and not います?
  • ある/あります is for inanimate/abstract things.
  • いる/います is for living beings.
  • 人気 (popularity) is abstract, so use あります.
Can I say 人気です instead of 人気があります?
  • Yes: この小説は人気です also means “This novel is popular.”
  • Nuance:
    • 人気があります feels like “has popularity” (slightly more descriptive).
    • 人気です is a straightforward “is popular.”
  • Both are common and natural; use either based on style preference.
Is 人気 a noun or a な-adjective?
  • 人気 (にんき) is primarily a noun meaning “popularity.”
  • To modify nouns, use:
    • 人気の: 人気の小説 (a popular novel)
    • 人気のある: 人気のある小説 (a novel that has popularity)
  • 人気な appears but is less common; prefer 人気の or 人気のある.
Can I drop は and just say この小説、人気があります?
  • Yes, in casual speech the topic は is often dropped.
  • この小説、人気があります sounds natural and conversational.
Why この and not これ?
  • この modifies a noun: この小説 = “this novel.”
  • これ stands alone: これは小説です = “This is a novel.”
  • Don’t say これの小説 for “this novel.”
What’s the difference between 小説, 本, 物語, and 話?
  • 小説 (しょうせつ): a novel (literary fiction).
  • 本 (ほん): a book (any book).
  • 物語 (ものがたり): a story/tale (often literary or traditional).
  • 話 (はなし): a story/talk/episode (broad, also “a tale” or “chat”).
    In this sentence, 小説 specifically means a novel.
How do I make this sentence casual, negative, past, or a question?
  • Casual: この小説は人気がある。
  • Negative (polite): この小説は人気がありません。
  • Negative (casual): この小説は人気がない。
  • Past (polite): この小説は人気がありました。
  • Past (casual): この小説は人気があった。
  • Question (polite): この小説は人気がありますか。
How do I say “very popular” or “not very popular”?
  • Very popular: この小説はとても/すごく人気があります。
  • Not very popular: この小説はあまり人気がありません。
    (Use あまり with a negative.)
How do I say “popular with [group]” or “popular in [place]”?
  • Popular with Example: 学生に人気がある (popular among students)
  • Popular in/at Example: 日本では人気がある (popular in Japan)
Can I replace は with が here?
  • Don’t say この小説が人気があります as a standalone; it stacks two が and sounds odd.
  • If you want が for focus/subject, use: この小説が人気だ/です。
  • Default, neutral statement: この小説は人気がある/あります。
What is the general grammar pattern being used?
  • XはYがある = “X has Y.”
    Examples:
    • 私は時間があります。 (I have time.)
    • この店は駐車場がある。 (This shop has a parking lot.)
  • Here: この小説は (topic) + 人気が (thing possessed) + あります (exists/has).
Are word order and spaces fixed like this in Japanese?
  • Topic typically comes first, so this order is natural.
  • You can front other elements for emphasis, but this is the default.
  • Standard Japanese writing does not use spaces; they’re shown here for learners.
How do I pronounce the words?
  • この: ko-no
  • 小説: しょうせつ (shōsetsu / shousetsu)
  • は (topic): pronounced “wa”
  • 人気: にんき (ninki)
  • があります: ga arimasu
Are there other common ways to say “popular”?
  • 評判がいい: has a good reputation
  • 売れている: selling well
  • 流行っている: trendy/in fashion
  • 大人気（だ/です）: extremely popular
    Choose based on context (sales, reputation, trendiness, emphasis).
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Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".

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