カテゴリー: やさしい　にほんご

Japanese Learning: Wa-Ga Construction for Verb “Arimasu”; [Person]+wa+[Something]+ga+Arimasu.

We are learning today yet another “Wa-ga construction” sentences that use an intransitive verb for the predicates.

1. Watashi wa Okane ga Arimasu. (I have money.)

Although the verb “have” in English is a transitive verb, the verb “Arimasu” in Japanese is an intransitive verb. If a verb is transitive verb, particle “o” is used to mark an object on which the action of the transitive verb exerts. But in this particular case, you want to identify what is existing (Arimasu). And the verb “Arimasu” is completely an intransitive verb. It is fact that, in some of “Wa-ga construction” sentences, “ga” seems to be an object marker as was explained yesterday.

2. [Subject] wa [Object] ga [Verb predicate]

example; Watashi wa Nihongo ga Wakarimasu.

However, some of “Wa-ga construction” sentences seem to be as follows;

3. [Broader topic] wa [Subject] ga [Predicate].

   ≒ As for [Broader topic], its [Subject] is [Predicate]

example: Nihon wa Sakana ga Oishii desu. (In Japan, fishes are tasty.)

Wa-ga construction of this type “3.” will be explained in the section 16 (Now section 9). It is difficult to say the Wa-ga construction using “Arimasu” is a type “2.” or “3.”. Probably it has both traits.

Wa-ga construction using “Arimasu” can express the possession of concrete objects like “1.”, and also it can express the existence of an event or other such thing as below;

4. Watashi wa Shigoto ga Arimasu. (I have a work.)

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Nichiyoubi, Satou-san wa Nani ga Arimasuka. (Sato-san, what do you have on Sunday?)

B : Nichiyoubi, Watashi wa Tesuto ga Arimasu. (I have a test on Sunday.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第9課A4”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Wa-Ga Construction for Verb “Wakarimasu”; [Person]+wa+[Something]+ga+Wakarimasu.

We have already learned two “Wa-ga construction” sentences. Their predicates are Na-adjectives “Sukina” and “Jouzuna”. Today we are going to learn a “Wa-ga construction” in which a verb is used for predicate.

1. Watashi wa Nihongo ga Wakarimasu. (I understand Japanese.)

The sentence 1 is of Wa-ga construction. Usually “Wa-ga construction” is explained as follows;

 [Topic] wa [Subject] ga [Predicate].

However, the sentence 1 seems to be;

[Subject] wa [Object] ga [Verb predicate]

Compare the following sentence with the sentence 1 above;

2. Watashi wa Nihongo o Benkyoushimasu. (I study Japanese.)

The verbs “understand” and “study” in English are in most cases transitive verbs. So, can you say two verbs “Wakarimasu” and “Benkyoushimasu” are both transitive verbs, and “ga” is also object marker as “o”?

The verb “Wakarimasu” is not a transitive verb but an intransitive verb. “Wakarimasu” doesn’t use particle “o” but uses “ga” for the object. Probably it is not enough to say “Wakarimasu is an intransitive verb” for the reason why Wakarimasu uses “ga” for its object. The explanation would not be easy. I just recommend you to remember the example sentence like 1, and to be able to use the expression “[Something] ga Wakarimasu”. But if I say something about “ga Wakarimasu”, it would be that the verb “Wakarimasu” contains the meaning of “possible”. As to the meaning of Wakarimasu, it is usually said to be like “understand” in English, but think it can also be like “can tell”. If you want to say you can do something, you will put emphasis on what you can do. In Japanese, if you want to identify an object, in the cases below, “ga” is used for that object.

– you want (～ga hoshiidesu.)

– you like (～ga sukidesu.)

– you are good at(～ga jouzudesu.)

– you understand(～ga wakarimasu.) — Today’s expression

– you have(～ga arimasu.)

– you can(～ga dekimasu.)

Wakarimasu, arimasu, and dekimasu are verbs. But they are in some extent stative. If the verb is actionable, and the verb is a transitive verb or is a mobile intransitive verb, do not forget the following basics;

[Subject] ga [object] o [Verb] masu.

And know that “Wa-ga construction” is not versatile any time.

Practice and remember “Wa-ga construction” sentences through the following conversations.

A : Satou-san wa Eigo ga Wakarimasuka. (Do you understand English?)

