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The first thing you need to learn when constructing a sentence in japanese is the word "desu" This is pronounced as 'dess'. This word means "i am", "it is" "these are" or "those are".

example:

isu-chair

enpitsu-pencil

Isu desu.

It's a chair.

Those are chairs.

Enpitsu desu.

It's a pencil

Those are pencils.

Dhenski desu.

I am Dhenski.

Now you try....

In order to make the sentence a question, all you need to add is "ka" at the end of the sentence, hence:

Isu desu ka.

Is it a chair?

Are those chairs?

Enpitsu desu ka.

Is it a pencil?

Are those pencils?

Brian-san desu ka.

Are you Brian?

Is it Brian?

We add "san" at the end of Brian when the sentence is a question because it reffers to someone else, rather than the person speaking. You do not need to add 'san' on your own name.

the negative form of desu is dewa arimasen or janai desu. The first one is more formal.

example:

Isu dewa arimasen.

It is not a chair.

Those are not chairs.

Enpitsu janai desu.

It is not a pencil.

Those are not pencils.

Brian-san janai desu.

I am not Brian. (san is placed after Brian because you are saying that you are not him.)

To answer someone who asks you is it or is it not (e.g. Is it a chair?), then you have to answer either of these:

Hai- yes

Iie-no

example:

Isu desu ka? ( Is it a chair?)

Hai, isu desu. (Yes, it is a chair.)

Iie, isu dewa arimasen. (No, it is not a chair.)

To ask "what is this or what is that", you say Nan desu ka. (pointing to an object)

example:

Nan desu ka. (what is it?)

Isu desu. (It's a chair.)

Now you try....