と (and; with)
to (and, with)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"and" (exhaustive list of nouns), "with (a person)", also marks quoted speech.
と has two everyday jobs. (1) "and" between nouns: パンと卵 "bread and eggs". This is a complete list; you are naming everything. (2) "with" a person: 友達と映画を見ます "I watch a film with a friend". と only ever connects nouns; to join verbs or adjectives you need the て-form instead.
Listing exactly the items you mean (shopping lists, family members, two places); saying who you do something with (friends, family, colleagues); and, later, quoting words with 言う and 思う.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + と + Noun (パンと卵)Person + と + verb (友達と行きます)Person + と + 一緒に + verb (母と一緒に食べます)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | と | や |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of list | complete: only these | examples: these and more |
| Example | パンと卵を買いました | パンや卵を買いました |
| Meaning | I bought bread and eggs (that's all) | I bought things like bread and eggs |
Natural examples
パンと卵を買いました。
パンと たまごを かいました。
I bought bread and eggs.
"and" between two nouns: a complete list.
友達と映画を見ます。
ともだちと えいがを みます。
I watch a film with a friend.
"with" a person.
母と電話で話しました。
ははと でんわで はなしました。
I talked with my mother on the phone.
"with" a person, plus で for the means (phone).
家族と日本へ来ました。
かぞくと にほんへ きました。
I came to Japan with my family.
The person you do something with takes と.
スーパーで肉と野菜を買いました。
スーパーで にくと やさいを かいました。
I bought meat and vegetables at the supermarket.
The whole list 肉と野菜 is one object; を goes after the last noun only.
Similar grammar and the difference
や = "and, among others" (an incomplete list). と names everything. Compare side by side
で = by means of a thing (バスで); と = together with a person (友達と). Compare side by side
To say "and" between verbs or adjectives (eat and drink; cheap and good), use the て-form, never と. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 食べると飲みます。
- ✓
- 食べて、飲みます。
- Why
- と joins nouns only. Verbs are joined with the て-form.
- ✗
- 安いとおいしいです。
- ✓
- 安くて、おいしいです。
- Why
- Adjectives cannot be joined with と; use the て-form 安くて.
- ✗
- パンを卵を買いました。
- ✓
- パンと卵を買いました。
- Why
- Nouns in one list are joined with と; the object marker を comes once, at the end.
と joins nouns only — never verbs or adjectives (use て-form for those). と lists everything; や lists examples.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- If the blank sits between two nouns and the options are と / や / も / の, ask: is it a complete list (と) or just examples with など nearby (や)?
- If the noun before the blank is a person and the verb is an activity (行く, 話す, 遊ぶ), the answer is と ("with"), not で.
Frequently asked questions
What does と (and; with) mean?
"and" (exhaustive list of nouns), "with (a person)", also marks quoted speech. と has two everyday jobs. (1) "and" between nouns: パンと卵 "bread and eggs". This is a complete list; you are naming everything. (2) "with" a person: 友達と映画を見ます "I watch a film with a friend". と only ever connects nouns; to join verbs or adjectives you need the て-form instead.
How do you form と (and; with)?
Noun + と + Noun (パンと卵) / Person + と + verb (友達と行きます) / Person + と + 一緒に + verb (母と一緒に食べます). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is と (and; with) used?
Listing exactly the items you mean (shopping lists, family members, two places); saying who you do something with (friends, family, colleagues); and, later, quoting words with 言う and 思う.
What is the difference between と (and; with) and や?
や = "and, among others" (an incomplete list). と names everything.
What is the difference between と (and; with) and で?
で = by means of a thing (バスで); と = together with a person (友達と).
What is a common mistake with と (and; with)?
Wrong: 食べると飲みます。 Right: 食べて、飲みます。 と joins nouns only. Verbs are joined with the て-form.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? パン（ ）卵を 買いました。