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View from a Tall Building in Niigata City

Niigata West Port is located in the river mouth of Shinano River. There is a big ferry boat for Hokkaido.

That tall building also has an observatory on upper floor.

And the building with curved shape is owned by the local newspaper, which also has an observatory.

You can see Shinano River and Toyano Ragoon.

I wouldn’t like to live in a high place like that, although I don’t have money to buy an apartment in such a mansion.

Oh, please don’t hit each other!

Okay, I was relieved.

Japanese learning (A2 S37): Passive Sentences; [Subject] wa [People] ni [Object] o [V-pas] mashita.

When making a passive sentence, the verb must be in the passive form. Please refer to yesterday’s post about verb conjugations for passive form.

Here is an active sentence;

1. Sensei wa Watashi o Home mashita. (The teacher praised me.)

The particle “-o” is usually used as the object marker of transitive verb. Therefore, you may be able to tell that the verb “Homeru/Homemasu” is a transitive verb, and “Watashi” followed by the particle “-o” is the object of the action of parising. The sentence 1 is grammatically okay. But when a teacher praised you, you may want to tell others by making “Watashi” the subject of the sentence.

2. Watashi wa Sensei ni Homerare mashita. (I was praised by the teacher.)

The sentence 2 is a passive sentence. In this passive sentence 2, “Watashi wa” is the subject which was the object “Watashi o” in the active sentece1, and “Sensei ni” is the word that the passive action came from. The particle “-ni” has a function to indicate where (who) the action came from in the sentences of giving-receiving, passive and causative.

And “Homerareru/Homeraremasu” is the passive form of the “Homeru/Homemasu”. Since the Nai-form of Homeru is “Hom<e>nai”, we can tell it is a Group2 verb. The passive form of Group2 verbs can be obtained with [Stem]+rareru/raremasu.

Then, another active sentence is below;

3. Haha wa Watashi ni Kaimono o Tanomi mashita. (My mother asked me to go shopping.)

This is an active sentence, and a transitive verb predicate sentence using not only “-o” but also “-ni”. In the case of the sentence 1, we converted that to be a passive sentence by turning the word with “-o” to be the subject; Watashi o => Watashi wa. But for this sentence3, do you make the word “Kaimono o(shopping)” the subject in a passive sentence? No. We turn the word with “-ni” to be the subject, which means “Watashi ni” in the active sentence needs to the subject “Watashi wa” in the passive sentence.

4. Watashi wa Haha ni Kaimono o Tanomare mashita. (I was asked by my mother to go shopping.)

Please compare moves of the words and changes of the particles in the conversion from sentence 3 to 4. It is interesting that the particle “-ni” has different functions in the sentence 3 and 4. In the sentence3, “-ni” of “Watashi ni” is to indicate the destination that the action is heading towards (to whom to ask). On the other, “-ni” of “Haha ni” in the sentence4 is to indicate who (where) the action came from in a passive sentence as well as in the sentence2. The particle “-o” hasn’t changed in the conversion from the sentence 3 to 4. Although “-o” changed in the case of sentence 1 and 2, after all, we need to take note that the object and the particle “-o” is strongly tightened each other in relationship with a transitive verb.

And “Tanomareru/Tanomaremasu” is the passive form of the “Tanomu/Tanomimasu”. Since the Nai-form of Tanomu is “Tanom<a>nai”, we can tell it is a Group1(-M) verb. The passive form of Group1 verbs can be obtained with [Stem]+areru/aremasu (Tanom+areru).

<This post is incomplete. It is natural to deal with passive sentences using transitive verb. However, there are some passive sentences using intransitive verbs in Japanese. I am not sure whether or not it is good to introduce the passive sentence of intransitive verbs at the beginners’ level. Personally, I am against it. I just want to add this argument.>

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section37 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A1 S37): Verb Conjugation for Passive Form; -aRemasu/-Raremasu

A new conjugation pattern is introduced in the section 37, which is the Passive form. Example sentences will be shown in A2 through A6. So for today, only patterns of the passive form of verbs are shown in this post. Plus, this post discusses the difference between passive and potential forms of Group1-R verbs.