B : Hai, Watashi wa Eigo ga Wakarimasu. (Yes, I understand English.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第9課A3”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Wa-Ga Construction for Na-adjective “Jouzuna”; [Person]+wa+[Something]+ga+Jouzudesu.

This time is also about “Wa-ga construction”. We learned one of “Wa-ga construction” sentences that uses Na-adjective “Sukina” as the following.

1. Watashi wa Ryokou ga Sukidesu. (I like traveling.)

Today’s “Wa-ga construction” sentence uses also Na-adjective which is “Jouzuna”. Jouzuna means “be good at”. Note that adjectives are word that express state and/or nature.

Some of Japanese learners like “Wa-ga construction” very much because its structure shapes the meaning. Structural thing is also important in Japanese, but the functions of particles are also important. Thanks to the functions of particle, Japanese sentences have freedom for the order of words in some extent. If you stick to “Wa-ga construction” too much, you would not be able to learn the functions that each particle has. The very basic of Japanese is that particle “ga” is for subject, “o” for object. “Wa-ga construction” is out of this basic. Since damage caused by sticking to “Wa-ga construction” is severe, I will continue to explain this problem.

Today we are learning a Na-adjective “Jouzuna” which means “be good at”. Practice and remember the following conversations. Note that neither A or B are Sato-san.

A : Satou-san wa Nani ga Jouzudesuka. (What is Sato-san good at doing?)

B : Satou-san wa Ryouli ga Jouzudesu. (She is good at cooking.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第9課A2”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Wa-Ga Construction for Na-adjective “Sukina”; [Person]+wa+[Something]+ga+Sukidesu.

This Japanese learning series refer to the famous textbook “Minna no Nihongo”. On its chapter 9, the so-called “Wa-ga construction” is introduced. And this is also the first appearance of important particle “ga” in “Minna no Nihongo”. Actually, I don’t think it is good to introduce the particle “ga” through “Wa-ga construction”.

 Probably a Japanese learner would think the particles “wa” and “ga” can co-exist once having learned “Wa-ga construction”. And some of learners would stick to “Wa-ga construction” too much, while they wouldn’t learn the functions of particles.

 A Japanese teacher is supposed to explain “Wa-ga construction” as below;

1. [Topic]+wa+ [Subject]+ga+[Predicate].

Sometime, it is good to understand like 1, but sometime is not. For the latter, it seems like;

2. [Subject]+wa+ [Object]+ga+[Predicate].

Do you remember the structure of transitive verb predicate sentences?

3. [Subject]+wa+[Object]+o+ [Transitive verb].

When you look at 2 and 3, what do you think about the particles “ga” and “o”? Would you think that the particles “ga” and “o” are interchangeable? No. Most of the time, they are not interchangeable, though there are some exceptions.

But it is a fact that there are sentences like 2. Therefore, some textbooks explain that particle “ga” is for subject and object, which is really a bad explanation because subject and object are totally different kind in a sentence. The most important and basic thing in Japanese language is that particle “ga” is for subject (Subject marker). Remember this. Don’t say “ga” is for object. It is particle “o” that marks an object. But when you want to identify something as an object that;

– you want

– you like

– you are good at

– you understand

– you have

– you can

particle “ga” is used for such an object, and the sentence would be like 2.

Again, you need to know that “ga” is for subject. For example, sentences as below are common.

4. [Subject]+ga+[Object]+o+ [Transitive verb].

But as exceptions, “ga” is used for objects that is something special you want to identify.

Today we are learning a Na-adjective “Sukina” which means “like”. Practice and remember the following conversations;

A : Satou-san wa Nani ga Sukidesuka. (Sato-san, what do you like?)

B : Watashi wa Ryokou ga Sukidesu. (I like traveling.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第9課A1”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: When adjectives modify a noun, there is no “no” between an adjective and a noun; [I-Adjective]+i+[Noun] / [Na-adjective]+na+[Noun]

We have already learned two functions of I- and Na-adjectives

1. Adjective as a predicate.

– Satou-san wa Shinsetsu desu. — Na-adjective (Ms. Sato is kind.)

– Satou-san wa Yasashii desu. — I-adjective (Ms. Sato is kind.)

2. Adjective to modify a noun

– Satou-san wa Shinsetsuna Hito desu. — Na-adjective (Ms. Sato is a kind person.)

