How to Say ‘It was really big.’ in Japanese
とても大きかったです。
totemo ookikatsu ta desu
[toh-TEH-moh oh-KEE-kaht tah dess]
💬 Usage Tip: To put an adjective ending in (i) in the past, swap that last (i) for (katta): 大きい becomes 大きかった. Same with 楽しい "fun" → 楽しかったです。 "It was fun."
Phrase Breakdown
とても
totemo
[toh-TEH-moh]
very
Adverb that strengthens an adjective.
とてもおいしいです。
It is very tasty.
大きかったです。
ookikatsu ta desu
it was big
大きい (ookii) changes to 大きかった for the past. Stretch 'oo' and hold the small っ.
その犬は大きかったです。
That dog was big.
Words in this phrase
大きかっ
ookikatsu
[oh-KEE-kaht]
was big
Past stem of the adjective ookii (big), used before ta.
家が大きかった。
The house was big.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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