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Japanese Learning (A4 S35): I want to do A. How do I make A?; [Interogative word]+[V-con] Ii desuka.

The exercise A5 is about one of practical usages of conditional forms of verbs. The construction of sample sentences are as follows;

– (Watashi wa ) [V-masu] tain desuga, [Interogative word]+[V-con] Ii desuka.

where; [V-masu] means “Masu form whose “masu” is eliminated”. [V-con] is a verb in conditional form.

1. Moenai Gomi o Sute tain desuga, Itsu daseba Ii desuka.

(I want to dispose some non-combustible wastes. When am I supposed to bring them (to garbage collecting place)?)

“Suteru/Sutemasu” is a Group2 verb. Its [V-masu] is “Sute”. “Dasu/Dashimasu” is a Group1-S verb. Its conditional form is “Daseba”.

2. Nihon o Ryokou Shi tain desuga, Doko e Ikeba Iidesuka.

(I want to travel around Japan. Where do I need to go?)

Conditional form of the verb “Iku/Ikimasu” is “Ikeba”.

3. Satou-san ni Renraku Shi tain desuga, Dare ni Kikeba Iidesuka.

(I want to contact Sato-san. Who should I ask for her contact information?)

The conditional form “Kikeba” comes from “Kiku/Kikimasu”.

4. Pa’athi’i no Jumbi o Tetsudai tain desuga, Nani o Shureba Iidesuka.

(I want to help you prepare the party. What shall I do?)

5. Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken o Uke tain desuga, Dou Sureba Iidesuka.

(I want to take Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. How do I make it?)

5. JLPT no N1 ni Ukari tain desuga, Dou Yatte Benkyou Sureba Iidesuka.

(I want to pass the N1 grade of JLPT. How do I study for it?)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A4 S35): If it is [adj/noun], [Conclusion]; [I-adj]+kereba / [Na-adj/Noun]+nara, [Main Clause].

We are learning how to make a hypothetical sentence in the section 35. In the sentence construction of;

[Hypothetical clause], [Main clause].

The conjunctive particle “-ba” is used for verbs and I-adjectives, and “-nara” is used for Na-adjectives and Nouns at the end of the hypothetical clause. More precisely as for “-ba”, verbs become conditional form whose last letter is “ba”. And I-adjectives become “[Stem]+kereba”.

The example sentences in the exercise A4 have I-adjectives, Na-adjective, and Noun in the hypothetical clause.

1. Ashita Tenki ga Yokereba, Umi de Oyogeru to Omoi masu. (If the weather is fine tomorrow, I think we will be able to swim in the sea.)

You need to know that the first letter “i” of the I-adjective “ii” often turns to be “yo” as shown below;

“i” remains to be “i”  

– Modifying a noun : Ii Tenki (desu.)

– Being a predicate : Tenki wa Ii desu.

“i” turns to be “yo”

– Negative form : Yokunai (desu.)

– Past tense : Yokatta (desu.)

– Conditional form : Yokereba

2. Eakon no Choushi ga Warukereba, Itte Kudasai. (If the air-conditioner doesn’t work well, please tell me so. )

where, “Choushi” is a noun meaning how well it works (or sometimes a person feels well him/herself).

The sentence 2 uses an I-adjective “Warui” in the form of “Warukereba”.

3. Sono Kokuritsu Kouen ga Kirei nara, Kondo Isshoni Ikimasenka. (If that national park is so beautiful, shall we go there together for the next time?)  

Don’t say “(WRONG)Kirekereba”, because “Kirei” is not an I-adjective but a Na-adjective.

4. Ashita Shigoto ga Yasumi nara, Umi e Oyogi ni Ikitai desu.(If my work is off tomorrow, I want to go swim in the sea.)

“Yasumi” is a noun, while “Yasumu” is a verb. In this case, you cannot say “(WRONG) Ashita Shigoto o Yasumeba, Umi ni Oyogi ni Ikitaidsu”. Actually, there are some restrictions on sentence endings when using “-ba,”. A sentence uses “-ba” cannot end with expressions of volition, invitation, command and so on. In the sentence 4, the auxiliary verb “-tai” for desire is used in part of “Ikitai desu.”, which is a kind of volition. There are some exceptions* about restrictions on use of “-ba”. It is a little complicated so I put its explanation at the end of this post**. In contrast, when you use “-nara”, it is better to end the sentence with expression revealing speaker’s feeling like volition, invitation, command and so on. For example, the sentence 3 ends with “Ikimasenka” which is an invitation. 

