カテゴリー: LQ Laoshi

Japanese Learning (A2 S19): Expression to say you have an experience in the past; [V-ta]+Koto ga Arimasu.

Today we are going to learn one of constructions that use Ta-form of verbs. And the construction uses a formal noun “koto”. “Koto” has a meaning like “a thing” and/or “a matter”, but more importantly than meaning, “koto” has a function that makes a verb clause a noun-equivalent. Recently we learned a construction in which “koto” works to turn a verb to be a noun-equivalent. That was;

1. Watashi wa Piano o Hiku koto ga Dekimasu. (I can play a piano.)

Then, today’s construction also uses “koto” for the same purpose to make a verb a noun equivalent.

2. Watashi wa Hokkaidou e Itta koto ga Arimasu. (I have an experience of having been to Hokkaido.)

What is common, and what is different between the sentences 1 and 2?

Both sentences are “Wa-ga construction” with predicates of stative verbs. And both use “koto” to make a verb clause a noun equivalent so that the verb clause could be placed in front of the particle “ga”.

Of course, difference is that they are different constructions to describe different things; 1 is to say “someone can do something”, and 2 is to say “someone has an experience doing an action in the past.”. A difference more in detail, 1 uses Dictionary form of a verb, while 2 uses Ta-form. Since the sentence 2 is talking about an experience in the past, Ta-form is used.

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Miraa-san wa O-Sashimi o Tabeta koto ga Arimasuka. (Miller-san, have you eaten raw fish?)

B : Hai, Watashi wa O-Sashimi o Tabeta koro ga Arimasu. (Yes, I have eaten raw fish.)

“O-” attached in front of “Sashimi” is a prefix that makes the word more polite.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S19): One of Verb Conjugation Forms, “Ta-Form”; [Verb Stem]+ ta/ita/ida/tta/nda/shita

We have already learned Te-form of verbs. Today we are going to learn another conjugation pattern, Ta-form. It seems that the difference between Te-form and Ta-form is only for vowels “e” or “a”. Yes, it’s the only difference in terms of spelling, but there is a huge difference between the two about the function they have.

– Te-form is used not for ending, but for continuing a sentence. Another conjugating word must follow after the verb in Te-form. Usually, the word behind is another verb.

– Ta-form can be the ending of a sentence with nuance of past and/or perfect, though it sounds rough or casual. If a word follows after a verb in Ta-form, the word is a noun. In other words, a Ta-form can modify a noun, with nuance of past and/or perfect.

Although you need to put these differences in your mind, how to make Ta-form from Te-form is easy. Just replace “e” in Te-form with “a”.

The followings are examples of “Ta-form” of verbs. Note that the list is written in the order of Masu-form, Te-form, and Ta-form.

Group 2 Verbs

– Imasu — Ite — Ita

– Mimasu — Mite — Mita

– Nemasu — Nete — Neta

– Okimasu — Okite — Okita

Group 3 Verbs

– Kimasu — Kite — Kita

– Shimasu — Shite — Shita

– Benkyoushimasu — Benkyoushite — Benkyoushita

Group 1 Verbs

– Tsukaimasu — Tsukatte — Tsukatta

– Kakimasu — Kaite — Kaita

– Ikimasu — Itte —Itta

– Isogimasu — Isoide — Isoida

– Hanashimasu — Hanashite — Hanashita

– Machimasu — Matte — Matta

– Tobimasu — Tonde — Tonda

– Yomimasu — Yonde — Yonda

– Tsukurimasu — Tsukutte — Tsukutta

summary

– Ta-form has a nuance of past and/or perfect of the verb.

– Ta-form can be the ending of a sentence in concise style.

– Ta-form can modify a noun behind

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A5 S18): Describing Action that you do BEFORE doing Something; [V1-dic] Mae ni, [ V2 ]

At A2 in Section 16, we learned an expression that says two actions happening in turn.

1. [V1-te] + kara, [V2].

