We are going to learn the following sentence construction in the exercise A1 of the section 40.
[Interrogative word Question], [Main Clause with Verb Predicate].
This is not just a simple question using interrogative word. Putting an interrogative word question on the subordinate clause, the sentence mentions something about that question. An example is as below;
1. Dare ga Satou-sensei ka, Wakari masen. (I don’t know who Sato-sensei is.)
In order to learn this sentence construction, knowing Interrogative word questions is a prerequisite. Therefore, this post is to review Interrogative word question in conjunction with particles that are put behind the interrogative words.
(1) Dare (Who)
1) Dare ga
“-ga” is the particle that indicates the subject.
2. Q : Dare ga Kabin o Kowashi mashita ka. (Who broke the flower vase?)
A : Suzuki-kun ga Kowashi mashita. (Suzuki-kun broke it.)
2) Dare o
“-o” is the particle that indicates an object of action by a transitive verb.
3. Q : Sensei wa Dare o Chu’ui shimashita ka. (Whom did the teacher scold?)
A : Sensei wa Takahasi-kun o Chu’ui shimashita. (Suzuki-kun broke it.)
Note that “-o Chu’ui suru” and “-ni Chu’ui suru” are different in meanings.
3) Dare ni
“-ni” is the particle that indicates destination where an action is heading toward. But sometimes “-ni” indicates who makes giving/receiving, passive, and causative actions. It is a little funny that “-ni” is usually a goal point but sometimes become start point of action.
4. Q : Dare ni Tegami o Okuri masu ka. (Whom do you send the letter?)
A : Satou-sa ni Okuri masu. (I send this to Sato-san.)
“-ni” in this sentence 4 indicates whom the action is heading to.
5. Q : Dare ni Shikarareta n desu ka. (Who were you scolded by?)
A : Kobayashi-sensei ni Shikarare mashita. (I was scolded by Kobayashi-sensei.)
“-ni” in this sentence 5 indicates who made the action of a passive voice.
(2) Nani/Nan (What)
1) Nani ga
“-ga” is the particle that indicates the subject. But sometimes it seems to indicate an object of desire, potential, emotion, and so on when a predicate is a stative word like adjectives.
6. Q : Satou-san wa Ima Nani ga ichiban Hoshii desu ka. (What do you want most right now?)
A : Watashi wa Koibito ga Hoshii desu. (I want a partner.)
“Hoshii” is an I-adjective that expresses one’s desire. An object of desire is usually indicated by “ga”. But don’t forget that an object of transitive verb is indicated by “-o” in the form of “[Subject] wa/ga [Object] o [Transitive Verb].”
2) Nani o
“-o” is the particle that indicates an object of action by a transitive verb.
7. Q : Nani o Tabe masu ka. (What do you eat?)
A : Tamago o Tabe masu. (I eat egg.)
3) Nani ni
“-ni” is the particle that indicates destination where an action is heading toward.
8. Q : Nani ni Kyoumi ga Ari masu ka. (What are you interested in?)
A : Jinkou-Chinou ni Kyouni ga Ari masu. (I am interested in AI.)
Someone may interpret this “-ni,” differently, but you can think “-ni” in the sentence 8 indicates where the interest is heading toward.
4) Nani de
“-de” is the particle that indicates what you use while you are making action such as tools and place.
9. Q : Nani de Kami o Kiri masu ka. (By what do you cut paper?)
A : Hasami de Kami o Kri masu. (I cut paper by scissors.)
You can also use “Nande” as shortened “Nani de”. But “Nande” is frequently used for the question of Why. Therefore, if you say “Nande Kami o Kiri masuka?”, the listener would think that your question is “Why are you going to cut that paper?”
(3) Doko/Dochira (Where)
1) Doko ga
10. Q : Nihon Ryokou nara, Doko ga Ii desu ka. (When it comes to travel in Japan, where is the good place?)
A : Kusatsu no Onsen ga Ii desu yo. (Kusatsu Onsen is a good place to go.)
2) Doko o
11. Q : Kippu o Kau Toki, Doko o Oshi masu ka. (When I buy a ticket, where do I need to push?)
A : Kono Botan o Oshi masu. (Push this button.)
Suppose they are in front of a ticket vending machine in a railway station. “Where” means “which button” on the machine.