* Actually, the sentence 1 and 2 that use “-ba,” are also exceptions in respect of the followings;

– 1 ends with “to Omoi masu.” which is an expression of volition.

– 2 ends with “Itte kudasai” which is a light command

** There are restrictions on the sentence endings when using conjunctive particle “-ba”. Basically, you cannot end with expressions of volition, invitation, command and so on. But sometimes volition like expression is allowed to the sentence ending when;

– Subordinate clause is stative

 (example; “Tenki ga Yokereba,” in the sentence1, “Choushi wa Warukereba” in the sentence 2)

– Different subjects are used for the subordinate and the main clauses

 (example; the subject in the subordinate clause is Tanki, and the subject in the main clause is Watashi)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S35): Hypothetical Sentence using Conditional Form of Nai-form of a Verb; [V-nakereba], [Main Clause].

The conditional forms of I-adjectives are shown tomorrow. What we are learning today is the conditional forms of Nai-form of verbs. Actually, Nai-forms of “Nai” conjugates as I-adjective because the last of “Nai” is “i” like I-adjectives.

1. Kimatsu-Shiken ni Goukaku Shi nakereba, Daigaku o Sotsugyou Deki masen.

(Unless I pass the final examinations, I will not be able to graduate the university.)

“Goukaku shinai” is the Nai-form of the verb “Goukaku-suru/Goukaku-shimasu”. Making “nai” “nakereba”, you get the conditional form of Nai-form.

2. Ame ga Fura nakereba, Aruite Ikimashou.

(If it’s not rainy. let’s go there by walk.)

“Fura nakereba” is the conditional form of the Nai-form “Furanai” which comes from “Furu/Furimasu”.

3. Kurejitto Ka’ado ga Nakereba, Genkin de Haratte kudasai.

(If you don’t have a credit card, please pay by cash.)

The Nai-form of the intransitive verb for existence “Aru/Arimasu” is not “(WRONG) Aranai” but “Nai”. Therefore, you cannot say “(WRONG) Ara nakereba”. The sentence 3 uses the negative expression “nakereba”. When someone say the sentence 3, it implies another positive expression as below;

4. Kurejitto Ka’ado ga Areba, Sore de Haratte kudasai.

(If you have a credit card, please pay by it.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A2 S35): Hypothetical Sentence using Conditional Form of a Verb; [V-ba], [Main Clause].

[Subordinate Clause], [Main Clause].

= [Hypothetical Clause], [Conclusion].

= [ — + (V-ba)], [What will happen if hypothesis come true].

1. Kusuri o Nomeba, Kaze ga Naori masu. (If you take a medicine, the cold will be cured.)

2. Kita-kaze ga Fukeba, Suzushiku Nari masu. (If the north wind blows, it will get cooler.)

3. Shitsumon ga Areba, Watashi ni Kiite kudasai. (If you have a question, please ask me.)

Let us look at the sentence 2. The hypothetical clause is “Kita-kaze ga Fukeba,” and the conclusion is “Suzushiku Nari masu.” Is this conclusion expected or unexpected from the hypothetical clause? I should say I am sorry for the people in southern hemisphere, but in the northern hemisphere, the north wind is cool (or even cold), and the south wind is warm (or hot). Therefore, the conclusion is expected from the hypothesis.

Do you remember that there are two types of connections between two clauses. One is “So-therefore” type, and the other is “But-however” type, which we have learned in the section 25.

Here is an example of So-therefore connection;

4. Kita-kaze ga Fuitara, Suzushiku Nari masu. (If the north wind blows, then it will get cooler.)

And an example of But-however connection;

5. kita-kaze ga Fuitemo, Suzushiku Nari masen. (Even if the north wind blows, it will not get cooler.)

The conclusion in the sentence 4 is an expected one, but that of the sentence 5 is not. Whenever we connect two clauses, it is so important to choose properly a conjunctive particle that is So-therefore type or But-however type. Then the question is whether “-ba” in the conditional form is So-therefore or But-however connection. Since the conclusion in the sentence 2 is an expected one, “-ba” is So-therefore connection.