Note that V1 is in T-form, and V1 happens first, and then V2 second.

Today’s construction is also to describe two actions happening in turn.

2. [V1-dic]+ Mae ni, [V2].

As for 2, V1 is in Dictionary form, and V2 happens first, and then V1 second.

When you eat something, you wash your hands before eating. I hope you do so. Let me express this in constructions 1 and 2.

(1) Te o Aratte kara, Gohan o Tabemasu. (After I wash my hands, I eat.)

(2) Gohan o Taberu Mae ni, Te o Araimasu. (Before I eat, I wash my hands.)

We are learning (2) today. Take a look at several examples for the construction 2.

– Neru Mae ni, Ha o Migakimasu. (Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.)

– Gakkou ni Iku Mae ni, Kyoukasho o Kaban ni Iremasu. (Before going to the school, I put textbooks into my bag.)

– Osake o Nomu Mae ni, Minna de Kampai o Shimasu. (Before drinking Sake, we all raise a toast.)

Probably you have noticed that the subject doesn’t appear these sentences. In such case, assume the subject is “Watashi wa”. Sometimes it’s not “Watashi wa”, but usually is.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A4 S18): Converting a Verb to Noun Equivalent by Formal Noun “Koto”; [Noun] wa [Verb] Koto desu.

“Shumi” is activities for a person to do mainly for pleasure, usually not for earning, during leisure time. So, it’s a word like “hobby”. When you say “My hobby is what”, the Japanese sentence would be;

– Watashi no Shumi wa Supo’otsu desu. (My hobby is doing sports.)

– Watashi no Shumi wa Ryokou desu. (My hobby is traveling.)

These sentences are “Noun predicate sentences”.

1. [Subject] wa [Noun] desu.

But a hobby is an activity. When you want to tell someone what is your hobby, it would be better to say what you are doing as a hobby by using a verb.

Bad example is as below;

<WRONG> Watashi no Shumi wa Oyogimasu.

This sentence says “My hobby swims.” Does a hobby swim like a human or a fish? No, a human kind swims. What you need to do is, with some technique, to put a verb into the [Noun] part of sentence construction 1.

There are some nouns whose function is to make a verb a noun-equivalent. We have recently learned a such “Formal Noun”, which is “Koto”.

<RIGHT> Watashi no Shumi wa Oyogu Koto desu. (My hobby is swimming.)

“Oyogu” is the dictionary form of verb “Oyogimasu (swim)”. When you connecting a verb to a noun behind, you need to conjugate the verb. So far, we have learned only the following type;

[Verb in Dictionary Form] + [Noun]

Other than dictionary form, Ta-form and Nai-form* can be connected to a noun, but these things will be explained in other opportunities.

Practice and remember the following conversations;

– Type of [Noun] desu.

A : Anata no Shumi wa Nan desuka. (What is your hobby?)

B : Watashi no Shumi wa Tsuri desu. (My hobby is fishing.)

– Type of [V-dic] + Koto desu.

A : Anata no Shumi wa Nan desuka. (What is your hobby?)

B : Watashi no Shumi wa Sakana o Tsuru Koto desu. (My hobby is to fish a fish.)

* Past tense of Nai-form, V-Nakatta can also be connected to a noun.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S18): You can do it because the situation allows you to do it; [Action Noun] ga Dekimasu./ [V-dic] Koto ga Dekimasu.

We have already learned the construction for “Someone can do something”. It is one of “wa-ga constructions”, but there are two types. One uses an action noun with “ga”, the other uses a verb with “koto ga”. Examples are as below;

– Satou-san wa Eigo ga dekimasu. (Sato-san can speak English.)

– Satou-san wa Eigo de Tegami o Kaku koto ga dekimasu. (Sato-san can write a letter in English.)

