Japanese Grammar Explained, The Long Version
Japanese Grammar Explained, The Long Version
Japanese Grammar Explained, The Long Version
There are 2 main kinds of verbs in Japanese: u verbs and ru verbs. Both of these verb types have plain speech forms and masu forms. The masu forms are more polite. The root of a verb is the pre-u or pre-ru form. The stem of a verb is the pre-masu form. For an ru verb, the root and the stem forms are the same. For example, nomu is a u verb; it means drink. Nomimasu is the masu form of nomu. The root of nomu is nom. The stem of nomu is nomi. Taberu is an ru verb; it means eat. Tabemasu is the masu form of taberu. The root of taberu is tabe. The stem of taberu is also tabe. Nomu and taberu are plain speech verbs. Their masu forms are nomimasu and tabemasu. U and ru verbs are often used as adjectives. For example, watashi ga taberu pan = the bread I eat. Anata ga nonda biiru = the beer that you drank. Desu (meaning it is) is a copula, or linking verb. It is neither a u verb, nor an ru verb. Its plain speech form is da. by itself, if you mean 'it's delicious.' You may use either desu or da after a na adjective. For example, kono heya wa shizuka desu = kono heya wa shizuka da = as for this room, its quiet.
Lesson 1
Pasupooto o misete kudasai.
(Please show the passport.) O, sometimes written as wo, is used to show that the preceding term is a direct object. For example, hon o kau = hon o kaimasu = I will buy a book or I buy a book (or books). Misete is the te form of miseru = show. Since the te or de form of a verb sometimes adds the meaning ing, misete can sometimes be translated as showing. Verbs ending in ru, tsu, ku, su and u have te forms. Verbs ending in mu, nu, gu and bu have de forms. Verbs also have past forms, which end in ta or da. For example, the plain speech past form of miseru is miseta = showed. Kudasai = please. Kudasai is often preceded by the te or de form of a verb. For example, hon o katte kudasai = please buy the book. (Kau = buy; katte is the te form of kau.) Kudasai is the imperative form of kudasaru, a polite verb meaning someone gives to me or to someone in my ingroup. For example, sensei ga hon o kudasaru = the teacher gives a book to me (or to someone in my in-group).
Adjectives
There are 2 main kinds of adjectives in Japanese: i (pronounced ee) adjectives and na adjectives. I adjectives end in i and modify a noun directly. For example, oishii = delicious. Oishii pan = delicious bread. Na adjectives are followed by na when they are used to modify a noun. For example, shizuka = quiet. Shizuka na heya = a quiet room. You may use desu after an i adjective. However, you may not use da after an i adjective. Oishii desu (meaning, 'it's delicious') is OK. Oishii da is not OK. Using plain speech, you may simply say oishii
Lesson 1.
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Lesson 1. Kankoo ja arimasen. (It isnt sightseeing.) Ja is the short form of dewa, which forms the first part of the phrase dewa arimasen = ja arimasen = something is not something else. For example hon dewa arimasen = hon ja arimasen = it isn't a book. Arimasu is the masu form of the plain speech verb aru = exist (used for inanimate things, including plants). Arimasen is the negative form of arimasu. The masu form of u verbs is formed by adding imasu to the root (the pre-u form). For example, nomu = nomimasu = drink. You may be surprised to learn that aru is a u verb, not an ru verb. There are a number of u verbs that end in ru, including aru (exist). What these verbs have in common is that you double the t when making the te or ta forms. In this case, aru = exist. Atte = existing. Atta = existed. Ru verbs always end with iru or eru. The masu form of ru verbs is formed by replacing ru with masu. With ru verbs, you do not 'double the t when making the te or ta forms. For example, taberu = tabemasu = eat. Tabete = eating. Tabeta = ate. There are three irregular verbs: Suru = shimasu = do. Shite = doing. Shita = did. Kuru = kimasu = come. Kite = coming. Kita = came. Iku= ikimasu = go. Itte = going. Itta = went. To change a masu verb (whether u verb, ru verb or irregular verb) to a negative form, change the u at the end to en. For example, nomimasu = I drinkor I will drink. Nomimasen = I dont drink or I wont drink. begins with a noun or pronoun followed by wa (indicating a topic) and then goes on to ask a question about, or make a comment on, this topic. For example, kono mise wa ookii desu = as for this store, it's big. Nan = nani = what. Nan is the shorter form of this pronoun. Use nan, rather than nani, before the verb desu.
Hai. Wakarimashita.
(Yes, I understood.) Lesson 1.
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Lesson 1. To make the past form of a masu verb, change masu to mashita. For example, taberu = tabemasu = I eat (or I will eat). Tabemashita = I ate; the plain speech form is tabeta. Nomu = nomimasu = I drink (or I will drink). Nomimashita = I drank; the plain speech form is nonda. Da = desu = it is. To make the past form of desu, say deshita. To make the past form of da, say datta. Gozaimashita is the past form of gozaimasu = to exist humbly (or honorably, depending on the situation).
Lesson 2
Donata desu ka.
(Who is it?) Donata and dare both mean who; donata is more polite.
Arigatoo gozaimashita.
(Thank you for what you did.)
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Lesson 2. Doozo means go ahead. Yoroshiku is the ku form (or adverbial form) of the polite adjective yoroshii = good, so doozo yoroshiku can be understood as go ahead, in a good way, or please be good to me. It is often translated as pleased to meet you.
