タグ: jananese learning

Japanese Learning: Quantifier “mai” to count “sheet-like” objects.

We have already learned numbering system when counting objects;

Hitotsu, Futatsu, Mittsu, Yottsu, Itsutsu, —, To’o

Using this numbering system, you can express how many objects there are, as below;

1. Ringo ga Yottsu Arimasu. (There are four apples.)

Note that there is no particle used right behind “Yottsu”. If you apply “Wa ga construction” as below, it is completely WRONG;

<WRONG> Ringo wa Yottsu ga Arimasu.

<RIGHT>  Ringo ga Yottsu Arimasu.

Actually “Ringo wa Yottsu Arimasu” is also right, but let me use “ga” to be consistent with the sentence 1 above. And it is important to know that “Yottsu” is descriptive for the verb “Arimasu”. Therefore, we can think “Yottsu” has a function as an adverbial.

In addition to numbering system “Hitotsu, Futatsu, Mittsu —”, there are more detailed numbering systems in Japanese. That is to use a quantifier in accordance with shape and/or nature of the object.

Today we are going to learn one of quantifiers, “mai”, which is to count “sheet-like” objects. Take a look at the following examples;

– There is one sheet of paper => Kami ga Ichi-mai Arimasu.

– There are two postcards => Hagaki ga Ni-mai Arimasu.

– There are three towels => Taoru ga San-mai Arimasu.

– There are four stamps => Kitte ga Yon-mai Arimasu.

– There are five photographs => Shashin ga Go-mai Arimasu.

– There are six tickets => Kippu (or Nyuujouken) ga Roku-mai Arimasu.

As well as “Yottsu” functions as an adverbial in the sentence 1, these [number-mai]s are also functioning as adverbials for the verb “Arimasu”. “Arimasu” is an intransitive verb. Let us use a transitive verb for today’s conversation;

A : Hachi juu Go en no Hagaki o Nan-mai Kaimashitaka. (How many “85 yen postcards” did you buy?)

B : Hachi juu Go en no Hagaki o Kyuu-mai Kaimashita. (I bought nine “85 yen postcards”.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section 11 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: Sentences describing “Existence” using the intransitive verb “Arimasu”; [Ko-so-a for place] ni [Non-Animal Subject]ga Arimasu.

Today we are going to learn sentences that describe existence of a non-animal subject using the intransitive verb “Arimasu”. If a subject is a human kind or an animal, Not “Arimasu” but “Imasu” is used for the predicate verb. “Imasu” will be explained tomorrow.

And the following is a review about Ko-so-a words for places/locations;

– koko : here, this place

– soko : (1) When the speaker and the listener are close and sharing a limited place, “soko” is a place a little distant from the two. The distance for soko is longer than koko, but shorter than asoko. (2) When there is a distance between the speaker and the listener, and the speaker calls the place of the listener “soko”, the speaker would say “koko”.

– asoko : the place over there

We have already learned sentences using koko, soko, and asoko.

1. [Ko-so-a word for place] wa [Name of a Place] desu.

The sentence 1 is a noun predicate sentence whose subject is koko/soko/asoko and predicate is name of a place.

2. [Name of a Place] wa [Ko-so-a word for place] desu.

The sentence 2 is a noun predicate sentence whose subject is name of a place and predicate is koko/soko/asoko.

Today’s sentence for existence is not a noun predicate sentence, but a verb predicate sentence.

3. [Ko-so-a word for place] ni [Non-Animal Noun] ga Arimasu.

The sentence 3 is a verb predicate sentences because it ends with “- masu.” And there are two particles;

– ni : marker for place of existence

– ga : marker for subject

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Asoko ni Nani ga Arimasuka. (What is over there?)

B : Asoko ni Kombini ga Arimasu. (There is a convenience store over there.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 10 of “Minna no Nihongo” 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”

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: Verb predicate sentences with direct and indirect objects; [Person] ni [Object] o [Verb] masu.