– Satou-san wa Yasashii Hito desu. — I-adjective (Ms. Sato is a kind person.)

As shown in 2 above, when Na-adjective modifies a noun, “na” is used to connect a noun;

3. Shinsen + na + Sakana : Fresh fish

4. Oishi + i + Sakana : Delicious fish

Do you remember that when a noun modifies another noun, how the two nouns are connected?

5. Umi + no + Sakana : Sea fish

If you say “Shinsen no Sakana”, it’s not completely wrong because Na-adjectives came from the combination of noun and auxiliary verb. But you should use “na” between a Na-adjective and a noun.

If you say “Oishii no Sakana”, it is completely wrong. You need to know the difference between the two;

– [Noun1] + no + [Noun2]

– [I-Adjective] + i + [Noun]

Practice and remember the following conversation.

A : Oosaka wa Donna Machi desuka. (What kind of city is Osaka?)

B : Oosaka wa Ookii Machidesu. (Osaka is a big city.)

A : Ja, Kyouto wa Donna Machi desuka. (Well, then, what kind of city is Kyoto?)

B : Kyouto wa Furui Machi desu. (Kyoto is an old city.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A3”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Another use of I- and Na-adjectives that modifies a noun; [I-Adjective]+i+[Noun] / [Na-adjective]+na+[Noun]

To begin with, the followings are answers of quiz on February 21.

Quiz: Make “present-negative” endings;

example: Iidesu. (is good) => Yokunaidesu. (is not good)

Q1: Atarashiidesu. (is new) => Atarashikunaidesu. (is not new)

Q2: Oishiidesu. (is tasty) => Oishikunaidesu. (is not tasty)

Q3: Omoshiroidesu. (is interesting) => Omoshirokunaidesu. (is not interesting)

Q4: Takaidesu. (is expensive/tall/high) => Takakunaidesu. (is not so expensive)

Q5: Kireidesu (is beautiful/clean) => Kirei dewa arimasen / Kirei ja arimasen (is not beautiful)

Q1 to Q4 are I-adjectives, and Q5 “Kirei” is a Na-adjective.

So far, we have learned how to use I- adjectives and Na-adjectives as the predicate of a sentence. In addition, there is another major use of an adjective. Look at the followings;

– The sky is blue. — Predicative use of adjective

– I saw a blue sky. — Restrictive use of adjective

Similar things happen for Japanese adjectives.

1. Sora wa Aoi desu. — Adjective as a predicate

2. Watashi wa Aoi Sora o Mimasihta. — Adjective to modify a noun

Where;

– Sora: noun; sky

– Aoi: I-adjective; blue

The sentence 2 is a sentence of transitive verb predicate. Its structure is as follows;

[Subject] + [Object] + [Transitive verb]

= [Watashi]wa + [Aoi Sora]o + [Mi] mashita.

You see, in the object “Aoi Sora”, that adjective “Aoi” modifies noun “Sora”. Note that a modifying word (adjective) is placed in front of a modified word (noun) like “blue sky”.

Now, it’s about time to tell you definitions of Na-adjective and I-adjective. Look at the examples of these adjectives that modify nouns.

3. Shizuka + na + Kouen : Quiet park

4. Atarashi + i + Kouen : New park

Na-adjective uses “na” to modify a noun as in 3.

I- adjective uses “i” to modify a noun as in 4.

Let us continue to learn use of adjectives as modifiers for nouns tomorrow.

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A3”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Sentence Endings of Adjective Predicate Sentences; Four patterns for I-adjective and Na-adjective, and positive and negative (continued).

Anwers for yesterday’s quiz;

Q1: Ii (good) —– I- adjective

Q2: Genki (healthy and energetic) —– Na- adjective

Q3: Shizuka(quiet) —– Na- adjective

Q4: Atarashii (new) —– I- adjective

Q5: Oishii (tasty) —– I- adjective

Q6: Yuumei (famous) —– Na- adjective

Q7: Omoshiroi (interesting) —– I- adjective

Q8: Shinsetsu (kind) —– Na- adjective

Q9: Takai (expensive/tall/high) —– I- adjective

Q10: Kirei (beautiful/clean) —– Na- adjective

I hope that you answered correctly for Q10.

Let us review four patterns of adjective predicate sentences;

<1> Na-adjective predicate for present positive; (“desu”)

– Kono Kouen wa Kirei desu. (This park is beautiful.)