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Lesson 2. You must use the ku form when you make i adjectives negative. Kanai ga imasen = kanai ga inai = my wife doesnt exist (meaning, she isnt here). Similarly, Hon ja arimasen = hon ja nai = it isnt a book. Hon ga arimasen = hon ga nai = there isnt a book.
Omatase shimashita.
(Im sorry to have kept you waiting.) Omatase shimashita is a standard polite phrase used when one is late. This is another humble verb construction. Mataseru is the causative tense of matsu = wait. Mataseru = make someone wait. Shimashita is the past tense of shimasu = suru = to do, so this phrase means, I humbly made you wait.
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Lesson 2. In this pattern, a topic is followed by wa, and then a subject is followed by ga. (It exists on that places desks top, meaning on top of that desk.) Ue = above or top. Shita = below or bottom.
Tsukue no migi.
(The desks right side. Side is understood.) Migi = right. Hidari = left.
Lesson 3
Jaa, ikimashoo.
(Well, lets go.) The shoo ending replaces the su ending on a masu verb like ikimasu when you want to say lets do something or I shall do something. The shoo ending is also used to convert the word desu to the word deshoo = it probably is.
Lesson 3.
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Densha mo arimasu ga, amari benri ja arimasen.
Lesson 3. (A train also exists, but it isnt very convenient.) Mo = also; it replaces wa and ga when used after a topic or subject. Amari = not very, in negative constructions; very much or excessively, in positive constructions.
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Lesson 3. Jikan = time. Kan means duration. For example, ichijikan = 1 hour duration, nishuukan = 2 weeks duration, sannenkan = 3 years duration, etc.
Lesson 4
Sukoshi yasunda hoo ga ii desu ne.
(It would be better to rest a bit, huh.) Yasumu = yasumimasu = rest; the polite past tense is yasumimashita. The plain past tense is yasunda. The idea it would be better to do such and such is expressed by using the plain past tense of a verb followed by hoo ga ii. For example, tabeta hoo ga ii = it would be better to eat. To say it would be better not to do something, follow the negative plain speech form of the verb with hoo ga ii, e.g., tabenai hoo gai ii = it would be better not to eat.
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Lesson 4.
Hon o yondemasu.
(He is reading a book.) In ordinary speech, te imasu is often shortened to temasu, and de imasu is shortened to demasu. For example, tabete imasu = tabetemasu = I'm eating. Nonde imasu = nondemasu = I'm drinking.
Biiru o sanbon.
(Beer, 3 bottles.) Use o after beer because its an object in this sentence.
Lesson 5
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Lesson 5. ooku no hito ga kimasu = a lot of people will come. Ooi can also mean the majority. For example, gakusei no ooku wa otoko da = the majority of students are male. Oozei means a crowd of people; oozei is a noun, not an adjective. Its OK to substitute oozei for ooi in the target sentence above. For example, hito ga ooi = hito ga ooi desu = hito ga oozei = hito ga oozei desu = hito ga oozei imasu = there are a lot of people. Higo ga ooi imasu, not OK. Another example: oozei no hito ga kimasu = a lot of people will come. The opposite of ooi is sukunai (few). For example, kuruma ga sukunai = there are few cars. Hito ga sukunai = there are few people. However, dont use the ku form of sukunai in the way you would use the ku form of ooi. In other words, dont say sukunaku no hito. Instead say sukunai hito (few people). Days of the week: Nichiyoobi = Sunday, Getsuyoobi = Monday, Kayoobi = Tuesday, Suiyoobi = Wednesday, Mokuyoobi = Thursday, Kinyoobi = Friday, Doyoobi = Saturday. Nanyoobi = What day of the week?
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Lesson 5. its because the streets were crowded. Michi ga konde ita node desu, not OK. The verb hoshigaru, appear to desire, is a combination of hoshii and garu (appears). Hoshigaru is preceded by o. For example, biiru o hoshigatte imasu = he appears to be wanting beer. Mono means tangible thing, but it also has other idiomatic meanings. Here it means something like because and suggests an emotional component to Michaels complaint. Baabara ga atarashii no o hoshigatte iru kara, also OK.
Lesson 6
Ee, minna shinsetsu de, akarui hitotachi deshita.
(Yeah, all of them were kind and cheerful people.) Minna means everyone. Minasan (honorable everyone) and minasama (very honorable everyone) are terms often used to address a group. Minna de = all together. Minna no hito = all the people. -tachi is a suffix used to make a noun plural. -tachi is optional when used with hito, since hito can mean either person or people. However, -tachi is mandatory when used with watashi and anata, i.e., watashitachi = we; anatatachi = you.
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Lesson 6. Shikashi is bookish. return) is the stem form of kaeru = kaerimasu = return.
Lesson 7
Itta koto ga arimasu ka.
(Have you ever gone there?) One response to this question could be ee, itta koto ga aru = yeah, I have gone. Koto = intangible thing. Itta koto ga aru means went thing exists = have ever gone. Tabeta koto ga aru = ate thing exists = have ever eaten.
Hajimete desu.
(Its starting, meaning this is my first time.) Examples of how to use hajimete: Kono omatsuri wa hajimete desu = it's the first time I've been to this festival. Hajimete sukii o suru hito = sukii o hajimete suru hito = a person first learning to ski. Kore ga hajimete desu and kondo ga hajimete desu, both OK. Kono toki wa (or ga), hajimete desu, not OK. Ima wa (or ga) hajimete desu, also not OK. It just sounds awkward to use toki and ima with hajimete. However, kyoo ga hajimete desu is OK.
Ikutsumori desu.
(I plan to go.) Ikanai tsumori desu = I plan not to go (a mild statement). Ikutsumori wa arimasen = There is no intention of going (a strong statement). Tsumori = plan to or intend to.