Yesterday, we learned the verb “Agemasu” that is one of “Giving/Receiving verbs”. An example is as below;

1. Watashi wa Satou-san ni Hana o Agemasu. (I give Ms. Sato flowers.)

The sentence 1 is a verb predicate sentence, and its verb is “Agemasu” which is a transitive verb and also one of “Giving/Receiving verbs”. Usually in a sentence of “Giving/Receiving verbs”, two particles “o” and “ni” are used. The particle “o” is for direct object, and “ni” for indirect object. And sentence construction is as below;

2. [Subject] wa [Indirect Object] ni [Direct object] o [Giving/Receiving verb] masu.

And most of the time 2 can be;

2’. [Subject] wa [Person] ni [Thing] o [Giving/Receiving verb] masu.

So, in the case of 1, [Person] is Satou-san, and [Thing] is Hana.

Not only “Giving/Receiving verbs”, some other transitive verbs also become a sentence like 2’. Let’s expand the concept of “[Person] ni [Thing] o” to some verbs.

The following words are used in today’s sentences;

– Kurasumeeto: noun; classmate

– Nohto: noun; notebook

– Gakusei: noun; student

– Tomodachi: noun; friend

– Messeeji: noun; message

– Denwa: noun; telephone

– kashimasu: transitive verb; lend

– oshiemasu: tranisitive verb; teach

– okurimasu: transitive verb; send

– kakemasu: transitive verb; (“Denwa o kakemasu” = make a phone call)

Example: Watashi wa Kurasumeeto ni Nohto o Kashimasu.

(I lend my notebook to a classmate.)

Think about how the particle “o” and “ni” fit in the following sentences.

Q1 : Watashi wa Gakusei__ Nihongo __ Oshiemasu.

Q2 : Watashi wa Tomodachi__ Messeeji__ Okurimasu.

Q3 : Watashi wa Denwa__ Sensei__ Kakemasu.

Answers for Q1 to Q3 will be shown tomorrow.

Japanese Learning: Whether or not to use the Particle “ni” which is the marker for when you do it; [when] ni [verb] v.s. [when] [verb]

We have already learned the Particle “ni” as a marker for time (on a clock) of action as below;

A : Satou-san wa Maiasa Nan-ji ni okimasuka. (Ms. Sato, what time do you get up every morning?)

B : Watashi wa Maiasa Shichi-ji ni okimasu. (I get up at seven every morning.)

Now the function is expanded so that “ni” would be the maker not only for time but also for when action is taken place.

A : Satou-san wa Itsu Kuni e Kaerimasuka. (Ms. Sato, when are you going back your home country?)

B : Watashi wa Hachi-gatsu Juu roku-nichi ni Kuni e Kaerimasu. (I am going back my country on August 16th.)

Where;

– Kuni: noun; country, but in this case, home country or home town region

– Kaerimasu: verb; go back

Note that when asking time, the interrogative word is “Nan-ji”, but when asking when, the word “Itsu” is used.

Now look at two sentences below;

1. Watashi wa Ku-gatsu Juu shichi-nichi ni Toukyou e Ikimasu.

2. Watashi wa Ashita Toukyou e Ikimasu.

In the sentence 1, The date “Ku-gatsu Juu shichi-nichi (September 17th )” is followed by the particle “ni. On the other, in the sentence 2, the word for when “Ashita is not followed by “ni”. Therefore, there is a difference between the sentences 1 and 2, about whether or not to use the particle “ni”

As to using “ni” or not right after the word for time or when the action is taken, apply the following rule. But this rule is not a strict one, so take it as a rough guideline. “The word” means that it is time or when the action is taken (e.g. ten thirty, tomorrow…and so on);

– The word is relative to “NOW”, then do not use “ni”.

example; Kinou(yesterday), Ashita(tomorrow), Raishuu(next week)

– The word specifies a certain time, then use “ni”.

example; Gogo Go-ji ni (at 5p.m.), Suiyoubi ni (on Wednesday), Juu-gatsu Juu Hachi-nichi ni (on October 18th)

Quiz: Answer if “ni” is used or not used. The answers will be shown tomorrow.

