Japanese Learning (A2 S33): Commanding someone to Do something using Imperative Form and to Stop doing using Prohibitive Form

What we are learning today is not utterances to say in ordinary situations. These words sound rough to a listener because they are kinds of orders, warnings, and prohibitions. Probably it is rare for Japanese learners to say these words, but it is necessary to understand as preparation against emergency situations.

<1> Orders using Imperative form

1. Nigero. (Run away.)

The verb “Nigeru/Nigemasu” is of Group 2, whose Imperative form is “Nigero”

2. Nihon no Houritsu o Mamore. (Obey the Japanese law.)

Houritsu is a noun for “law”. The verb “Mamoru/Mamorimasu” is of Group1-R, whose Imperative form is “Mamore”. “Nihon no Houritsu ni Shitagae. (Follow the Japanese law)” is also okay.

3. Shizukani Shiro (Be quiet.)

The construction of this sentence is “[Stem of Na-adj] ni [V-imp]. “Shiro” is the Imperative form of Group2 verb “Suru/Shimasu”.

<2> Prohibitions using Prohibitive form

4. Ugokuna. (Don’t move.)

A Prohibitive form can be made just putting “na” behind a dictionary form. “Ugoku/Ugokimasu” is an intransitive verb to mean “move”. The English verb “move” can be both intransitive and transitive verbs, but in Japanese, intransitive and transitive verbs are different. Ugoku/Ugokimasu is intransitive, and Ugokasu/Ugokashimasu is transitive.

5. Combini no Chuushajou de Sawaguna. (Don’t make any noise in the convenience store parking lot.)  

“Sawagu/Sawagimasu” is a verb meaning making noise by laughing and shouting loudly.

6. Jugyou-chuu ni Shaberuna. (Don’t chat during the class.)

“Shaberu/Shaberimasu” is a verb meaning saying something. In the sentence 5, “de” of “Chuushajou de” is marking “a place”, while in this sentence 6, “ni” of “Jugyou-chuu ni” is marking “time”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section33 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”