Japanese learning (A3 S30): A Verb in Te-form with a Helping Verbs “-okimasu”(1): Getting Prepared Beforehand; [V-u] mae ni, [Vt-te] oki masu.

In the exercises A3, A4, and A5, we are learning a helping verb “oku/okimasu” which is not “okiru/okimasu”, though the Masu-forms are the same “okimasu”. The verb “Oku/Okimasu” describes action to put something onto somewhere, shown as below.

– Te’eburu ni Koppu o Okimashita. ((I) put a glass cup on the table.)

But once this verb has become a helping verb in the form of “[Vt-te] oki masu.”, the original meaning is weakened, instead, it adds some meaning to the verb in Te-form.

Either the original or helping verb, the conjugation patterns of “oku/okimasu”are as follows.

– Dictionary form = oku,   Masu-form = oki masu

– Nai-form = okanai

– Te-form = oite,    Ta-form = oita

– Potential form = okeru

Since the Nai-form is “o<ka>nai”, this verb’s conjugation pattern is “Group 1 – K”.

We have learned other helping verbs “-iru” and “-aru” recently. So, look at three sentences below. Each of them uses “[V-te] iru”, “[V-te] aru”, and “[V-te] oku” in this order.

1. Kaban ni Denshi-Jisho ga Haitte i masu. (There has been an electric dictionary in the bag.)

2. Kaban ni Denshi-Jisho ga Irete ari masu. (An electric dictionary has been put in a bag.)

3. Kaban ni Denshi-Jisho o Irete oki masu. (I am going to put an electric dictionary in a bag.)

The sentence 1 and 2 express the current situation, but the sentence 3 expresses a will to do in near future. This difference comes from the original meanings, or nature of the verbs.

– “Iru/Imasu” and “Aru/Arimasu” are verbs to describe an existence. They are stative verbs

– “Oku/Okimasu” is a verb to describe action that can be done in short period of time. This is a kind of momentary verb whose present tense is actually future tense and/or a strong will to do it in near future.

Although I don’t want to confuse you readers, other comparisons would be like below;

1. Jisho<ga>, Hairu=intransitive verb, iru=intransitive verb

2. Jisho<ga> Ireru=transitive verb, aru=intransitive verb

3. Jisho<o> Ireru=transitive verb, oku=transitive verb

Do you remember that I wrote recently;

4. Shinkansen no Kippu ga Yoyaku-shite arimasu.

5. Shinkansen no Kippu o Yoyaku-shite arimasu.

The sentence 4 is okay, but 5 should not be written in a textbook. By avoiding 5, the comparison between “[V-te] aru” and “[V-te] oku” could be easier for the learners.

2′. Noun<ga> [Vt-te] + aru=intransitive verb

3′. Noun<o> [Vt-te]+ oku=transitive verb

For the sentence 2′, if you think the noun is related to “aru” which is an intransitive verb, the particle for the noun would be “ga”. As for 3′, thinking the noun is related to “oku” which is a transitive verb, the particle for the noun would be “o”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section30 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”