Q1: Senshuu (with or without ni?), Hataraki mashita. (Last week, I worked.)

Q2: Hachi-ji Juu go-fun (with or without ni?) Gakkou e Ikimasu. (I go to the school at eight fifteen.)

<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5課A4”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: The particle to indicate the reaching point where the action is heading towards; [Place] e

Answers of yesterday’s Quiz :

example; Watashi wa Mainichi Hataraki masu. (I work every day.)

 => Non-past x Positive

1. Ashita, Watashi wa Hataraki masu. (I will work tomorrow.)

=> Non-past x Positive

2. Watashi wa Do-youbi Hataraki masen. (I don’t work on Saturday.)

=> Non-past x Negative

3. Watashi wa Kinou Hataraki masen deshita. (I didn’t work yesterday.)

=> Past x Negative

4. Kinou Watashi wa Hataraki mashita. (I worked yesterday.)

=> Past x Positive

Then let’s start today’s learning. There is a particle to indicate the reaching point of the action. It is similar to the preposition “to” in English. But Japanese particles are postpositions, the particle “e” is put behind a noun which means a place. The sentence construction is as below;

[Subject] wa [noun meaning a place] e [verb meaning move].

example : Watashi wa Kaisha e Iki masu.

Where;

– Watashi: pronoun; I

– wa: particle; topic marker, and in this case also subject marker

– Kaisha: noun; company (with nuance of a place)

– e: particle; the reaching point of the action

– Ikimasu: verb in form of present-positive; go

One thing you need to know is that the pronunciation of particle “e” is “e”, but its spelling is “he: へ”. So for writing, do not use “e: え”.

Let me introduce a just one noun;

Kombini: noun; a convenience store

Practice and remember the following conversation.

A: Sato-san wa Doko e Ikimasuka. (Ms.Sato, where are you going?)

B: Watashi wa Kombini e Ikimasu. (I am going to a convenience store.)

In addition, we learned four patterns of verb predicates yesterday. Four patterns are based on combinations of non-past/past tenses and positive/negative. As a review of yesterday, read carefully the followings:

– Kyou, Watashi wa Kombini e Ikimasu. (Today, I am going to a convenience store.)

=> Non-past x Positive

– Kyou, Watashi wa Kombini e Ikimasen. (Today, I am not going to a convenience store.)

=> Non-past x Negative

– Kinou, Watashi wa Kombini e Ikimashita. (Yesterday, I went to a convenience store.)

=> Past x Positive

– Kinou, Watashi wa Kombini e Ikimasen deshita. (Yesterday, I didn’t go to a convenience store.)

=> Past x Negative

<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5課A1”の内容を参照しています。”In addition”以下の内容は第4課A7です。>

Japanese Learning: Applying Start and end times to a verb predicate sentence; [Time1] kara [Time2] made [Verb] masu.

Yesterday, we learned a verb predicate sentence. Its construction was the following

[Subject] wa [Time ] ni [Verb] masu.

1. Watashi wa Maiasa Shichi-ji ni okimasu. (I get up at seven every morning.)

The particle “ni” in the sentence 1 has the function to indicate the time of action “seven o’clock”. For the sake of comparison to today’s sentence, note that the action “getting up at seven” is done in very short period of time without duration.

And the day before yesterday, we learned a sentence that didn’t use a verb. The sentence was to say start and end times of the continuous state as shown below.

[Subject] wa [Time1] kara [Time2] made desu.

2. Shigoto wa Hachi-ji kara Yo-ji made desu. (My work is from eight to four.)

Today’s sentence construction is a kind of “verb predicate sentence version of 2”.

[Subject] wa [Time1] kara [Time2] made [Verb] masu.

3. Watashi wa Hachi-ji kara Yo-ji made Hataraki masu. (I work from eight to four.)

where;

– hataraki masu: verb; work

The sentence 3 means that the action “work” continues from 8a.m. to 4p.m. These hours are not short period of time, while the action of sentence 1 was. Actually, the sentence 3 is a little bit simplified because we are still in early stage of learning Japanese verbs. The verb predicate “Hataraki masu” in this case is not the best to express duration of action. The expression for duration of action is “V-te iru”, which will be introduced later. So for today, let us focus not on the verb predicate, but on the part of “[Time1] kara [Time2] made”.