<2> Na-adjective predicate for present negative; (“dewa arimasen”)

– Kono Kouen wa Kirei dewa arimasen. (This park is not beautiful.)

“dewa” is quite often shortened to be “ja”, especially for conversation. “Ja” sounds a little casual, while “dewa” sounds polite.

<3> I-adjective predicate for present positive; (“desu”)

– Kono Kouen wa Atarashii desu. (This park is new.)

<4> I-adjective predicate for present negative; (“-kunai desu”)

– Kono Kouen wa Atarashikunai desu. (This park is not new.)

 For this <4>, an I-adjective and negative word “nai” is connected.

example: Atarashii + nai => Atarashikunai

The example shows that the last character “i” turns to be “ku”. When a word conjugates, the end part of the word changes according to the following word. But usually, it is so difficult for Japanese learners to accept this change. They don’t want to change the end part of an I-adjective that is “i”, and end up saying “Atarashii dewa naidesu”, which is wrong.

So what is most important for today is to make an I-adjective predicate “-kunaidesu” correctly for present negative.

By the way, as for I-adjective “Ii”, a special change happens to make it “-kunaidesu”.

Ii (good) —– positive predicate : Iidesu. => negative : Yokunaidesu.

Simply put “Ii” came from “Yoi”. Both mean good. When “Ii” conjugates, the first letter “I-” returns to be “Yo-”.

Quiz: Make “present-negative” endings;

example: Iidesu. (is good) => Yokunaidesu. (is not good)

Q1: Atarashiidesu. (is new) => ??? (is not new)

Q2: Oishiidesu. (is tasty) => ??? (is not tasty)

Q3: Omoshiroidesu. (is interesting) => ??? (is not interesting)

Q4: Takaidesu. (is expensive/tall/high) => ??? (is not so expensive)

Q5: Kireidesu (is beautiful/clean) => ??? (is not beautiful)

Answers will probably be shown on Wednesday. <この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A2”の内容を参照しています（昨日と同じです）。>

Japanese Learning: Sentence Endings of Adjective Predicate Sentences; Four patterns for I-adjective and Na-adjective, and positive and negative.

Yesterday we learned that there are two types of adjectives in Japanese. They are I-adjectives and Na-adjectives. When these adjectives are used for predicate of a sentence, sentences are like below;

1. (Na-adjective) Kono Kouen wa Kirei desu. (This park is beautiful.)

2. (I-adjective) Kono Kouen wa Atarashii desu. (This park is new.)

Sentences 1 and 2 are both positive. You need to learn negative endings.

3. (Na-adjective) Kono Kouen wa Kirei dewa arimasen. (This park is not beautiful.)

4. (I-adjective) Kono Kouen wa Atarashikunai desu. (This park is not new.)

Sentences 1 through 4 are all in present tense. In addition to 1 through 4, you also need to learn other four patterns of endings for past tense. But learning many patters at one time is not effective, let us concentrate on positive/negative ending in present tense this time.

– Na-adjective predicate for present positive; (sentence 1; “desu”)

– Na-adjective predicate for present negative; (sentence 3; “dewa arimasen”)

– I-adjective predicate for present positive; (sentence 2; “desu”)

– I-adjective predicate for present negative; (sentence 4; “-kunai desu”)

Yesterday I wrote that “anytime you use an adjective, you need to know whether it is Na-adjective or I-adjective. The two adjectives conjugate differently”. Differences between Na-adjective and I-adjective can be seen between sentences 1 and 2, and between 3 and 4. And let me say the same thing as yesterday, that the adjective “Kirei(na)” is not an I-adjective but Na-adjective. So many Japanese learners are confused by the Na-adjective “Kireina”. There are three types of understanding about adjectives.

<1> WRONG : If a learner erroneously understands that “Kirei” is an I-adjective, he/she would say the sentence 3 like “Kono Kouen wa Kirekunaidesu”, which is wrong. But the error happens only on “Kireina”.

<2> WRONG : If a learner erroneously understands that all the I-adjective conjugate in the same way as “Kirei”, he/she would say the sentence 4 like “Kono Kouen wa Atarashii dewa arimasen, which is wrong. This error <2> is more serious than error <1> because conjugations of all the I-adjectives get damages.

<3> Right : A learner knows there are two types of adjectives, know an adjective is Na- or I-adjective, and can conjugate it properly for the type.

