タグ: conjunctive particle

Japanese Learning: Asking Permission to do Something : “[ V-te ] mo Ii desuka”

Today’s expression also uses Te-form of verbs.

1. [Verb Clause] temo Ii desuka = [V-te] mo Ii desuka

“Ii” is an I-adjective that means “Good/Okay”. In respect of grammar, this is a construction that uses the conjunctive particle “-temo,” which connects phrases adversely. However, “-temo,” as an adverse conjunctive particle will be explained in the section 25 in comparison with a sequential conjunctive particle “-tara,”. At this time, rather than grammar things, focus on functionality of the construction of “1”. “[V-te] mo Ii desuka.” is an expression to ask someone’s permission when you want to do something. Take a look at the examples below;

2. Pasokon de Repooto o Kaitemo Ii desuka. (Is it okay to write a report with a personal computer?)

3. Kono Jisho o Tsukattemo Ii desuka. (Is it okay to use this dictionary?)

4. Koko ni Itemo Ii desuka. (Is it okay to be here?)

For those who don’t know Te-form of verbs;

Sentence 2’s “Kaite” is the Te-form of “Kaku/Kakimasu”. Nai-form is “Kakanai”. Since the vowel before “nai” of Nai-form is “a”, the verb “Kaku/Kakimasu” is of Group1. The letter before “masu” of Masu-form is “ki”. Applying;

 “i/chi/ri=>tte, bi/mi/ni=>nde, ki=>ite, gi=>ide, shi=>shite, and Itte is for Ikimasu”,

then you can get “Kaite” as the Te-form of “Kaku/Kakimasu”.

Sentence 3’s “Tsukatte” is the Te-form of “Tsukau/Tsukaimasu”. Nai-form is “Tsukawanai”. Since the vowel before “nai” of Nai-form is “a”, the verb “Tsukau/Tsukaimasu” is of Group1. The letter before “masu” of Masu-form is “i”. Applying;

 “i/chi/ri=>tte, bi/mi/ni=>nde, ki=>ite, gi=>ide, shi=>shite, and Itte is for Ikimasu”,

then you can get “Tsukatte” as the Te-form of “Tsukau/Tsukaimasu”.

Sentence 4’s “Ite” is the Te-form of “Iru/Imasu”. Nai-form is “Inai”. Since the vowel before “nai” of Nai-form is “i”, the verb “Iru/Imasu” is of Group2. Replace “masu” with “te” gives you Te-form of Group2 verbs. Then you can get “Ite” as the Te-form of “Iru/Imasu”.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 15 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: Conjunctive Particle “-kara,” to express cause/reason; [Clause1] kara, [Clause2].

Before starting learning the issue written on the title, let us first look at answers for yesterday’s quiz.

Choose “ga” or “o”. And answer the type of verb.

1. Watashi wa Okane { ga } arimasu. (I have money.)

   Type of verb? — { Intransitive }

2. Watashi wa Okane { o } moraimasu. (I get money.)

   Type of verb? — { Transitive }

3. Watashi wa Ie { o } demasu. (I get out of my house.)

   Type of verb? — { Mobile intransitive }

4. Watashi wa Imouto { ga } imasu. (I have a younger sister.)

   Type of verb? — { Intransitive }

5. Watashi wa Imouto ni Purezento { o } agemasu. (I give a present to my younger sister.)

   Type of verb? — { Transitive }

6. Watashi wa Yuugohan { o } tabemasu. (I eat supper.)

   Type of verb? — { Transitive }

Wa-ga construction can not always applicable. Know when you can use it or when you cannot use it.

Today, we are going to learn one of “Conjunctive Particles”. Note two things below;

– By learning Conjunctive Particles, you will be able to deal with sentences that has two combinations of subject and predicate.

– It is a very much characteristic sentence structure in Japanese to connect two pairs of subject and predicate by a conjunctive particle.

As for the second point, there are “Conjunctives” also in Japanese. Look at the difference between conjunctive and conjunctive particle.

[Sentence1]. [Conjunctive], [Sentence2].

[Clause1]+conjunctive particle, [Clause2].

Today’s conjunctive particle is “-kara” which is used for telling a cause and/or reason.

[Clause1]+kara, [Clause2].

= [Subject1 + Predicate1]+kara, [Subject2 + Predicate2].

= [Cause/Reason]+kara, [Conclusion/Result].

example; Ame ga furimashitakara, Watashi wa Dekakemasendeshita. (Because it rained, I didn’t go outside.)

Sometimes a subject is untold if it is clear between the speaker and the listener. This happens clause1 or clause2 or both. The following example doesn’t tell subjects for either clause1 and clause2 (Temperature and I).

example; Samuidesukara, Ie ni imasu. (Because it is cold, I am going to stay at home.)

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Satou-san wa Doushite Eiga o Mimasenka. (Sato-san, why you don’t watch a movie?)

B : Watashi wa Isogashii desukara, Eiga o Mimasen. (Because I am busy, I don’t watch a movie.)

B’s clause1 has “I-adjective predicate”, which is “Isogashii desu”. The clause1 can also have “Verb predicate” like below;

B : Watashi wa Shigoto ga Arimasukara, Eiga o Mimasen. (Because I have a work to do, I don’t watch a movie.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section 9 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”