PASSIVE FORM of VERBS

Dictionary Form / Masu Form — Passive Form with “-u” ending / Passive Form with “masu”

<Group 2 Verbs>

Miru / Mimasu (see, watch, look at) — Mirareru / Miraremasu

Homeru / Homemasu (praise) — Homerareru / Homeraremasu

Kuraberu / Kurabemasu (compare) — Kuraberareru / Kuraberaremasu

<Group 3 Verbs>

Kuru / Kimasu (come) — Korareru / Koraremasu

Suru / Shimasu (do) — Sareru / Saremasu

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Tsukau / Tsukaimasu (use) — Tsukawareru / Tsukawaremasu

Gr-K : Kiku / Kikimasu (listen to, hear) — Kikareru / Kikaremasu

Gr1-G : Kagu / Kagimasu (smell(as transitive verb)) — Kagareru / Kagaremasu

Gr1-S : Osu / Oshimasu (push) — Osareru / Osaremasu

Gr1-T : Matsu / Machimasu (wait) — Matareru / Mataremasu

Gr1-B : Yobu / Yobimasu (call) — Yobareru / Yobaremasu

Gr1-M : Fumu / Fumimasu (tread on) — Fumareru / Fumaremasu

Gr1-R : Kiru / Kirimasu (cut) — Kirareru / Kiraremasu

When it comes to verb conjugation, it is always confusing as to difference between Group2 verbs and Group1-R verbs. In the case of passive form, it seems that both are just “stem plus raremasu”. But a difficult thing happens to Group1-R verbs. Take a look at the followings;

1. Mira’a-san wa Sashimi ga Taberaremasu. (Mr.Miller can eat Sashimi.)

 “Taberaremasu” is the potential form of “Taberu/Tabemasu”.

2. Mushi wa Tori ni Taberaremasu. (An insect is eaten by a bird.)

“Taberaremasu” is the passive form. Therefore, in the case of “Taberu/Tabemasu” that is a Group2 verb, the potential form and the passive form are the same. Both are “[Stem]+raremasu”.

3. Sato-san nara, Tesuto de Kyuujuu-Go ten Toremasu. (When it comes to Sato-san, she can get 95points in the examination.)

“Toremasu” is the potential form of “Toru/Torimasu”.

4. Son’na Tokoro ni Saifu o Oitara, Toraremasu. (If you leave your wallet on such a place, you will be stolen it.)

“Toraremasu” is the passive form of “Toru/Torimasu”. Then you will find that the potential form and the passive form are not the same. Examining the verb “Toru/Torimasu” by making Nai-form, it is To<ra>nai. It indicates that “Toru/Torimasu” is a Group1-R verb. So, it is important to know that the potential form and the passive form of Group1-R verbs are not the same.

– Potential form of Gr1-R = [Stem]+ reru/remasu.

– Passive form of Gr1-R = [Stem]+ rareru/raremasu.

The following examples show you in the order of Dictionary form/Masu-form — Potential form — Passive form

– Uru/Urimasu (sell) — Ureru/Uremasu — Urareru/Uraremasu

– Okuru/Okurimasu (send) — Okureru/Okuremasu — Okurareru/Okuraremasu

– Kiru/Kirimasu (cut) — Kireru/Kiremasu — Kirareru/Kiraremasu

– Sawaru/Sawarimasu (touch) — Sawareru/Sawaremasu — Sawarareru/Sawararemasu

– Suwaru/Suwarimasu (sit) — Suwareru/Suwaremasu — Suwarareru/Suwararemasu

– Tsukuru/Tsukurimasu (make) — Tsukureru/Tsukuremasu — Tsukurareru/Tsukuraremasu

– Tomaru/Tomarimasu (stay at night) — Tomareru/Tomaremasu — Tomarareru/Tomararemasu

– Toru/Torimasu (take) — Toreru/Toremasu — Torareru/Toraremasu

– Noru/Norimasu (ride) — Noreru/Noremasu — Norareru/Noraremasu

– Hairu/Hairimasu (enter) — Haireru/Hairemasu — Hairareru/Hairaremasu

The above examples are all Group1-R verbs. I don’t want to confuse you, but the potential form and the passive form are the same for Group2 verbs, for example;

Karitu/Karimasu (borrow) — Karirareru/Kariraremasu — Karirareru/Kariraremasu

Wasureru/Wasuremasu (forget) — Wasurerareru/Wasureraremasu — Wasurerareru/Wasureraremasu

How to distinguish whether a verb is Group1-R or Group2 is as follows;

<1> Make Nai-form

<2> What is the letter(s) in front of “nai”?

