タグ: conjugation

Japanese Learning (A4 S19): Changes of a Condition/Nature that is described by Na-adjectives; [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

When describing a change of something, the following sentence construction is used.

1. [Subject] wa [Condition/Nature after the change] Narimashita.

And for the word to describe “condition/nature”, three groups of words are applicable; I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Nouns. The sentence construction 1 would be the following for each of three.

1-1. [Subject] wa [I-adj]+ku Narimashita.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita.

We have already learned 1-1, which is the sentence of changes described with I-adjectives. Today, we are learning 1-2, which uses Na-adjectives.

The most confusing Na-adjective for beginners of Japanese is “Kireina”. Many learner erroneously believe “Kirei” is an I-adjective because it looks like ending with “i”. Let us look at conjugation of Na-adjectives, using “Kireina”.

<1> Concise ending; [Kirei]<da>

<2> Modifying a noun behind; [Kirei]<na> Youfuku (a beautiful cloths)

<3> Being connected to another conjugating word behind*; [Kirei]<ni> narimashita. (It’s become beautiful/clean.)

<4> To make the adjective hypothetical; [Kirei]<nara> (If it’s beautiful/clean)

(* “Kireide” is omitted in <3> for simplicity)

Now we are learning <3>. A little longer example is as below;

2. Mizu de Yoku Araimashita kara, Te ga Kirei-ni Narimashita.

(Washing well with water, (my) hands has got cleaned.)

– Misu: noun; water

– de: particle; to mark what to use for action

– Yoku: adverb; well

– Arau/Araimasu: transitive verb; wash

– kara: conjunctive particle; to make the former clause a reason/cause of the latter clause.

– Te: noun; hands

– Kireina: Na-adjective; beautiful/clean

– Naru/Narimasu: intransitive verb; become

It is so important for a Japanese learner to learn that “Kireina” is not I-adjective but Na-adjective. But those who erroneously believe “Kireina” is an I-adjective (WRONG!!) tend to overgeneralize the sentence like 2 to all the I-adjectives. Then the following errors happen quite often.

WRONG: Samui-ni Narimasu => RIGHT: Samu-ku Narimasu. (becomes cold)

WRONG: Sabishii-ni Narimasu => RIGHT: Sabishi-ku Narimasu. (becomes sad)

In order to prevent such errors, it is indispensable for learners to know there are two types of adjectives; I-adjectives and Na-adjectives, and they conjugate differently.

Again, “Kireina” is a Na-adjective. Actually, Na-adjective came from combination of a noun and the auxiliary verb “da”. “da” conjugates, so [Noun+Auxiliary verb] conjugates. Therefore, you can see many similarities between Na-adjectives and Nouns when it comes to sentence constructions.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita. Example: Kirei-ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita. Example: Daigakusei ni Narimashita.

So, the similarity the above 1-2 and 1-3 is that “ni” is used in both. For today, think that “ni” for “Kirei-ni” is the changing part of conjugation of a Na-adjective. Tomorrow, “ni” for “Daigakusei ni” will be explained as a particle.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S14): How to Convert a Verb from “Masu-form” to “Te-Form”; I/Chi/Ri=>tte, Bi/Mi/Ni=>nde, Ki=>ite, Gi=>ide, Shi=>shite, and Itte is special for Group 1

Yesterday, Te-form of verbs was introduced. A verb in Te-form can be followed by another conjugating word (often a verb). Actually, “Masu-form without masu” can also be followed by another conjugating word. But anyway, it is important to know that there are two patterns of conjugation in Japanese; one is for being placed in front of a noun, the other is for being placed in front of another conjugating word. Te-form is the latter.

And have you found in yesterday’s post that there were groupings for verbs, which were called “Group1”, “Group2”, and “Group3”? Their definitions are as below;

Suppose there is one Japanese verb, and you want to know what group the verb is. Make “Nai-form” of that verb. And check the vowel just in front of “nai”.

– The vowel in front of “nai” is “a”, then the verb is a Group1 verb.

– The vowel in front of “nai” is “i” or “e”, then the verb is a Group2 verb.

– Verbs in Group3 are irregular verbs. They are Kuru/Kimasu and Suru/Shimasu.

