GRAMMAR
前者は〜後者は
the former ~ the latter
Explanation
NOTE
前者は〜後者は is a discourse pattern meaning the former ~ the latter. It is used to contrast two things that were just mentioned, referring back to them without repeating their names.
前者 (ぜんしゃ) = the former (the first one mentioned) 後者 (こうしゃ) = the latter (the second one mentioned)
This pattern is common in formal writing and analytical speech.
猫と犬がいる。前者は静かで、後者は活発だ。
There are a cat and a dog. The former is quiet, and the latter is energetic.
Use this structure to compare two items previously mentioned, where 'zensha' refers to the first and 'kōsha' refers to the second.
STRUCTURE
... <ruby>前者<rt>ぜんしゃ</rt></ruby>は ... <ruby>後者<rt>こうしゃ</rt></ruby>は ...
電車とバスがある。前者は速く、後者は安い。
Densha to basu ga aru. Zensha wa hayaku, kōsha wa yasui.
There are a train and a bus. The former is fast, and the latter is cheap.
二つの方法がある。前者は簡単で、後者は効果的だ。
Futatsu no hōhō ga aru. Zensha wa kantan de, kōsha wa kōkateki da.
There are two methods. The former is simple, and the latter is effective.
英語と日本語を比べると、前者は国際語で、後者は複雑だ。
Eigo to Nihongo o kuraberu to, Zensha wa kokusaigo de, kōsha wa fukuzatsu da.
Comparing English and Japanese, the former is an international language, and the latter is complex.
Practice exercises
1
リンゴとミカンがある。前者は赤く、前者は橙色だ。
There are apples and oranges. The former is red, and the latter is orange.
Answer
前者は後者は
2
山と海がある。前者は静かで、前者は広い。
There are mountains and the sea. The former is quiet, and the latter is vast.
Answer
前者は後者は
3
春と秋がある。前者は暖かく、前者は涼しい。
There are spring and autumn. The former is warm, and the latter is cool.
Answer
前者は後者は
4
前者はコーヒーで、後者は紅茶です。
前者は coffee, and the latter is tea.
Answer
前者は
5
猫と犬がいる。前者は静かで、前者は活発だ。
There are a cat and a dog. The former is quiet, and the latter is energetic.
Answer
前者は後者は
6
電車とバスがある。前者は速く、前者は安い。
There are a train and a bus. The former is fast, and the latter is cheap.
Answer
前者は後者は
7
二つの方法がある。前者は簡単で、前者は効果的だ。
There are two methods. The former is simple, and the latter is effective.
Answer
前者は後者は
8
英語と日本語を比べると、前者は国際語で、前者は複雑だ。
Comparing English and Japanese, the former is an international language, and the latter is complex.
Answer
前者は後者は
9
前者はコーヒーで、後者は紅茶です。
前者は coffee, and the latter is tea.
Answer
前者は