Lesson 7.
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(Its certain that he will come.) Osoraku kuru deshoo. (Its very likely that he will come.) Tabun kuru deshoo. (Probably he will come.)
Lesson 7. example, gohan o tabe nagara terebi o mimasu = while eating rice, I watch TV.
Lesson 8
Sore ni tsuukin no densha wa konde taihen deshoo.
(Moreover, since the commuter trains get crowded, they're probably terrible.) Use the te or de form to express a reason, to mean because. For example, kaze o hiite ikimasen deshita = because I caught cold, I didn't go.
Iyahon de ongaku o kiki nagara, shinbun o yonde iru hito mo imasu ne.
(While listening to music with earphones, there are also newspaper-reading people, right?) To express the idea of doing something while doing something else, follow the stem form (the pre-masu form) of the verb with nagara. For
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Lesson 8. nijikan = 2 hours. Kan is optional for years, months, days and minutes, e.g. ichinen or ichinenkan (1 year), nikkagetsu or nikkagetsukan (2 months), mikka or mikkakan (3 days), yonpun or yonpunkan (4 minutes). Do not use the optional kan before mae ni, ato ni, or go ni. For example, mikkakan no ryokoo ni ikimasu = I'm going on a 4-day trip. Mikka mae ni nihon ni kimashita = I came to Japan 4 days ago. ookiku arimasen = not as big as Tokyo, Osaka, etc. Ookii desu ga, tookyoo hodo ja arimasen = it's big, but not compared to Tokyo. Basu de iku yori, kuruma de iku hoo ga, chotto hayai desu = compared to going by bus, going by car is a little faster. (cannot say iku no hoo ga or iki no hoo ga)
Sando mo norikaemasu.
(I transfer all of 3 times!) Use mo after a number or quantity for emphasis, to indicate that it is more than expected; or with negative verbs, to indicate that it is less than expected. For example, nijikan mo machimashita = I waited all of one hour. Hitotsu mo arimasen = there isn't even one.
Lesson 9
San mai aru kara, ichimai agemashoo.
(Since 3 exist, I shall give you one.) San mai ga aru, not OK; you dont need to use ga or wa after numbers, and here ga sounds wrong. Mai is a counter for flat thin items (stamps,in this case).
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Lesson 9. Goyukkuri shite kudasai, also OK. Yukkuri = slowly, taking time, leisurely. The prefix go is honorific, similar to o. Words of Japanese origin may be preceded by o to show respect, e.g., osushi (honorable sushi). Words of Chinese origin may be preceded by go, e.g., goshinpai (honorable worry). Women use honorific prefixes more often than men do. Dont use such prefixes when referring to your own affairs. The tai form is inflected like an i adjective.
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Lesson 9. showing extra respect.
Lesson 10
Ocha demo ikaga desu ka.
(Honorable tea, at least, how is it? Meaning, would you like some tea, at least?) Demo means but. It can also mean at least or or something. For example, toranpu demo shimashoo ka = shall we play cards or something?
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Lesson 10. are common in Japanese. For example, mado o akeru = I open the window. Mado ga aku = the window opens. The e rule says that, looking at such verb pairs, transitive verbs tend to end in eru; e.g., akeru(open) is transitive, aku is intransitive; shimeru (close) is transitive, shimaru (close) is intransitive. However, su trumps eru in determining which verbs are transitive, e.g. kesu (extinguish) v. kieru (go out), dasu (put out) v. deru (go out or exit); nekasu (put to sleep) v. neru (sleep). Exceptions to the e rule include: kiru (cut, transitive) v. kireru (be cut); uru (sell something) v. ureru (be sold); nuru (paint or get something wet) v. nureru (get wet). The te or de form of intransitive verbs like aku (open) is followed by imasu when describing a fixed condition or an ongoing action, e.g., mado ga aite imasu = the window is open or the window is opening. The te or de form of transitive verbs is followed by iru (imasu) when describing an ongoing action, e.g. mado o akete imasu = Im opening the window. However, the transitive aru rule, or transitive rule, states that the te or de form of transitive verbs is usually followed by aru (arimasu), when describing a fixed condition, e.g., mado ga akete arimasu = the window was opened by someone. Doa ga shimete arimasu = the door was closed by someone. Some verbs are exceptions to the transitive aru rule, e.g., hajimete imasu = it is begun by someone, nakushite imasu = it is lost by someone. Another exception to the transitive aru rule occurs when you want to imply that the speaker did something, e.g., denki o tsukete imasu = the light is on (because I turned it on). Mado o akete imasu = the window is open (because I opened it). Ga v. O: In te aru or de aru constructions, the direct object of a transitive verb may be indicated by either o or ga, e.g., doa o shimete aru = doa ga shimete aru = the door is closed by someone. Both of these Japanese sentences are correct.
Lesson 10.
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Lesson 10. Heya o atatakaku shimasu. (I'll make the room warm.) To express the idea of changing something into something else using an i adjective, such as making something warm, remove the final i and add ku suru or ku shimasu to the i adjective. For example, Koori o irete juusu o tsumetaku shimashoo = Adding ice, let's make the juice cold. Made ni is used after a plain non-past form of a verb or various time words to indicate the time by or before which an action is completed. For example, juuji made ni ikimasu = I will go by 10 o'clock.
Lesson 11
Atarashii kanji o jikkai zutsu kaite renshuu suru.
