S + NO/N DESU: 'it is the case that S' [explanation of the situation]

Discourse-bound: requires a certain verbal or situational context
   {seeing someone looking pale}
      A:  Doo shita no/n desu ka?
       "What happened?/What's wrong?/Is there something wrong?"
   {replying by explaining the situation}
      B:  Kuru tochuu de jiko ni atta n desu.
       "(It is the case that) I was involved in an accident on the way here."

      A:  Watashi wa kotoshi no natsu Nihon ni ikimashita.
   {asking about details}  
      B:  Dono gurai ita no/n desu ka?
       "How long is it (the case) that you stayed?"
      A:  San-shuu-kan gurai datta no/n desu ga, totemo tanoshikatta desu.
      B:  Soo desu ka. Donna tokoro ni itta no/n desu ka?

Emphasizing new information:   
   {knowing someone is studying Japanese}
      A:  Kanji wa moo dono gurai shitte iru no/n desu ka?
      B:  Mada hyaku gurai shika naratte inai no/n desu.

   {knowing someone bought a car}
      A:  Donna kuruma o katta no/n desu ka?
      B:  Toyota na n desu yo.

Speech acts: pragmatic use

   [demanding explanation]
      A:  Kinoo wa dooshite  konakatta no/n desu ka?
 
   [apology]
      B:  Sumimasen, chotto tsugoo ga warukatta n desu.

   [impressed]
     {watching someone studying Japanese hard}
      Nihongo no benkyoo wa taihen na n desu nee.

   [appalled]
     {realising someone not knowing some basic Kanji}
      Mada konna Kanji mo siranai n desu ka?!

   [opener for conversation]
     {seeing someone studying Japanese}
      Mata Nihongo o benkyoo-shite iru n desu ka?
   
   [rebuking]
     {to someone who flunked exam}
      Dooshite motto benkyoo-shinakatta n desu ka?!

   [urging]
     {to someone procrastinating}
      Mada ikanai n desu ka? 

   [suggesting]
     {to someone who cannot make up mind}
      Sugu dekiru n ja nai desu ka.?/

   [N.B.] 
      S + no/n deshoo:
      Sugu kaeru n deshoo?/
      "Isn't it the case that you are leaving right away?"
      Sugu kaeru n deshoo.\
      "It is probably the case that he is leaving right away."

      Sentence particle NO:

      A:  Doko iku no?             (N)
      B:  Toshokan e iku | n da.   (M)
                         | no.     (F)

Abridged honorifics: O-Vn DESU/DA

      Kono shinbun oyomi desu ka?
      Odekake desu ka?
      Oisogi desu ka?
      Moo owakare desu ne.
      Kitto owasure deshoo ne.
      Moo oyasumi desu ka?
      Nanji ni okaeri desu ka?
      Kore wa owakari desu ne.
      Sensee ga oyobi desu.
      Dochira ni otomari desu ka.
      Ginkoo ni otsutome desu.

   [N.B.] Productive Subject Honorific structure: O-Vn ni naru

Causal intensifier SHI

1. Structure:   S1  shi  S2   kara/node  S3 

2. Meaning:    'S1 and what is more, S2, so S3'

3. Usage:
      Ano gakusee wa atama mo ii shi, yoku benkyoo-suru kara, itsumo ichiban desu.
      Nihongo wa jikan mo kakaru shi, tsumaranai node, yameru tsumori desu.
      Kono kyookasho wa ooki-sugiru shi, takai kara, yoku arimasen.

[N.B.] Particle MO is often used in S1. 

      When it is obvious, S3 is omitted.
       Shigoto wa muzukashii shi taihen desu.

      More sentences are possible before KARA/NODE.

Ast-SA: abstract noun (limited use)

   nagà-i     --->   nàga-sa           'length'        *mijika-sa
   ookì-i     --->   ook[i]-sa         'size'          *chiisa-sa
   hirò-i     --->   hìro-sa           'area'          ?sema-sa
   atsu-i     --->   ats[u]-sa         'thickness'     ?usu-sa
   tanosì-i   --->   tanòsh[i]-sa      'pleasure'
   muzukashi-i--->   muzukash[i]-sa    'difficulty'
   samù-i     --->   sàmu-sa           'cold'
   atù-i      --->   ùts[u]-sa         'heat'

Multiple modification

(i)   combination
    wakai kiree na hito        [cf. wakakute kiree na hito]
   *takai mazui resutoran      [cf. takakute mazui resutoran]

(ii)  accent and pause

   usui / kiiro no shatsu   'thin yellow shirt'
   usui kiiro no / shatsu   'light yellow shirt'

   [cf. usùkute shiròi shàtsu]

(iii)  word order and meaning

   kono atarashii tomodachi no kuruma
   kono tomodachi no atarashii kuruma
   ookii daigaku no kurasu
   daigaku no ookii kurasu