Let us examine the verbs that appeared yesterday’s post as to these groupings;

– Imasu (in Masu-form) => Inai (in Nai-form); The vowel in front of “nai” is “i” => Group2

– Nemasu => Nenai; The vowel in front of “nai” is “e” => Group2

– Kimasu => Group3

– Shimasu => Group3

– Tsukaimasu => Tsukawanai; The vowel in front of “nai” is “a” => Group1

– Kakimasu => Kakanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Ikimasu => Ikanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Isogimasu => Isoganai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Hanashimasu => Hanasanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Machimasu => Matanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Tobimasu => Tobanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Yomimasu => Yomanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

– Tsukurimasu => Tsukuranai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1

Once you have got to know which group the verb is, you can convert the verb from Masu-form to Te-form through the following procedure;

< Te-forms of Group2 and Group3 Verbs >

[Masu-form without masu] + te

examples — [Masu-form], [Masu-form without masu] + te, and Te-Form

– Imasu, I+te, Ite

– Nemasu, Ne+te, Nete

– Kimasu, Ki+te, Kite

– Shimasu, Shi+te, Shite

< Te-forms of Group1 Verbs >

SPECIAL ONE: Ikimasu => Itte

OTHER THAN Ikimasu

 Check the letter just before “masu”

– i+masu/chi+masu/ri+masu => tte

— imasu => tte

example : Tsukaimasu => Tsuka+imasu => Tsukatte

— chimasu => tte

example : Machimasu => Ma+chimasu => Matte

— rimasu => tte

example : Tsukurimasu => Tsuku+rimasu=> Tsukutte

– bi+masu/mi+masu/ni+masu => nde

— bimasu => nde

example : Tobimasu => To+bimasu => Tonde

— mimasu => nde

example : Yomimasu => Yo+mimasu => Yonde

— nimasu => nde

example : Shinimasu => Shi+nimasu => Shinde

– ki+masu => ite

example : Kakimasu => Ka-kimasu => Kaite

– gi+masu => ide

example : Isogimasu => Iso-gimasu => Isoide

– shi+masu => shite

example : Hanashimasu => Hana+shimasu => Hanashite

TODAY’S SUMMARY

When you convert a verb from Masu-form to Te-form;

Group2 and Group3 verbs; Take place of “masu” by “te”

Group1 verbs;

– Ikimasu is an exception, its Te-form is “Itte”

– Check the letter before “masu”

— i/chi/ri => tte

— bi/mi/ni => nde

— ki => ite

— gi => ide

— shi => shite

It is essential for Japanese learners to be able to convert any Japanese verbs into Te-form.

Japanese Learning (A1 S14): One of Verb Conjugation Forms, “Te-Form”; [Verb Stem]+ te/ite/ide/tte/nde/shite

Some of words in Japanese conjugate. The word groups that conjugate are Verb, I-adjective, Na-adjective, and Auxiliary verb. These conjugating words change at the end part of the word, while the head of the word does not change.

[Word to conjugate] = [Unchanging Part] + [Changing Part]

Take a look at verb “Kau” which means “buy” in English.

– Dictionary form = Kau

– Nai form = Kawanai

– Masu form = Kaimasu

You can see that the head of the word “ka” doesn’t change, and its end part changes to be “u”, “wanai”, and “imasu”.

There are many conjugation forms in addition to the three above. But here is a basic thing about conjugations of Japanese words. It is not only for verbs, but also for I-adjectives and Na-adjectives. You need to know two patterns; one is a conjugating word being placed in front of a noun, the other is a conjugating word being placed in front of another conjugating word.

1. [Conjugating word] + [Noun]

2. [Conjugating word] + [Another conjugating word]

For sake of simplicity, let us think of 2 as [Conjugating word] + [Another verb]. Using these basic concepts, we can classify properties of those conjugation forms.

– Dictionary form = Kau — can be placed in front of a Noun

– Nai form = Kawanai — can be placed in front of a Noun

– Masu form = Kaimasu — must be the ending of a sentence

– Te form = Katte — can be placed in front of another verb

So “Te-form” of a verb is a conjugation pattern that can be placed before another verb (or another conjugating word, too be exact).

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

Group 2 Verbs

– Imasu — Ite

– Mimasu — Mite (Be careful, it’s not “Mitte”)

– Nemasu — Nete

– Okimasu — Okite (This is “Get up/wake up”. Not “put on”)

Group 3 Verbs

– Kimasu — Kite

– Shimasu — Shite

– Benkyoushimasu — Benkyoushite

Group 1 Verbs

– Tsukaimasu — Tsukatte

– Kakimasu — Kaite

– Ikimasu — Itte

– Isogimasu — Isoide

– Hanashimasu — Hanashite

– Machimasu — Matte

– Tobimasu — Tonde

– Yomimasu — Yonde

– Tsukurimasu — Tsukutte

Te-form of verbs is so important. More detailed explanation will be done soon.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 14 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”