(Writing new kanji 10 times each, I practice.) Kai means times, similar to do. For example, ikkai, nikai, sankai = 1 time, 2 times, 3 times. (Juudo doesnt sound as good as jikkai here. Juukai also OK.) Zutsu = each.
Lesson 12
Sukoshi nomisugitan desu ne.
(A little, you drank too much, huh?) The suffix -sugiru means to excess; this may be combined with a verb stem, e.g., nomi plus sugiru = nomisugiru = drink too much. Or it may be combined with the root of an i adjective, e.g., ookisugiru = too big.
Tanaka san wa rokuji made ni kuru hazu deshita ga, nakanaka kimasen deshita.
(Tanaka was supposed to come by 6:00, but he didn't come readily.) To show that something ought to, should or is supposed to be, use hazu desu after the plain form of a verb, or after an i adjective. For example, Kono mise no koohii wa oishii hazu desu = This shop's coffee ought to be good. Nakanaka means considerably, quite, not easily, not readily.
Lesson 12.
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Lesson 12. To show that something ought to, should or is supposed to be, use na hazu desu after a na adjective.
Tanaka san wa mada shigoto o shite iru kara, konai hazu desu.
(Since Tanaka is still working, I expect him not to come.) To show that something is not supposed to be or not expected to be, follow a negative verbal or adjective with hazu desu.
Tanaka san wa ima ryokoo shite iru kara, kuru hazu ga arimasen.
(Since Tanaka is traveling now, it's impossible that he will come.) To say that something is impossible, follow hazu with ga nai, wa nai, ga arimasen, or wa arimasen.
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Lesson 12. koto ni natte imasu = As for in Japan, as for inside houses, it's the custom not to wear shoes. Haku = put on or wear shoes, socks or pants.
Jikan ga attara.
(When or if there is time.) To express the idea if or when, add ra to the past plain speech form of a verb. This is called the tara form. For example, atta (it existed) becomes attara (if or when it exists). Nonda (I drank) becomes nondara (if or when she drinks).
Lesson 13
Sanshuukan de todoku kadooka wakarimasen yo.
(I don't know/understand whether it will arrive in 3 weeks, for sure.) Kadooka = whether or not. For example, iku kadooka wakarimasen = I dont know whether I will go or not. Question word with ka: If you follow a question word with ka, it means some. For example, nanika = something, itsuka = sometime, doreka =one of them. Question word with mo: If you follow a question word with mo, it means all or every in positive constructions; never, none or nowhere in negative constructions. However, in affirmative sentences,use one of the following 3 words instead of daremo or nanimo: minna, mina, or subete. Doremo means any of them in positive constructions, none of them in negative constructions. Question word with demo: If you follow a question word with demo, it means any. Doredemo means any of them or whichever one.
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Lesson 13. Doko e mo ikimasen deshita = I didn't go anywhere. (literally, I didnt go to nowhere) (Dont discard garbage.) For a plain do not, used by men or on signs, follow a plain non-past verb with na. For example, taberu na = do not eat.
Wasurenai de kudasai.
(Please don't forget.) To make a negative request, add one of the following phrases after a verb stem: Nai de kudasaimasen ka = wont you please not do and give (very polite form) Nai de kudasai = please don't (polite form) Nai de choodai, or nai de ne = please dont (colloquial form) For example, tabenai de kudasaimasenka = tabenai de kudasai = tabenai de choodai = tabenai de ne = please dont eat.
Lesson 14
Mukoo no osushi wa nihon no to onaji desu ka.
(Is the honorable sushi on the other side the same as the Japanese?) Onaji means the same. Chigau means different. For example, onaji booshi o kabutte imasu = they are wearing the same hat. Chigau zubon o haite imasu = they are wearing different pants. Onaji is an adjective, while chigau is both an adjective and a verb. Say onaji kutsu (the same shoes), not onaji no kutsu. Say chigau kutsu (different shoes). Kutsu ga onaji desu = the shoes are the same. Kutsu ga chigaimasu = the shoes are different. Ichi nichi juu = all day long. Hitoban juu = all night long. Ichinen juu = all year long. Natsu juu = all summer long. Juu ni and Chuu ni. These phrases mean 'sometime during,' 'anytime during' or 'before the end of.' Kyoo juu ni = sometime today. Kotoshi juu ni = sometime this year. Konshuu chuu ni (juu ni also OK) = sometime this week. Kongetsu chuu ni (juu ni also OK) = sometime this month. Juugatsu chuu ni (juu ni, not OK) = sometime in October. Natsuyasumi chuu ni (juu ni also OK) = sometime during summer vacation. Still do = mada + affirmative. For example, mada kaisha de shigoto o shite imasu = he is still working at the company. No longer do = moo + negative. For example, moo tsukaimasen = I won't use it anymore. Ni yoru to = According to someone. No hanashi de wa (literally, as for Lesson 14.
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Lesson 14. from someones story or speech) = according to what someone says. Soo desu, No da soo desu, n da soo desu = Something is reportedly true. N desutte, Desutte = Something is reportedly true. Used by women in informal casual conversations. N datte, Tte = something is reportedly true. Used by men or women in informal casual conversations. Ga or de plus to itte imashita, or ga or de plus tte ittemashita = someone was saying. Ni plus to kaite arimashita, or ni plus tte kaite arimashita = something was written. Kara plus to kikimashita or kara plus tte kikimashita = I heard something from someone.
Lesson 15
Taroo dake ga yasunde iru.
(Only Taro is being off.) Taroo dake yasunde iru, also OK. Taro dake yasumi desu, also OK.
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Lesson 15.