Now, given that “-tara” and “-ba” are both So-therefore types, you may find that “-tara” and “-ba” are similar to each other in the respect of being used for conditional and/or hypothetical clauses. Actually, they are almost the same in the following sentences;

3. Shitsumon ga Areba, Watashi ni Kiite kudasai. (If you have a question, please ask me.)

6. Shitsumon ga Attara, Watashi ni Kiite kudasai. (If you have a question, please ask me.)

I think it is also okay to dealing with the two as almost the same without focusing on the difference at this stage of beginners’ level. The first thing a learner needs to do is to learn the new expressions so that he/she will be able to operate the expression. As the learner repeatedly uses the expression many times, eventually he/she will find a small difference of nuance someday. Yes, there is a small difference, So it is also important to think that different expressions do have differences.

7. Haru ga Kitara, Sakura ga Sakimasu. (When spring comes, cherry flowers bloom.)

8. Haru ga Kureba, Sakura ga Sakimasu. (If spring comes, cherry flowers bloom.)

It seems that the sentences 7 and 8 are almost the same. But let me tell you more detailed meanings of the two;

7=> Once spring has come, what will happen next is that cherry flowers get blooming.

8=> In order for cherry flowers to bloom, Spring’s coming is the condition necessary.

Simply put, when you want to say the result, use “-tara”. When you want to say condition, use “-ba” for the conditional/hypothesis clause. More examples about differences between “-tara” and “-ba” are shown below;

9. Kusuri o Nondara, Kaze ga Naori masu. (Once you have taken the medicine, then you will get cured from the cold.)

1. Kusuri o Nomeba, Kaze ga Naori masu. (For you to be cured from the cured, you need to take the medicine.)

4. Kita-kaze ga Fuitara, Suzushiku Nari masu. (When the north wind blows, what will happen next is getting cooler.)

2. Kita-kaze ga Fukeba, Suzushiku Nari masu. (In order for the atmosphere to get cool, one of the conditions is blowing of the north wind.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S35): Conditional Form; V+ba, I-adj+kereba, Na-adj+nara, and Noun+nara

Today, we are learning another new conjugation pattern, which is conditional form. When it comes to conjugation patterns, conjugations of verbs are usually the main objectives. However, conditional forms of I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Nouns are also dealt with this time. These are necessary when making a hypothetical sentence. Although some examples of hypothetical sentences will be introduced in A2 through A6 in the section 35, let me show you where the conditional forms are used in a hypothetical sentence;

[Hypothetical Clause], [Main Clause].

= [ — + (Conditional Form)], [What will happen if hypothesis comes true].

(1) Verbs

The following examples are shown in the order of Dictionary form, Masu-form, and Conditional form.

<Group 2 Verbs>

Miru / Mimasu (see, watch, look at) — Mireba

Taberu / Tabemasu (eat) — Tabereba

<Group 3 Verbs>

Kuru / Kimasu (come) — Kureba

Suru / Shimasu (do) — Sureba

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Tsukau / Tsukaimasu (use) — Tsukaeba

Gr-K : Hataraku / Hatarakimasu (work) — Hatarakeba

Gr1-G : Isogu / Isogimasu (hurry up) — Isogeba

Gr1-S : Naosu / Naoshimasu (repair, correct) — Naoseba

Gr1-T : Matsu / Machimasu (wait for) — Mateba

Gr1-B : Yobu / Yobimasu (call) — Yobeba

Gr1-M : Yomu / Yomimasu (read) — Yomeba

Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — Hashireba

(2) I-adjectives

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun-modifying form and Conditional form.

Yasui — Yasukereba

Oishii — Oishikereba

Ii — Yokereba

(3) Na-adjectives

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun-modifying form and Conditional form.

Kireina — Kireinara

Taisetsuna — Taisetsunara

(4) Nouns

The following examples are shown in the order of Noun and Conditional form of it.

Ame — Amenara

Shigoto — Shigotonara

You may have found by looking at the above, there are two types of conditional forms;

– Verbs, I-adjectives => — + ba

– Na-adjectives, Nouns => — + nara

However, there are some textbooks that introduce “[I-adjective] + nara” even though the book is for beginners’ level. “I-adj+kereba” and “Na-adj+nara” for conditional forms are very fundamental and are what is written in the textbooks for junior high school students.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section35 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

I Found Worms on Persimmon Tree Again

But this time, the numbers were many, probably there were more than several hundreds of worms on my persimmon tree “Koyo”.

