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Grammar detail: です omission

です omission
198 words
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In casual speech, です can be omitted from the end of a sentence if it follows an い adjective. This has the effect of creating a sentence with no verb, but in Japanese the です is implied, so the sentence reads as fully formed:
まばた
ように
すばや
素早

As quick as a blink.
Note that in this example, the subject (whatever is as quick as a blink) is implied. This is a common expression in Japanese used to describe anything moving quickly, such as a running animal or a rapid train. You can read more about the expression in the Joy o' Kanji essay on 瞬.
In plain speech it is actually more natural to simply omit 'です' than to use its plain form 'だ'. だ has a more abrupt, masculine tone.
However, です would not normally be omitted after other parts of speech, such as nouns or な adjectives. In this case, the plain form だ would be used in speech.
こんや
今夜
つき
とてもきれい
The moon is very beautiful this evening.
わたし
いもうと
ゆうめい
有名

My sister is famous.
Additionally, if the sentence ends with a particle (such as か, よ, ね etc) です (or its plain form だ) would not be omitted. In casual (especially female) speech, it would be common to use だ followed by a particle to 'soften' the abrupt sound of だ.
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Kanji used in this grammar

シュン   またた to wink, to blink   
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ソ   ス    element, component   
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ソウ   サッ   early; fast   はや early   はやまる be hasty   はやめる to expedite, to hasten   
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コン   キン   いま now   
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ヤ   よる    よ night   
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ガツ   ゲツ   つき month; moon   
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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マイ   いもうと younger sister   
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ユウ   ウ   あ to possess; to exist   
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メイ   ミョウ   な name   
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