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Lesson 15. Use tara when you want your statement to sound more personal. (The dog, for the purpose of walking, I will take along and give.) Tsurete iku = take a person or animal along.
Lesson 16
Yoobi ya jugyooryoo ni tsuite kaite arimasu.
(Concerning the days of the week, the tuition, etc. are written.) Ni tsuite = concerning, regarding, pertaining to. If you use ni tsuite, you omit ga. In the sentence above, you could say ni tsuite wa, but wa and ni tsuite are similar, so its best to omit wa as well.
Lesson 17
Chotto onegaishite moo ii kashira.
(A little, doing begging is OK, I wonder.) Kashira and kana mean I wonder. Kashira used more by women; kana more by men.
Use the te or de form of a verb to express the idea of giving or receiving an action (as opposed to a thing). Here are some other examples: Shachoo ga homete kudasatta = the president praised and gave. Shachoo ni homete itadakimashita = by the president, I received praise.
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Another way to say that you would prefer that someone do something is to use the te or de form of the verb plus moraitai or itadakitai. Heres another example: Buchoo, kono shorui ni sain o shite itadakitain desu ga = division manager, I would like for you to sign to this document and I humbly receive, but ..
Haha ga byooki de nete iru node, ookii oto o dasanai de hoshiin desu ga.
Lesson 17. (Since Mother is sleeping due to illness, I desire that you do not put out big sounds, but.) When you want to say that you would prefer that someone not do something, use the plain speech negative non-past form of the verb, followed by de, plus hoshii, moraitai, or itadakitai.
Lesson 18
Terebi mo yukkuri miraremasen.
(I can't leisurely watch even TV.) Mo means even in this sentence. Mo can mean also. For example, terebi mo arimasu = there is also a TV. Mo can mean more than expected. For example, Nijikan mo kakarimasu = It takes 2 full hours. With negative verbs, mo can mean less than expected. For example, Jippun mo kakarimasen = It doesn't even take 10 minutes. Hitotsu mo arimasen = not even one exists.
Soo ieba.
(If you say, then, usually meaning come to think of it.) Reba and eba mean 'if, then.' To make the eba verb tense, add eba to the root of a u verb. In this case, the root of iu (say) is i; add eba, and you get ieba. Another example is kakeba (from kaku) = 'if I write, then.' Lesson 18.
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Saisho wa tenki yohoo ga seikaku ni kikitorereba ii desu yo.
Lesson 18. (As for the beginning, if you are able to listen/take the weather report accurately, then it will be good, for sure.) To make the eba verb form, add reba to the root of an ru verb. Note that toru (take) is a u verb, since its te form is totte and its ta form is totta. Kikitoru (listen/take) which is derived from kiku and toru, is also a u verb. However, kikitoreru (able to listen/take) is an ru verb, since its te form is kikitorete and its ta form is kikitoreta. The root (preru form) of kikitoreru is kikitore; add reba to that, and you get the eba form. yakyuu o shitari shite wa ikemasen = at here, do baseball etc. you mustn't do.
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Lesson 18. To indicate a period during or throughout which an action occurs, i.e., to say while, or as, follow a noun plus no, or a plain non-past verb with aida ni.
Hitori de nanimokamo shinai de, buka ni shigoto o makaseru koto o susumete imasu.
(By oneself, not to do everything, and entrust work to subordinates thing is being advised.) Nanimokamo = everything. Makaseru = to entrust. In Lesson 6, you learned that hirokute akarui desu means its spacious and well-lighted and that kute means and. Therefore you might assume that it would be OK to substitute shinakute for shinai de here. That is not the case. The te in nakute is used to mean since and cannot be used to mean and. For example, Tomodachi ga sukunakute, sabishii desu = since friends are few, Im lonely.
Lesson 19
Boonasu tte nani ka shittemasu? Lesson 19.
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Lesson 19. (As for the one called bonus, what (question) are you knowing?) Tte can mean 'speaking of.' Tte can substitute for wa as a topic marker, but only if the predicate expresses the speakers emotive evaluation/judgment. For example, you can say, Keikosan tte hen na hito desu = Keiko is a strange person,' but you cant say, Keikosan tte sensei desu (meaning, Keiko is a teacher'). desu = 'he appears to be mortified.' Kuyashisoo na hito = 'a person who appears to be mortified.'
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As mentioned in Lesson 9, to say a plain speech shall or lets for a u verb, add oo to the root (the pre-u form). To say a plain speech shall or lets for an ru verb, add yoo to the root. There are 3 irregular verbs. Ikoo = ikimashoo = I shall go or lets go. Koyoo = kimashoo = I shall come or lets come. Shioo = shimashoo = I shall do or lets do. finished running' or 'is at the point of having just finished running.'
Takakereba.
(If its expensive, then ...) To make the eba form of i adjectives, including nai, add kereba to the stem. For example, Tenki ga yokereba = 'if the weather is good, then...' Yasukunakereba kaimasen = if it isnt cheap, then I wont buy.
Kirei de areba.
(If its clean, then ...) Kirei nara and kirei naraba Lesson 20.
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Lesson 20. may be substituted for kirei de areba. To make the eba form of na adjectives, add nara or naraba or de areba to the adjective. Referring to nouns, to say if it is, then..., use de areba. (It doesnt matter if the noun is animate or inanimate.) To say 'if it isnt, then...,' use de nakereba. in case its hot, its OK to open that places window, for sure.
Hashire.
(Run!) To form the imperative form, used at sporting events to shout encouragement, for a u verb, follow the verb root with e. Hashiru is a u verb because you double the t when making hashitte and hashitta.
