Look at the sample of today’s sentence constructions;
1. Sukoshi Yasunda Hou ga Ii desu. (It’s better for you to take a rest.)
2. Amari Muri o Shinai Hou ga Ii desu. (It’s better for you not to try so hard.)
Both 1 and 2 are I-adjective predicate sentences in the form of the following.
– [Subject] ga Ii desu.
The subject is actually a clause of the verb modifying noun in today’s sentences.
[Subject] = [Clause of the Verb modifying Noun] = [ Verb ] + Hou
<Verb>
The verb must be in the form that can modify a noun. When a verb modifies a noun, its conjugation forms would be the followings; Dictionary form, Nai-form, Ta-form, or V-nakatta. Of the four, today’s sentence construction uses Ta-form and Nai-form. If using Dictionary form, the sentence will be not a suggestion to others but expression to say your preference*. And using V-nakatta is rare, and needs to make the entire sentence in past tense**.
A little about Ta-form; You can get Ta-form by replacing “e” of Te-form with “a”
– example; Te-form: Katte, Nonde => Katta, Nonda
Ta-form is obtained by (1) attaching “ta” after “Masu-form without ‘masu’”, (2) making a little change so that pronouncing it can be easier (euphonic change).
– Example of Ta-form making procedure;
(1) Shi-masu (do) => Shi-ta (Ta-form)
(1) Iki-masu (go) => Iki-ta (pronunciation not easy) => (2) Itta (Ta-form)
(1) Yasumi-masu => Yasumi-ta (pronunciation not easy) => (2) Yasunda (Ta-form)
If you find it difficult to pronounce what you think is Ta-form, then your Ta-form is incorrect.
<Hou>
“Hou” is a formal noun. The original meaning of “Hou” is “direction”, but that meaning has been weakened as a formal noun. Now the meaning is like “better one” and more than its meaning, the function as a nominalizer is important.
<ga>
There are two subject markers; “wa” and “ga”. Japanese speakers always need to choose which of “wa” or “ga” is better as subject marker. ”wa” is widely used to explain the known subject. “ga” is used to specify what(who) is the subject. The simplest way to choose one of the two is as below;
– [Known subject] wa [Important Information].
– [Important Information] ga [Known Predicate].
Look at the example;
3. Byouin e Itta Hou ga Iidesu. (It is better for you to go to a hospital.)
Of course, the predicate “Iidesu(is better)” is necessary, but the concrete information in the subject part is more important, which is “Byouin e Itta Hou”. Therefore, not “wa” but “ga” is used as the subject marker in the sentence construction of today.
Examples of today’s sentence construction;
<V-dic Hou ga>
Natsu, Atsui Toki, (When it’s hot in summer; )
4. Eakon o Tsuketa Hou ga Iidesu. (It is better to turn the air-conditioner on.)
5. Mizu o Takusan Nonda Hou ga Iidesu. (It is better to drink a lot of water.)
<V-nai Hou ga>
Kimatsu Shiken ga Chikai Toki, (When the final examination is coming;)
6. Sumaho de Asobanai Hou ga Iidesu. (It is better not to play with your smartphone.)
7. Amari Osoku made Benkyou-Shinai Hou ga Iidesu. (It is better not to study until that late at night.)
Today’s sentence construction “V-ta Hou ga Iidesu” and “V-nai Hou ga Iidesu” are expressions for suggestions and/or recommendations. If a matter is really serious, you need to use stronger expressions more than today’s;
<Not Good>
– Gaikoku e Iku toki, Pasupo’oto o Totta Hou ga Iidesu. (When going abroad, it is better to get a passport.)
This sentence is not good because getting the passport is a must to go to foreign countries.
<Good>
– Gaikoku e Iku toki, Pasupo’oto o Toranakereba narimasen. (When going abroad, you have to get a passport.) —– Refer to the exercise A2 in the Section 20
<Okay, but weak as a warning>
– Kiken desukara, Koko de Oyoganai Hou ga Iidesu. (Because it’s dangerous, so it’s better to not swim here.)
If the seashore is rugged and rocky, you need to stop your friend swimming there.
<Good>
– Kiken desukara, Koko de Oyoidewa Ikemasen. (Because it’s dangerous, don’t swim here.) —– Refer to the exercise A2 in the Section 15
* An example to use Dictionary form
A : Daigaku o Sotsugyou Shitara, Shuushoku to Daigakuinn to, Dochira ga Iidesuka. (Which do you think is better; getting a job or going to a graduate school?)
B : Daigakuin ni Shingaku <Suru> Hou ga Iidesu. (I prefer to go to a graduate school.)
** An example to use V-nakatta
<?> Kinou, Annani Osake o <Nomanakatta>Hou ga <Yokatta desu>.
The sentence end takes past tense. But the sentence below is better.
<better> Kinou, Annani Osake o Nomanai Hou ga Yokatta desu.
Therefore, using V-nakatta is rare in the construction of “Hou ga Iidesu”.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section32 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
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