<3> If it’s [ra]nai, the verb is Group1-R

    If it’s [i]nai or [e]nai, the verb is Group2

Example;

Kiru/Kimasu (wear) => Nai-form is Kinai => Group2

Kiru/Kirimasu (cut) => Nai-form is Kiranai => Group1-R

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section37 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A4 S36): Please make sure to do something; [V] + youni Shite kudasai. / Please make sure not to do something; [V-nai] + youni Shite kudasai.

We learned the following sentence constructions in the exercise A3;

(1) [V] + youni Shite imasu.

(2) [V-nai] + youni Shite imasu.

The example sentences of (1) and (2) are as below;

1. Dekirudake O’okuno Tango o Oboeru youni Shite imasu. (I try to memorize as many words as I can.)

2. Dekirudake Amai mono o Tabenai youni Shite imasu. (I try not to eat sweets as much as possible.)

These are just declarative sentences. On the other, today’s sentences have the functions to ask a listener to do something in conversation.

(3) [V] + youni Shite kudasai.

(4) [V-nai] + youni Shite kudasai.

Let’s look at one of example sentences of (3);

3. Natsu wa Mizu o Takusan Nomu youni Shite kudasai. (Please make sure to drink a lot of water in the summer.)

“Shite kudasai” is an expression to ask a listener to do something with the construction of “[V-te]+kudasai”. Then the sentence 3 can be shortened using another “[V-te]+kudasai” as shown below.

4. Natsu wa Mizu o Takusan Nonde kudasai. (Please a lot of water in the summer.)

What is the difference between the sentences 3 and 4? The sentence 4 is a direct command or request, which probably sounds forcefully. On the other, the sentence 3 is somewhat in direct, and sounds like prompting the listener’s effort. When asking someone to do something, “[V] + youni Shite kudasai.” is better than “[V-te]+kudasai” because it sounds moderately. The same kind of things could be said about “[V-nai] + youni Shite kudasai.” and “[V-nai]de kudasai”. The followings are more examples of the sentence (3) and (4).

(3) [V] + youni Shite kudasai.

5. Motto Undou-suru youni Shite kudasai. (Please make sure you exercise more.)

6. Kaisha ni Okureru toki wa Kanarazu Renraku-suru youni Shite kudasai.

(When you get late to come to the office, please make sure you tell us it.)

(4) [V-nai] + youni Shite kudasai.

7. Zettaini Pasupo’oto o Wasurenai youni Shite kudasai.

(Please make sure you absolutely do not forget your passport.)

8. Shuugou Basho o Machigaenai youni Shite kudasai.

(Please make sure you do not go to a wrong meeting point.)

Several adverbs appear in this post; Dekirudake, Takusan, Motto, Kanarazu, and Zettaini. Actually, there is less chance to learn adverbs because learning them is usually not planned in the curriculum of Japanese learning. When you find an adverb, it is the chance for you to learn it. (Fukushi o Mitsuketara, Sono Fukushi o Manabu youni Shite kudasai.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section36 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S36): What you are trying to do; [V] + youni Shite imasu. / What you are trying NOT to do; [V-nai] + youni Shite imasu.

We are learning how to use the word “youni” in the section 36. Since “youni” is in the conjugation form that can modify a verb, there is a verb behind a clause that ends with “youni”. In today’s sentence construction, the verb behind the “youni” is “Shite imasu”. “Shite imasu” is one of “V-te iru”. “V-te iru” usually expresses continuous action, ongoing action, and/or repetitive action. It is not easy to identify one of these three for “Site imasu” of today. Probably it depends on sentence by sentence. Sometimes it’s mixture of the three.