Nagero.
(Throw!) To form the imperative form for an ru verb, follow the root with ro. For the 3 irregular verbs, the imperative forms are: Ike = go! Koi = come! Shiro = do it!
Lesson 21
Ryokoo ni iku nara, hokkaidoo wa doo desu ka.
(In the case of to go for travel, as for Hokkaido, how is it?) To express the idea if it is, or in case it is, in addition to the to, tara and eba forms that youve learned, theres a 4th conditional form, often used to clarify the subject under discussion in order to make a comment. The word nara functions much like the topic marker wa, but implies a greater emphasis. Naraba may be used instead of nara, especially in written text. After a noun or a na adjective, add nara. After an i adjective or a plain verb, you may use no or n, before nara, but they are optional. For example, Atsuin nara, soko no mado o akete mo ii desu yo =
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Lesson 21. omachi desu = a very honorable customer is honorably waiting in the reception room. plain speech verb (not the stem). For example, Taberu soo desu = 'reportedly, she will eat.' It may also follow an i adjective (not the root). For example, oishii soo desu = 'reportedly, it's delicious.' (You cannot say oishii da soo desu, since you cant use da after i adjectives.) When soo in this sense is used with na adjectives or nouns, it must be preceded by da. For example, Ano mise wa, nigiyaka da soo desu = as for that store over there, reportedly its lively. Kuruma da soo desu = reportedly, it's a car.
Lesson 22
Ame ga furu soo desu.
(Reportedly it will rain.) As discussed in Lesson 14, soo desu can mean reportedly. When used in this sense, it follows a
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Ame ga furanasa soo desu.
Lesson 22. (Will-not-rain seems to be.) Another way to say that something appears not to be is to follow the pre-nai form of a negative verb or the pre-nai form of an i adjective with nasa soo desu. Some other examples of the use of nasa include: Mondai wa nasa soo desu = as for problems, nothing, it seems= there seem to be no problems. Tabenasa soo desu = 'will-not-eat seems to be.' Oishikunasa soo desu = 'not-delicious seems to be.' Yoo also means it appears, based on evidence. It may be used with i adjectives and verbs. For example, oishii yoo desu = 'it appears to be delicious.' Taberu yoo desu = 'it appears that she will eat.'
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Lesson 22. add rareru to an ru verb root. Therefore, an ru verbs passive form is the same as its potential form. For example, watashi ga omatsuri o miraremashita = I was able to look at the festival. Watashi wa kanojo ni miraremashita = I was looked at by her.
Lesson 23
Namae o yobareru made, soko no isu ni kakete ite kudasai.
(Until the name is called, on that places chair, be sitting please.) In a passive sentence, the subject is also an object that receives the effect of an action. For example, in English, I kick the ball contains a subject, an active verb and an object. By contrast, The ball is kicked contains a passive verb, and the subject ball is the object of the action. To form a passive verb form in Japanese, add areru to a u verb root; add rareru to an ru verb root. In a passive sentence, the object of the action is followed by wa or ga. The doer of the action is followed by ni. For example, Watashi wa inu ni oikakerareta = I was chased by a dog. Irregular passive verb forms: iku, becomes ikareru; kuru, becomes korareru; suru, becomes sareru, in the passive tense. In contrast to the passive tense, you may recall that the way to show that something is possible (the potential form), is to add eru to a u verb root &
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Lesson 23.
hours or days etc. When applied to days, ichinichi oki = every 2 days, futsuka oki = every 3 days.
Lesson 24
Kaerimashitara, denwa o suru yoo ni otsutae shimasu.
(When he returns, to do a phone call I will humbly tell.) Tsutaeru = report or tell. Yoo ni is used between two verbs, after a verb of suggested action, and before a verb like say, to report a suggestion, command, request or warning given by someone. Yoo ni may or may not be followed by to, meaning quotation marks. For example, shachoo ga kuru yoo ni to osshatte imasu yo = shachoo ga kuru yoo ni osshatte imasu yo = the president is honorably saying to come, for sure.
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Lesson 24. Noni can also mean 'for the purpose of, in the process of doing, in order to do'; similar to tame ni.
Lesson 25
Harada sama to ossharu kata ga, irasshaimashita.
(A person whom they honorably call Very Honorable Mr. Harada honorably came.) To go, honorific = Irassharu (irasshaimasu). To go, humble = Mairu (mairimasu). To come, honorific = Irassharu (irasshaimasu). To come, humble = Mairu (mairimasu). To be, honorific = Irassharu (irasshaimasu). To be, humble = Oru (orimasu). To say or tell, honorific = Ossharu (osshaimasu). To say, humble = Moosu (mooshimasu), Mooshiageru (mooshiagemasu). To eat or drink, honorific = Meshiagaru (meshiagarimasu). To eat or drink, humble = Itadaku (itadakimasu). To do, honorific = Nasaru (nasaimasu). To do, humble = Itasu (itashimasu). To be doing, honorific = Te irassharu. To be doing. humble Te oru. To be knowing, honorific = Gozonji desu. To be knowing, humble = Zonji de orimasu. (zonjiru = to humbly know) To see or meet someone, honorific = Oai ni naru. To see or meet someone, humble = Ome ni kakaru. To think/feel, honorific = Omoi ni naru. To think/feel/know, humble = Zonji suru. To visit or ask, honorific = Otazune ni naru. To visit or ask, humble = Ukagau (ukagaimasu). To look at or see, honorific = Goran ni naru. To look at, see or read, humble = Haiken suru.