These sentences with “ga dekimasu” expresses that someone has his/her ability to do something. But there is another type of sentences about “can do something”. Compare the following two sentences;

1. Watashi wa 1000 me’etoru Oyogu koto ga dekimasu. (I can swim one thousand meters.)

2. Kono Pu’uru wa Yoru Juu-ji made Oyogu koto ga dekimasu. (We can swim until 10p.m. in this pool.)

Although both 1 and 2 are saying “can swim”, two sentence express different kind of “can do”. What we learn today is the type of the sentence 2, which expresses that the situation allows someone to do something.

Practice and remember the following sentences;

[Active Noun] ga dekimasu.

3. Koko de Shokuji ga dekimasu. (You can eat here.)

4. Sumaho de Kippu no Yoyaku ga dekimasu. (You can reserve tickets using your smartphone.)

[Verb in Dictionary Form]+koto ga dekimasu

5. Sumaho de Kippu o Yoyakusuru koto ga dekimasu. (You can reserve tickets using your smartphone.)

6. Toshokan de Hon o Kariru koto ga dekimasu. (You can borrow a book in the library.)

3 through 6 don’t mean that the subject has an ability to do it. The situation makes possible to do it.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S18): Dictionary Form of Verbs, Introduction as a form to place in front of a Noun; [V-dic] + [Noun].

Have you noticed that I use both dictionary form and masu-form when introducing a verb?

It’s like “Taberu/Tabemasu”. I think it depends on each Japanese teacher’s belief as to which form to be used, dictionary form or masu-form. I myself put on priority to Masu-form, because Masu-form can be used in conversation. If you use Dictionary form for sentence endings in your conversation, you would sound too much casual, friendly, or childish, sometimes even rude. But if it’s not conversation, especially you are learning grammar, you would feel the Dictionary form is better because verbs in dictionary form are concise. That’s the reason I use both forms in this blog when showing a verb.

In Minnano Nihongo, dictionary forms are introduced at Exercise A1 in Section 18. You will find that all the dictionary forms end by the vowel “u”. And Group2 and Group3 verbs end with the letter “ru”. In the following, verb examples are shown in the order of Masu-form and Dictionary form;

Group2

Mimasu => Miru (look at, watch, see)

(Fuku o ) Kimasu => Kiru (wear a cloth, not “come”)

Demasu => Deru (get out of)

Oshiemasu => Oshieru (teach/tell some information)

Group3

Kimasu => Kuru (come, not “wear a cloth”)

Shimasu => Suru (do)

Unten shimasu => Unten suru (drive a car)

Group1

Gr1-W : Kaimasu => Kau (buy)

Gr1-K : Hatarakimasu => Hataraku (work)

Gr1-G : Isogimasu => Isogu (hurry, hasten)

Gr1-S : Dashimasu => Dasu (take something out)

Gr1-T : Machimasu => Matsu (wait)

Gr1-B : Tobimasu => Tobu (fly)

Gr1-M : Yomimasu => Yomu (read)

Gr1-R : Norimasu => Noru (Get on (a train/car))

What is the purpose of introducing Dictionary at this stage of Japanese learning? It is important to know Dictionary form, because when you are checking the meaning of a verb in dictionary, you need to know the dictionary form of the verb. Although the sentence endings with dictionary forms can save your time and space in notebook, such short endings are not suitable to conversation with other people. Then, why dictionary form now?

At this stage of Japanese learning, you need to know that a verb in Dictionary form can be connected to a noun behind. Dictionary form is not the only form to connect to a noun, Nai-form and Ta-form are also connected to a noun. But let us concentrate on Dictionary form today. Do you remember that, if there is a Te-form, there is also another conjugation word behind? Sometimes a verb in Te-form is directly connected to another verb, for example, “Motte Kimasu”, “Hanashite imasu”, and so on.

Simply put;

– Te-form is to be followed by another verb. (example; Tabete imasu)

– Dictionary form is to be connected to a noun behind. (example: Taberu koto*)

You need to apply different forms of verb whether the following word is a noun or a verb. The important thing is, a noun and a verb must be strictly distinguished in Japanese.

*The noun “koto” in the example above will be explained tomorrow.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”