Today we are going to learn a sentence construction shown below;
1. [V1-ta] to’ori ni, [V2-te] kudasai.
As you see in the 1, the subordinate clause uses “to’ori ni”. Apparently, “to’ori ni” is a compound word consisting of a noun “to’ori” and a particle “ni”. We can predict two things from these two words;
(1) A verb placed in front of “to’ori” needs to take forms that can connect to a noun behind because “to’ori” is a noun. There are four forms for a verb to connect to a noun; Dictionary form, Nai-form, Ta-form, and V-nakatta. But this time, only Ta-form is used.
(2) A clause with “to’ori ni” at the end modifies a verb behind, because a word with “ni” works as an adverbial.
As for the main clause, we have already learned “[V-te] kudasai.” in the exercise A2 of the section 14, as an expression to ask a listener to do something.
The followings are example sentences;
2. Watashi ga Kaita to’ori ni, Kaite kudasai. (Please write as I have written.)
The same verb “Kaku/Kakimasu” are “Kaita” in the subordinate clause and “Kaite” in the main clause. It’s because Ta-form “Kaita” modifies the noun “to’ori” and Te-form “Kaite” modifies a conjugating word “kudasai” whose dictionary form is “Kudasaru”. The basic of conjugation is that there are two major conjugation patterns; one for modifying a noun, the other for modifying conjugating words. When it comes to conjugation pattern to modify a noun, the dictionary form comes first to mind. But today’s sentences use Ta-form. Think about the situation of the sentence 2. When the listener writes, he/she will carefully watch what the speaker has written. The important thing is that, at the time, the speaker’s action of writing has already finished. This is the reason why Ta-form “Kaita” is used in the sentence 2, because Ta-form is not only for past tense but in many times for perfect tense. And another important thing to look at is “Watashi ga”. It’s not “Watashi wa”. Look at the structure of the sentence 2.
2’. [Watashi ga Kaita]+{to’ori} ni, Kaite kudasai.
As you see, the verb clause [Watashi ga Kaita] modifies the noun {to’ori}. Therefore, “Watashi” is not the subject of the sentence, but is the subject inside the clause that modifies a noun. It is important to mention “who does what” in a clause to modifies a noun. In order to clearly identify the subject inside the clause, “-ga” is used as subject marker.
3. Jidousha Gakkou de Naratta to’ori ni, Unten-shite kudasai.
(Please drive a car as you have learned in the driving school.)
The sentences 1 to 3 above uses Ta-form of verbs just in front of “to’ori”. If a noun is used to modify “to’ori”, the sentence construction will be as shown below. “[N] no to’ori” is, of course, “N1 no N2”.
4. [N] no to’ori ni [V-te] kudasai.
5. Kinyuu-rei no to’ori ni Kaite kudasai. (Please write as the sample.)
Where, Kinyuu-rei is a sample, which usually looks the same with the document to fill the blanks. Or, more simple example sentence is;
6: Kono to’ori ni Kinyuu shite kudasai. (Write as you see here.)
Where, Kinyuu (Ki-nyu-u) is an active noun which means to write something to fill the blanks on a document. Attaching “suru/shimasu”, it can be a group 3 verb.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section34 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
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