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Lesson 25. tsukemasen = whatever kind of cold, as for me, I dont turn on the space heater.
Lesson 26
Kachoo ga, maikerusan ni, hookokusho o tsukuraseta.
(The section manager made Michael make a report.) Tsukuru is a u verb, so the root is tsukur; add aseru and you get tsukuraseru. Causative Tense: to express the idea, to cause someone to do something, for a u verb, follow the root, meaning the pre-u form, with aseru. For example, kakaseru = 'to make someone write.' To express the idea, to cause someone to do something, for an ru verb, follow the root with saseru. For example, tabesaseru = 'to make someone eat.' Irregular verbs: Ikaseru = 'to make someone go.' Kosaseru = 'to make someone come.' Saseru = 'to make someone do.' When using this causative verb tense, the person causing the action is followed by ga, and the person who is being induced to do the action is followed by ni or wo. In colloquial speech, aseru is sometimes shortened to asu; saseru can be shortened to sasu by removing er. For example, Kodomo ni kusuri o nomashitan desu = to the child, I made drink medicine. In this sentence, the causative form of nomu is nomaseru; this is abbreviated to nomasu by removing er.
Senjitsu no demo ni wa, sukunakutomo, nisen nin no hito ga sanka shita yoo desu.
(As for to the other days demonstration, at the very least, 2,000 peoples people participated, it seems.) Sometimes temo is replaced by tomo, but this is bookish. Tomo is used with adjectives but not with verbs.
Maikerusan wa, ocha o dashita noni, nomanakattan desu. (As for Michael, even though
I put out honorable tea, he did not drink an emotional statement.) The temo form, meaning even though, and noni, meaning in spite of, are similar, but temo doesnt carry the emotional overtones suggested by noni.
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Lesson 26.
To make the causative passive form, for a u verb, combine the root with aserareru. (mnemonic: aspirin era rerun) For u verbs that dont end in su, this may be shortened to asareru, by removing the first er. (mnemonic: asa rerun or morning rerun) Revising the example above, Seitotachi wa, sensei ni, sakubun o kakasareru (think morning rerun) = as for the students, by the teacher, they will be made to write a composition. However, the longer form is used with u verbs that do end in su, like hanasu. For example, the causative passive form of the verb to talk is hanasaserareru (think aspirin era rerun).
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Lesson 26. (Since I left without holding my wallet, I was not able to buy anything.) To express the idea of doing something without doing something else, combine the negative stem of verb 1 with either nai de or zuni and then add verb 2. Of these two forms, zuni is more formal. When using zuni with suru verbs, say se zuni, not shi zuni. For example, Maikerusan wa, kitamura san ni aisatsu o se zuni, ie ni kaette shimaimashita = as for Michael, to Kitamura not doing greeting, to the house he returned completely. doing a meal, to depart times also exist, for sure. Shinamono ga nai baai mo arimasu = merchandise doesnt exist cases also exist.
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Index.
Achira 4 Active verbs 8 Adverbs, forming 7,9,17,23,25 Ageru 16, 37 Aida ni 27 Amari 7 Anna 9 Ano 4 Are 2 Areru 33 Aru (arimasu) 2, 4 Aru rule - 17 Aseru 36 Asoko 5 Bakari (only, just) 22 Bakari (a while ago) 29 Causative form 36, 37 Causative passive form 36 Cha 21 Changing something 18 Chau 17 Chuu(ni) 21 Commands 21 Counting objects 10 Counting people 12 Da (desu) 1, 2, 10, 22 Dake 22 Dare 3, 7 Dareka 7 Dattara 30 Datte 22 Days of the month 10 Days of the week 10 De (by means of ) 7 De areba, de nakereba 30 De form 1,7,12,13,17,18,24 De ii (kekkoo, yoroshii) desu 12 De vs. ni (place) 8 Dekiru 26 Demo 11, 16, 20, 35 Desu (da) 1, 2, 10, 22 Desutte 22 Dewa 2 Do (times) 3, 34 Doko 5, 7 Dokodemo 8 Dokoka 7, 8 Dokomo 8 Donata 3 Donna 9 Donna ni 35 Dono 5 Dono kurai (gurai) 7 Doo 6, 11 Doo itashimashite 3 Dooshite 6, 11 Doozo yoroshiku 4 Dore 2, 5 E (to a place) - 7 E rule 17 Eba 25, 30 Eru 26 Etcetera - 14 Exclamatory form 29 Frequency (per week etc.) 34 Ga (but) 3 Ga vs. no 13 Ga vs. o 9, 17 Ga vs. wa 5 Garu 9, 11, 28 Go 15 Goro 7 Gozaimasu 3 Gurai 7 Hai (counter) 16 Hajimemashite 3 Hajimete 12 Hazu 18-19 Hitsuyoo 33-34 Hodo 13 Hon (counter) 9 Honorific verbs 11, 30, 34-35 Hoo ga 8, 14 Hoshigaru 11 Hoshii 11, 25 Humble verbs 30, 35 I adjective 1, 2, 3, 4-5, 9, 18 Ii 7 Iin ja nai 22 Ikaga 11 Ikemasen 21, 33 Iku 2, 5 Ikura 6, 35 Ikutsu 6 Imasu (iru) 4, 5, 7 Imperative form 30 Inactive verbs 8 -ing 7 Intentions 12 Interrogative pronouns 6 Intransitive verbs 16-17 Iru tokoro (in the process) 29 Issho ni 7 Itadaku 16, 25, 37 Itsu 6 Itsudemo 7 Itsuka 7 Itsumo 7 Ja 2, 21 Jau 17 Juu (ni) 21 Ka 1, 20 Ka dooka 20 Kai 18, 34 Kakaru (kakarimasu) 7 Kamau (kamaimasu) 24 Kamoshirenai (-masen) 12 Kan 8, 13-14 Kana 24 Kara 10 Kashira 24 Kereba 29 Ki (ga suru) (ni iru, shinai, o otosu, o tsukeru) 32 Kiku (have effect) 32-33 Kirai 8 Kitto 12 Kochira 4 Koko 5 Konna 9 Kono 4 Kore 2 Koto (intangible thing) 10, 12 Koto (noun phrase) 15 Koto ga aru 12, 38 Koto ga dekiru 15 Koto ni naru 19 Koto ni suru 19 Koto wa nai (arimasen) 34 Ku form 4-5, 7 Ku naru 15 Ku suru 17-18 Kudasaru, kudasai 1, 16, 37 -Kunai 25 Kurai 7 Kureru 16, 37 Kuru 2,5 Kute 12 Mada 21 Made ni 18 Mama 38 Mina (minna) 8 Mitai 23, 32-33 Mo 7, 14, 20, 25 Mo nai 31 Months (counting) 13 Months (names) 10 Mono 10, 11 Moo 3, 21 Morau 16, 24, 25, 37 Index.