3) Doko ni
12. Q : Doko ni Toire ga Ari masu ka. (Where is a washroom?)
A : Aosoko ni Toire ga Ari masu. (It’s over there.)
Suppose they are in front of a ticket vending machine in a railway station. “Where” means “which button” on the machine. By the way, “Where is a restroom?” is the most important sentence when you learning the second language. Any second language textbook must introduce “Where is a restroom” in the early part of the book. This is my belief. In the case of Japanese, the question 12Q is not a best sentence in this regard, every Japanese textbooks introduce “Toire wa Doko desuka.” This is also a good example to show that the particle “wa” needs to be introduced prior to “-ga” as the subject indicator.
4) Doko de
13. Q : Doko de Obentou ga Kae masu ka. (Where can I buy a lunchbox?)
A : Aono Omise de Obentou ga Kae masu. (You can buy a lunchbox in that shop.)
Having looked at the example 12 and 13, you may wonder how to choose “-ni” or “-de” for a place because “Asoko ni” and “Aono Omise de” are both indicating places. Follow the rules below;
– [Place] + ni : Place of existence
– [Place] + de : Place to make action
(4) Dou/Ikaga (How)
So far, the interrogative words “Dare, Nani, Doko” are a kind of Noun. But interrogative word “Dou” is not a noun but an adverb. Therefore, you don’t need a particle behind “Dou”. When it comes to adverbs, you need to pay attention what verb that adverb is related to. Let us check the uses of “Dou” with verbs “yaru(yatte)”, “suru(shimashita)”, and “suru(shimasu)”.
1) Dou yatte (How)
14. Q : Dou yatte Umi ni Iki masu ka. (How do you get to the sea?)
A : Niigata-eki kara Hamauracho-iki no Basu ni Notte iki masu. (I go there getting on a bus for Hamaura-cho at Niigata Station.)
The verb “yaru/yarimasu” is one of giving/receiving verbs with a little roughness. Also, it is used as a little rough alternative for the verb “suru/shimasu”. The example sentence 14 uses “yaru” for the latter meaning. “Yatte” is the Te-form of “yaru/yarimasu” which is a Group 1-R verb because its Nai-form is “Ya<ra>nai”. Te-form of Group1 verbs can be obtained by “I/Chi/Ri=>tte, Bi/Mi/Ni=>nde, Ki=>ite, Gi=>ide, Shi=>shite, Ikimasu=>Itte”. Applying ““I/Chi/Ri=>tte,” to “Ya<ri>masu”, we can get “Yatte” as the Te-form. The important thing is that a verb in Te-form modifies another verb behind. A word modifying a verb is, by definition, an adverbial. Therefore, “Dou yatte” still works as an adverb.
2) Dou shimashitaka (What happened)
15. Q : Dou Shi mashita ka. (What happened to you?)
A : Kinou kara, Netsu ga Dete, Nodo mo Itaku Nari mashita. (I have got high temperature and throat ache since yesterday.)
The interrogative adverb “Dou” is related to the verb “suru/shimasu”.
3) Dou shimasuka (What are you going to do)
16. Q : Nichiyoubi ni Ame ga Futtara, Dou Shi masu ka. (If it rains on Sunday, what are you going to do?)
A : Ie ni Imasu. (I stay at home.)
The interrogative adverb “Dou” is related to the verb “suru/shimasu”.
An adverb and a noun are different. But some adverbs can be predicates of sentences with “desu” which ends up looking like a noun. For example,
– Yukkuri Hashiri masu. ((He/She) runs slowly.)
— the adverb “Yukkrui” modifies the verb “Hashirimasu”.
– Kame no Aruki Kata wa Yukkuri desu. (The way a turtle walks is slow.)
— The predicate “Yukkuri desu.” looks like a noun predicate.
“Dou” also can be a predicate with “desu” and “deshita”. Let’s check the expressions using “dou desuka” and “dou deshitaka”.
4) Dou desu ka (How about?)
17. Q : Satou-sensei no Jugyou wa Dou desu ka. (What do you think about Sato-sensei’s class?)
A : Totemo Ii to Omoi masu. (I think it’s very good.)
5) Dou deshita ka (What was it like?)