Let me continue to write about this issue tomorrow. The issue is right endings of Na-adjective predicate sentences and I-adjective predicate sentences.

Think about whether the following words are Na- or I-adjectives, and remember them.

Q1: Ii (good) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q2: Genki (healthy and energetic) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q3: Shizuka(quiet) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q4: Atarashii (new) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q5: Oishii (tasty) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q6: Yuumei (famous) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q7: Omoshiroi (interesting) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q8: Shinsetsu (kind) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q9: Takai (expensive/tall/high) —– Na- or I- adjective

Q10: Kirei (beautiful/clean) —– Na- or I- adjective

Answers will be shown tomorrow

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A2”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Adjective Predicate Sentences; [Subject] wa [I-adjective / Na-adjective] desu.

We have already learned two types of predicate sentences; one is noun predicate sentences and the other is verb predicate sentences.

1. Watashi wa Daigakusei desu. (I am a university student.)

2. Watashi wa Nihongo o Benkyoushimasu. (I study Japanese.)

1 is a noun predicate sentence, while 2 is a verb predicate sentence. Noun is a word group for words that are names of something. Verb is a word group for words that express motions in most of the time, but also including existence (Aru, Iru), and change (Naru).

Today we are going to learn another predicate sentence, which is “Adjective predicate sentences”. Adjective is a word group for words that describe nature, condition, and so on. Take a look at adjective predicate sentences below;

3. Kono Kouen wa Kirei desu. (This park is beautiful.)

4. Kono Kouen wa Atarashii desu. (This park is new.)

Do you know the reason why two adjective predicate sentences are shown as examples? In fact, 3 and 4 are different type of adjective predicate sentences. Adjectives in Japanese is not one group of words. There are TWO types of adjectives; Na-adjectives and I-adjectives. The definition and why we call them “Na-” or “I-” will be explained later. But what I want you to know is that anytime you use an adjective, you need to know whether it is Na-adjective or I-adjective. The two adjectives conjugate differently.

There is an adjective “Kirei” in 3 above. This word always appears in your Japanese textbook when it comes to adjectives. Why? because the adjective “Kirei” seems to be I-adjective, but it is actually a Na-adjective. Be always conscious that “Kirei” is Na- adjective.

Remember the following adjectives for today’s conversation;

– Kirei(na): Na-adjective; beautiful, clean

– Ii: I-adjective; good

And practice the followings;

A : Kono Kouen wa Dou desuka. (How is this park?)

B : Kono Kouen wa Kirei desu. (This park is beautiful.)

A : Sono Hon wa Dou desuka. (How is that book?)

B : Kono Hon wa Ii desu. (This book is good.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第8課A1”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: Two Adverbs, one for “have already done”, and the other for “have not yet done”: Mou [Verb] mashita/ Mada desu.

Adverbs are words that give some information to verbs and adjectives. Today, we are learning two adverbs; one is like “already” in English, and the other is like “not yet”. Look at the following conversations;

A : Mou, Ohiru-gohan o Tabemashitaka. (Have you already eaten your lunch?)

B1 : Hai, Mou Tabemashita. (Yes, I have.)

B2 : Iie, Mada desu. (No, not yet.)

B1 and B2 are different answers. I often call “V+mashita” a past tense, but as you see in this conversation, “V+mashita” can also be a perfect tense. And the adverb “Mada” doesn’t seem to modify any verbs in this sentence. “Mada” is a predicate in the sentence B2. The best expression for B2 is;

B2’ : Iie, Mata Tabete Imasen. (No, I haven’t eaten yet.)

But in order to say “Tabete Imasen”, you need to have a knowledge about “Te-form” which is a one of verb conjugations. Let us learn “V-te Iru” later. Anyway, there are some adverbs that can be a predicate of a sentence. “Mada” in B2 is this kind.

Practice and remember the following conversations;

A : Mou Repohto o Kakimashitaka. (Have you already written a report?)

B : Hai, Mou Kakimashita. (Yes, I have already written it.)

A : Ja, Mou Sensei ni Dashimasitaka. (Well, then, have you already submitted it to your teacher?)

B : Iie, Mada desu. (No, not yet.)

<この投稿は“スリーエーネットワーク、みんなの日本語 初級I 第2版, 第7課A6”の内容を参照しています。>