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Index. Moshi, moshimo 20 Must do 33 Na adjectives 1, 5 Na (do not) 21 Na (is) 10, 22 Nado 14 Nagara 13 Nai 3,5,8,21,26,29,31,33,37 Nai de 21, 37-38 Nakatta 4 Nakereba 20 Nakute 18 Nan (nani) 2 Nanda 19 Nande 19 Nandemo 4 Nanika 3, 4, 7 Nanimo 9 Nante 28 Nara (naraba) 29-30 Naru (narimasu) 15 Nasa 32 Nasai 25 Nasaru 31, 35 Naze 11 Negative commands 21 Negative form, i adject. 4-5 Negative form, na adjective 6 Negative requests - 17,21,36-37 Negative verbs 2, 3, 5, 27 Ni (before au) 7 Ni (making adverbs) 9, 23, 25 Ni (place) 4, 7, 8 Ni (purpose) 9 Ni (time) 7 Ni (to a place) 7 Ni nai (arimasen) 31 Ni naru 15, 19 Ni naru (honorific) 30 Ni suru 17, 19 Ni tsuite 24 Ni vs. de 8 Ni yoru to 21 No hanashi de wa 21 No (noun phrase) 15 No (possession) 3 No vs. ga 13 No yoo 23, 32 Node 10 Noni 23, 34, 35, 36 Not necessary 33 Noun phrases 12, 15 Nouns made from verbs 12, 27 O (honorific) 4, 14 O (object marker) 1 O vs. ga 9, 17 Oide 31 Oki ni 34 Okoshi 31 Oku 18 Onegai shimasu 4 Oo (I shall) 6, 16, 29 Ooi 9-10 Oozei 9-10 Opinions 14 Oru (orimasu) 18 Osoraku 13 Passive verbs 33, 35 Past tense of i adjective 8 Per (year, month, etc.) 34 Permission 24 Plain speech 1, 3,5,9,16 Potential tense 26, 33 Rareru 26, 33 Rashii 32 Reba 26, 29 Requests 11, 17, 20-21, 31, 37 Root of i adjective 1 Root of verbs 1,5 Ru verb 1, 2, 5 Sa (nasa, yosa) 32 Saseru 36 Sashiageru 15 Sentence Pattern A 2 Sentence Pattern B 5-6 Shall 6, 16, 29 Shi 20 Shika 28 Shimau 10 Shoo 6, 16, 29 Sochira 4 Softening speech 3 Soko 5 Sonna 9 Sono 4 Soo (appears) 28, 31 Soo desu (reportedly) 22, 31 Sore 2 Sore de wa 11 Sore ja 11 Stem of verbs 1 Subete 8, 20 Sugiru 18, 25 Suki 8, 12 Tabun 13 Tachi 11 Tagaru see Garu Tai 9, 15, 25 Tame (ni) 20, 28 Tara 19-20, 23-24 Tara ii 20 Tari 26 Tatoe 35 Te form 1,7,12,13,17,18,24,37 Te mo ii 24 Te oku 18 Temo 35, 36 Times per (day, etc.) 34 To (and vs. with) 8 To (if) 23-24 To iu no wa 28 To (tte) itte imashita 22 To (tte) kikimashita 22 To omou (omoimasu) 14 To (quotation marker) 13 To suru (try to do) 29 To wa 28 Toka 14 Tokoro (on the verge, in the process or just finished) 29 Tomo 35-36 Totemo (tottemo) 24 Transitive (aru) rule 17 Transitive verb 16-17 Try to do 29 Tsugoo ga ii 6 Tsumori 12,19 Tsurete iku 24 Tte (speaking of) 28 Tte (reportedly) 21 Uchi ni 27 U verb 1, 2, 5 Wa 2, 6, 14 Wa (emphasis) 9 Wa vs. ga 5 Weeks, counting 13-14 Week, days of 10 Wo (object marker) 1 Ya 14 Yaru 16, 37 Yo (emphasis) 2 Yoku 7, 9 Yoo (I shall) 16, 28 Yoo (appears) 23, 32 Yoo ni 28, 34 Yoo ni naru 27 Yoo ni suru 27 Yori 14 Yosa 32 Yukkuri 15 Zuni 37, 38 Zutsu 18 Index.
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