Descriptive Sentences

[Lledargo]

I am wondering how you would say a sentence with multiple descriptors.
for example,
I would like to say "I am an 18 year old American boy." rather than "I am 18 years old. I am American. I am a boy."

it is as simple as just saying
私は18歳アメリカ人少年です。

 

[Angel Valis]

You use the て-form of nouns and adjectives.

い adjectives:
Drop the final い add くて

な adjectives and nouns:
Add で to the end (no な for な adjectives)

I am an 18 year old American boy:
私は十八歳でアメリカ人で男の子です。

You could also likely combine American and boy into a single noun phrase: アメリカの男の子

 

[Lledargo]

Thank you, that is really helpful.

I have another related question.

If it is possible to combine American and boy using の, is it possible to combine all three like this
私は18歳のアメリカの男の子です。
or can it not because 18 years old is not a noun.

 

[Elizabeth]

Thank you, that is really helpful.
I have another related question.
If it is possible to combine american and boy using の, is it possible to combine all three like this
私は18歳のアメリカの男の子です。
or can it not because 18 years old is not a noun.

I've never really thought about it. The pattern of 歳のアメリカの男の子 (The -- year old American boy/man) is fine, but I do think when speaking of yourself 歳でアメリカ人の男の子 is more common.

 

[Lledargo]

Ok, thank you both of you.

 

[Elizabeth]

Ok, thank you both of you.

Now that I think about it, you shouldn't need the の after Americanjin, though.

For a Japanese woman, just as an example, the way it usually comes to me is 歳で日本人女性.

 

[undrentide]

If it is possible to combine american and boy using の, is it possible to combine all three like this
私は18歳のアメリカの男の子です。
or can it not because 18 years old is not a noun.

This is quite fine.
Actually, when I read your first question, what came to my mind first was １８歳の.

Using で sounds a bit awkward to me.
If it is followed by a phrase using verb, I would not feel this awkwardness, perhaps.
Using の makes two adjective work towards the noun with the same strength (?).
18歳の男の子
アメリカの男の子
↓
18歳のアメリカ人の男の子
(I'd use アメリカ人の rather than アメリカの）

で is more like "and then" and separating "being 18 years old" from "American boy".
I might use で in this way:
e.g.
私は18歳のアメリカ人の男の子で、今日本語を勉強しています。

 

[Elizabeth]

This is quite fine.
Actually, when I read your first question, what came to my mind first was １８歳の.

Using で sounds a bit awkward to me.
If it is followed by a phrase using verb, I would not feel this awkwardness, perhaps.
Using の makes two adjective work towards the noun with the same strength (?).
18歳の男の子
アメリカの男の子
↓
18歳のアメリカ人の男の子
(I'd use アメリカ人の rather than アメリカの）

で is more like "and then" and separating "being 18 years old" from "American boy".
I might use で in this way:
e.g.
私は18歳のアメリカ人の男の子で、今日本語を勉強しています。

But just 十八歳でアメリカ人です is OK ? That is straight textbook Japanese. lol

And the ~~歳で日本人女性 that I cited earlier is still alright ? Wow ! I've come across phrases like that so often...