And there is an adverb in today’s sentence construction. That is;

– Dekirudake; adverb; As much as possible

The following is an example of use of “Dekirudake”;

1. Dekirudake, Roku-ji madeni Kaisha o Deru youni Shite imasu.

(I try to leave the office before 6 p.m. as long as I can.)

(1) [V] + youni Shite imasu.

Looking at the verbs in front of “youni”, there is a difference from those of the Exercise A1 and A2 (Set aside [V-nai]+youni. I am writing about [V]+youni).

A1 : [V] + youni, [Main clause with verb predicate]

– Example ; Ongaku ga Kikeru youni, Iyahon o Tsuke masu. (I put earphones so that I can listen to music.)

The verb in front of “youni” is “Kikeru” which is the potential form of “Kiku/Kikimasu”.

A2 : [V] + youni Nari mashita.

– Example ; Hyaku Me’eyoru Oyogetu youni Nari mashita. (I have become able to swim one hundred meters.)

The verb in front of “youni” is “Oyogeru” which is the potential form of “Oyogu/Oyogimasu”.

Therefore, the verb in front of “youni” is usually a verb in potential form or a verb having a meaning of potentiality. But in today’s sentence; in these sentences,

A3 : [V] + youni Shite imasu.

– Example ; Dekirudake, Mainichi Nihongo o Benkyou-suru youni Shite imasu. (I try to study Japanese everyday as far as possible.)

The verb “Benkyou-suru” is not in potential form.

Here are a little more examples of today’s “youni” sentences;

2. Dekirudake O’okuno Tango o Oboeru youni Shite imasu. (I try to memorize as many words as I can.)

3. Dekirudake Neko to Asobu youni Shite imasu. (I try to play with my cat as much as I can.)

(2) [V-nai] + youni Shite imasu.

4. Dekirudake Amai mono o Tabenai youni Shite imasu. (I try not to eat sweets as much as possible.)

5. Dekirudake Sa’abisu Zangyou o Shinai youni Shite imasu. (I try not to work over hour without payment as much as possible.)

The sentence 5 reflects the reality of work place environment in Japan.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section36 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A2 S36): Having become able to do something; [V1] + youni Nari mashita.

Do you remember how to use the intransitive verb for change, “Naru/Narimasu”? When the situation after the change is described with an I-adjective, a Na-adjective, and a Noun, the following constructions can express that a change has happened;

– [Subject] wa [Stem of I-adjective] + ku Nari mashita.

– [Subject] wa [Stem of Na-adjective] + ni Nari mashita.

– [Subject] wa [Noun]+ ni Nari mashita.

Examples of these constructions are as below;

– Soto wa Kuraku Nari mashita. (The outside has got dark.)  — I-adjective

– Machi wa Shizuka ni Nari mashita. (The town has turned to be quiet.) — Na-adjective

– Satou-san wa Kaishain ni Nari mashita. (Sato-san became a company employee.) — Noun

Then, can we make a sentence of “Nari mashita” with a verb? The answer is yes. Look at the following sentences;

1. Watashi wa Osashimi ga Taberareru youni Narimashita. (I have become able to eat raw fish.)

The sentence construction of this sentence will be;

– [Subject] wa [Verb clause]+ youni Nari mashita.

Look at the verbs in front of “youni” in the sentence 1. It is “Taberareu”, which is the potential form of “Taberu/Tabemasu”. Usually the verb in a such sentence of “youni Nari mashita” takes potential form, or the verb has already had a meaning of potentiality. It is just like yesterday’s V1.

2. Sensei ga Iu Nihongo ga Kanari Wakaru youni Nari mashita. (I have become able to understand quite a bit of the Japanese the teacher speaks.)

The verb “Wakaru” has already had a meaning of potentiality.

The example sentences 1 and 2 above have the subjects that are “Watashi(I)”. But things other than “Watashi(I)” can be subjects of today’s setences.

3. Sumaho de Nandemo Dekiru youni Nari mashita. (Anything has become able to be done on a smartphone.)

The subject is “Nandemo (Anything)”.

4. Basu de Koutsu’u Ka’ado ga Tsukaeru youni Nari mashita. (The public transport card has become able to be used in the bus.)

The subject is “Koutsu’u Ka’ado ga (The public transport card)”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section36 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”