18. Q : Nihon Ryokou wa Dou deshita ka. (What was it like your travel in Japan?)
A : Totemo Yokatta desu. (It was very good.)
(5) Doushite/Naze/Nande (Why)
As well as “Dou”, these interrogative words are adverbs. Therefore, they are used without a particle their behind.
1) Doushite
19. Q : Doushite Kinou Jugyouni Konakattan desu ka. (Why you didn’t come to the class yesterday?)
A : Kaze o Hiita n desu. (Because I caught a cold.)
“Doushite” is introduced in the exercise A5 of the section 9 before “-nde/-node” is introduced. However, when asked “Doushite (Why)?” and answering to it, it is better to use an expression to say a reason for the answer. “-nde/-node” has a function to reveal something that sounds like “to tell you the truth”. And “-nde/-node” has also a function to add nuance of explanation. Therefore, “Kaze o Hiita ndesu.” sounds more explanatory than “Kaze o Hikimashita.”
2) Naze
20. Q : Naze Kusuri o Nomanai n desu ka. (Why you didn’t take a medicine?)
A : Totemo Takai kara desu. (Because it’s too expensive.)
The answer 20A also uses an expression to say a reason, which is “kara desu.” Answering questions with Doushite and Naze, it is good to use “-ndesu.” or “-karadesu.”
(6) Dochira (Which of the Two)
“Dochira” has already appeared in (3) as the polite version of “Doko (Where)”. But “Dochira” is also used as an interrogative word when asking to choose one out of two.
1) Dochira ga
21. Q : Kono Futatsu no Uchi, Dochira ga Ii desu ka. ((If I choose) one of these two, which is better?)
A : Hidari no ga Ii desu yo. (The one on the left is better.)
2) Dochira o
22. Q : Kuri’imu Ke’eki to Choko Ke’eki no Dochira o Tabe masu ka. (Which do you eat; cream cake or chocolate cake?)
A : Choko Ke’eki o Tabe masu. (I eat chocolate cake.)
3) Dochira ni
23. Q : Ko’ohi’i to Koucha, Dochira ni Shi masu ka. (Which do you drink; coffee or black tea?)
A : Watashi wa Ko’ohi’i ni Shi masu. (I would like to drink coffee.)
“-ni suru/-ni shimasu” expresses a result of selection, which is introduced in A5 of the section 44.
4) Dochira de
24. Q : Eki to Basutei no Dochira de Machi mashou ka. (Which place shall I wait for you; the station or the bus stop?)
A : Eki de Matte ite kudasai. (Please wait for me at the station.)
5) Dochira to
“-to” is the particle that indicates a counterpart who acts together with.
25. Q : Ashita Suzuki kun to Satou kun no Dochira to Dekake masu ka. (With whom are you going out tomorrow; Suzuki-kun or Sato-kun?)
A : Suzku kun to Dekake masu. (I am going out with Suzuki-kun.)
6) Dochira kara
“-kara” is the particle that indicates a starting point in terms of both time and space.
26. Q : Densha wa Ichi-bansen to Ni-bansen no Dochira kara Demasu ka. (Which platform the train starts; Number1 or 2?)
A : Ni-bansen kara De masu. (The train starts from the platform Number 2.)
7) Dochira mo
“-mo” is the particle that indicates a same kind and/or a parallel item.
27. Q : Hanauracho-iki no Basu to Shiananomachi-iki no Basu wa Dochira mo Umi ni Iki masu ka. (Are the both buses for Hamauracho and Shinanomachi going to the seaside?)
A : Iie, Shinanomachi-iki wa Umi ni Iki masen. (No, a bus for Shinanomachi doesn’t get close to the seaside.)
(7) Dore (Which one)
“Dore” is used when choosing one from three selections or more, while “Dochira” is used for two selections.
1) Dore ga
“-ga” is the particle that indicates a subject.
28. Q : Dore ga Satou-san no Kasa desu ka. (Which umbrella is the Sato-san’s?)
A (Sato) : Kore ga Watashi no Kasa desu. (This is my umbrella.)
2) Dore o
“-o” is the particle that indicates on object of action by a transitive verb, or places related to action of intransitive verb for moving. Since “dore” hardly means a place, if you find “dore o”, there would be a transitive verb behind.