Last time I was stung by them, so I think I have been avoiding getting closer to the tree. But I should have been watching the tree carefully. If I have I found them earlier, the tree would have got less damage.

I cut many leaves and branches. It might be better to use pesticides.

Japanese Learning (A4 S34) : I don’t do A, but do B; [V1-nai] + de, [V2] masu.

Sorry, I haven’t written this post yet.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section34 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S34) : Saying an Accompanying Action to the Predicate Verb; [V1-te] + [V2] masu. / [V1-naide] + [V2] masu.

The sentence constructions introduced in the section 34 are all verb clauses which modify the predicate verb behind, in other words, which work as adverbials for the main clause.

[Subordinate Clause], [Main Clause]

= [Verb clause modifies the predicate verb], [Predicate verb clause].

= [Verb clause works as an Adverbial], [Predicate verb clause]

In today’s A3, there is no comma “,” (to be exact, 読点 “､”) between the subordinate clause and the main clause. But it is the same as other A1, A2, and A4 in respect that the first verb modifies the second verb.

(1) Accompanying Action to the Predicate Verb

[V1-te] + [V2] masu.

1. Kaban o Motte Dekake masu. (I go outside with (holding) my bag.)

The subordinate clause “Kaban o Motte” is the accompanying action to the predicate verb “Dekakemasu”.

2. Eakon o Tsukete Ne masu. (I sleep with (turning) the air-conditioner on.)

The subordinate clause “Eakon o Tsukete” is the accompanying action to the predicate verb “Nemasu.”

(2) Action that doesn’t accompany to the action of the predicate verb

[V1-naide] + [V] masu.

3. Kaban o Motanaide Dekake masu. (I go outside without (holding) my bag.)

Sometimes people say “Kaban o Motazuni” for this sentence 3.

4. Eakon o Tsukenaide Ne masu. (I sleep without (turning) the air-conditioner on.)

Sometimes people say “Eakon o Tsukezuni” for this sentence 4.

Today’s sentence constructions don’t have comma. Probably it’s because it has to have a difference from tomorrow’s sentence construction.

5. Sumaho o Motanaide Machi ni Dekake mashita. (I went to the town without holding my smart phone.) <= today’s

6. Ie ni inaide, Machi ni Dekake mashita. (I didn’t stay at home, but went out to the town.) <= tomorrow’s

The sentence 5 doesn’t have a comma but the 6 does. Can you tell the difference of nuance between the two?

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section34 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A2 S34) : After I did something A, I do something B; [V1-ta] ato de [V2] masu. / [N] no ato de [V] masu.

Today’s sentence construction can be compared with what we learned in the exercise A5 of the section 18.

A5 S18

1. [V1-dic] mae ni, [V2] masu.

Example; Neru mae ni, Ha o Migaki masu. (Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.)

A2 S34 (of today)

2. [V1-ta] ato de [V2] masu.

Example; Ha o Migaita ato de, Nemasu. (After I brushed my teeth, I go to bed.)

Comparing the two examples, you will find the following differences;

– The verb in subordinate clause and main clause have swapped.

– The verb in front of “mae” takes dictionary form, while the verb in front of “ato” takes Ta-form.

– The particles after “mae” is “-ni”, while the particle after “ato” is “-de”.

Note that the dictionary form works as future tense for most of the verbs, and the Ta-form works as perfect tense. The particle “-ni” is about direction toward, and “-de” is about restriction, although the functions of these two particles are not limited to these simple definitions.

The followings are example sentence of today’s sentence construction “[V1-ta] ato de [V2] masu.”

3. Kimatsu-shiken ga Owatta ato de, Inaka ni Kaerimasu. (After the final examinations ended, I am going back to my hometown.)

In 3, the subject in the subordinate clause is “Kimatsu-shiken”. Although the subject in the main clause is “Watashi”, it is not explicitly mentioned in the main clause.

4. Satou-san no Happyou o Kiita ato de, Shitsumon Shi masita. (After listening to Sato-san’s presentation, I asked her a question.)

Instead of a verb in Ta-form, sometimes “[Noun] no” is used in front of “ato de”;

5. Undou no ato de, Shawa’a o Abi masu. (After worked out, I take a shower.)

6. Jugyou no ato de, Toshokan e Iki mashita. (After the class, I went to the library.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section34 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”