Today’s Grammar Point: ～な/～なあ

～な/～なあ is a sentence ending particle and used for:

• softening a statement about the speaker’s feeling (including what they want or want to do).
• an exclamation
• stating a wish

For softening an emotional statement

なあ also softens the statement about the speaker’s feelings. For this usage, read this post.

あの靴くつが欲ほしいなあ。
I’d love that pair of shoes.

おいしいコーヒーが飲のみたいなあ。
I’d love to have good coffee!

そんなこと言いわれても嬉うれしくないなあ。
I’m not happy to hear that!

For an exclamation

• [plain form verb (past\non-past, affirmative negative)] な（あ）
• [いadj stem] い/かった な（あ）
• [なadj]だ/だった な（あ）
• [noun] だ/だった な（あ）

Examples

男おとこの子こはよく食たべるなあ。
Boys can eat a lot!

ダイエットしているんだけど、痩やせないなあ。
I’m on a diet, but I can’t lose weight!

よく来きたなあ。
Oh, you came all the way! (welcome!)

おいしいなあ。
It’s delicious!

あの映画えいがはよかったなあ。
That movie was so good!

きれいだなあ。
How beautiful!

あのテストは簡単かんたんだったなあ。
That test was so easy!

きれいな夕日ゆうひだなあ。(Today’s Caption)
What a beautiful sunset!

優やさしいお母かあさんだったなあ。
She was such a kind mother!

For stating a wish

We use “subjunctive past” after “I wish” in English. For example, I wish you were here. It seems the same applies in Japanese also. We usually use past tense with ら before なあ.

• [plain past verb] ら + なあ
• [いadj stem] かった + ら + なあ
• [なadj] だった + ら + なあ
• [noun] だった + ら + なあ

Examples

母ははが生いきていたらなあ。
I wish my mum were alive!

この本ほんがもっと安やすかったらなあ。
I wish this book were cheaper!

父ちちが元気げんきだったらなあ。
I wish my dad were healthy!

明日あしたが休やすみだったらなあ。
I wish I could have a day off tomorrow!

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