29. Q : Ko’ohi’i to Koucha, Soshite Ryokucha ga Ari masu. Dore o Nomi masu ka. (We have coffee, black tea, and green tea. Which do you drink?)
A : Ko’ohi’i o Nomi masu. (I drink coffee.)
3) Dore ni
As in the case of “Dochira ni”, “Dore ni” is also used for a question which the listener will choose in the form of “Dore ni Shimasu ka”.
30. Q : Ko’ohi’i to Koucha, Soshite Ryokucha ga Ari masu. Dore ni Shi masu ka. (We have coffee, black tea, and green tea. Which do you choose?)
A : Ko’ohi’i ni Shi masu. (My choice is coffee.)
4) Dore de
31. Q : Juu-ji dai wa Juppu to sa-juppun, go-juppun ni Basu ga Ari masu. Dore de Iki masu ka. (There are buses on ten-hour; 10, 30, and 50. Which bus shall we get on?)
A : San-juppun no de Iki mashou. (Let’s get on the bus at 30 minutes.)
(8) Dono (Which)
“Dono” is an interrogative word which is adnominal. Adnominal is a name of word groups also known as “pre-noun adjectival”. There are words that exclusively modify nouns in Japanese (Rentai-shi). Let’s make a quick review about modifiers in Japanese. There are four groups of modifiers.
<1> Na-adjectives;
They modify nouns with “na” like “Kirei-na-Keshiki”. Through conjugation, Na-adjectives can also modify verbs and adjectives like “Kirei-ni-Narimashita” and “Kirei-de Kaiteki desu.”
<2> I-adjectives;
They modify nouns with “i” like “Atsu-i-Natsu”. Through conjugation, I-adjectives can also modify verbs and adjectives like “Atsu-ku-Narimashita.”
<3> Adnominals;
They modify nouns only, never conjugate. One example is “O’okina”. “O’okina Ie” means “a big house”. Although you can see “na”, “O’okina” never conjugates like a Na-adjective because “(WRONG) O’okida”, “(WRONG)O’okini”, and “(WRONG)O’okide” are not existing.
<4> Adverbs;
They modify verbs and adjectives, don’t conjugate. There are several types and the explanation about adverbs can be lengthy. Let me skip it.
So far in this post, interrogative words work like nouns or adverbials in grammatical sense. But “Dono” is an interrogative word that works like adnominals which modify nouns and never conjugate.
1) Dono + Noun (Which+noun)
32. Q : Dono Hito ga Maria-san desu ka. (Which person is Ms.Maria?)
A : Kami ga Nagai Hito ga Maria-san desu. (The lady with long hair is Ms. Maria.)
Actually, Example sentence 4 of the section 16 in Minna no Nihongo, “Dono” is used in predicate part of the sentence. I have used it in subject part, that’s the difference.
(9) Don’na (What kind of)
“Don’na” is said to be a Na-adjective in the dictionary. Interestingly, “na” at the end is not the conjugating part but the stem. Since it seems to have some complexity to deal with “Don’na” as a Na-adjective, let me show an example in the form of “Don’na + Noun”.
1) Don’na + Noun
33. Q : Don’na Hito ga Suki desu ka. (What kind of a person do you like (for your partner)?)
A : Yasashii Hito ga Suki desu. (I like a kind person.)
(10) Ikutsu (How many)
“Ikutsu” is an interrogative word which is categorized to be a noun, but often works like an adverb. “Working like an adverb” means that the word is used without a particle behind. If it’s completely used as a noun, a particle follows behind the word like “Ikutsu ga Ii desuka. (How many is good for you?)”. The sentence 34 below is an example of use of “Ikutsu” as an adverb, and the 35 of a noun predicate.
1) Ikutsu for amount/number
34. Q : Mikan o Ikutsu Kaimashita ka. (How many mandarin oranges did you buy?)
A : Itsutsu Kai mashita. (I bought five of them.)
2) Ikutsu for Age
35. Q : O-toshi wa O-ikutsu desu ka. (How old are you?)
A : Toshi wa Nanajuu- Hachi desu. (I am 78 years old.)
Toshi is a noun for age, and the prefix “o-” adds politeness to a word.
<to be continued! >
いくら
なん（何）
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This post was written with reference to many parts of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
