と | Grammar | lingaku

Structure

[noun] + と + [noun] [noun (person)] + と + [verb]

Description

と joins two nouns as "and". After a person, it means "with".

。

I like ice cream and cake.

。

I bought water and tea.

。

There is a cat and a dog.

The pair takes whatever particle a single noun would, and the list is complete: water and tea, and nothing else. For a longer list, put と after every noun but the last.

。

I bought a book, a notebook and a pen.

"With" a person

After a person, と says who you do the action with.

。

I am going to the sea with a friend.

。

I talked with the teacher.

("together") often follows the と, and makes it plain that the two of you did it side by side.

。

I cooked together with my mother.

A few verbs need a second person to make sense – あいます会います (to meet), はなします話します (to talk), けっこん結婚します (to get married) – and that person takes と. 会います also takes に.

。

I am meeting a friend at the station.

と joins nouns only

English "and" joins anything. と doesn't: as "and" it can't join two adjectives, two verbs or two sentences. Adjectives and verbs are joined with their て-form instead.

、。

This town is pretty and quiet.

× この町はきれいとしずかです → この町はきれいで、しずかです

Usage notes

These go beyond "and" and "with".

と and や

と gives the whole list. や gives a couple of examples from a longer one.

。

I bought apples and bananas.

Those two and nothing else.

。

I bought apples, bananas and so on.

Other things as well.

Same as, different from

(the same) and (to be different) take と on the thing you compare with.

。

My bag is the same as Tanaka's.

。

This is different from that.

Examples

。

There is a dog and a cat.

。

I ate an apple and a banana.

。

I bought bread and coffee.

。

I went to school and to the library.

。

I am going to watch a film with a friend.

。

I play sports with my older brother.

。

I cooked together with my mother.

。

I am meeting her at the station.

。

I bought a book and a notebook.

。

I have a pencil and an eraser.

。

I play with the children in the park.

References

The Particle と Iimabi.org
とBunpro