Take a look at sentences 1 and 3 again;

1. Watashi wa Maiasa Shichi-ji ni okimasu. (I get up at seven every morning.)

3. Watashi wa Hachi-ji kara Yo-ji made Hataraki masu. (I work from eight to four.)

What is most important thing today is as follows;

– In 1, the particle “ni” indicates the time of action. And usually, the action is instantaneous.

– In 3, the particle “made” indicates the ending time of continuous action.

Learn the difference between the particles “ni” and “made”.

Here are two quiz;

A. Watashi wa Getsu-youbi kara Kin-youbi made Hataraki masu.

B. Watashi wa Kin-youbi ni Hataraki masu.

Q1: Which of sentences A or B says “My work ends on Friday”?

Q2: Which of A or B says “I work on Friday”?

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4課A5”の内容を参照しています。>

Japanese Learning: The particle that parallelizes two nouns; [Noun1] to [Noun2]

Yesterday we learned an expression to talk about days of the week;

A : Yasumi wa Nan youbi desuka. (What day of the week is your holiday?)

B : Yasumi wa Moku youbi desu. (My holiday is Thursday.)

If you are “B”, and if your holidays are Saturday and Sunday, then how do you answer to the question that “A” is asking?

1. Yasumi wa Do youbi to Nichi youbi desu. (My holidays are Saturday and Sunday.)

In the sentence 1, you see the particle “to”. This particle “to” is used when saying two nouns parallelly. Although it looks like English preposition “to”, Japanese postposition “to” has completely different function. You may think the Japanese “to” works the same as “and” in English, but you need to be careful about its application.

2. right : ringo to mikan (an apple and a Mandarin orange)

3. wrong : yasui to oishii (reasonable and tasty)

4. wrong : hashiru to oyogu (run and swim)

“To” is used to say two words parallelly, only when they are nouns. You can use Japanese particle “to” for neither two adjectives nor two verbs. When you want to say two adjectives or two verbs parallelly, they have to be connected by different ways. These “different ways” will be explained later, not today.

Let me introduce two nouns that are used in today’s practice;

– Nihongo: noun (Japanese language)

– Jugyou: noun (class, teaching in classroom)

Using the particle “to”, practice and remember the following conversation.

A : Nihongo no Jugyou wa Nan youbi desuka. (What day of the week is your Japanese class?)

B : Nihongo no Jugyou wa Ka youbi to Kin youbi desu. (My Japanese classes are on Tuesday and Friday.)

Note that;

[Noun1] no [Noun2] => particle “no” is used to modify Noun2 by Noun1.

[Noun1] to [Noun2] => particle “to” is used to say two nouns parallelly.

Japanese Learning: Noun predicate sentences that use day of the week for the predicate; [Noun] wa [day of the week] desu.

To begin with, let’s learn days of the week.

Getsu youbi = Monday

Ka youbi = Tuesday

Sui youbi = Wednesday

Moku youbi = Thursday

Kin youbi = Friday

Do youbi = Saturday

Nichi youbi = Sunday

And the interrogative word for “What day of the week” is “Nan youbi”.

Since they are nouns, they can be a subject of a sentence. But let’s learn today sentences that use day of the week for predicates.

1. [Subject] wa [day of the week] desu.

example ; Yasumi wa Getsu youbi desu. (The holiday is Monday.)

where,

– yasumi : noun = holiday

– wa : particle = topic marker and in this case also the subject marker

– desu : sentence ending for present-positive with some politeness

Practice and remember the conversation below;

A : Yasumi wa Nan youbi desuka. (What day of the week is your holiday?)

B : Yasumi wa Moku youbi desu. (My holiday is Thursday.)

<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4課A2”の内容を参照しています。ただし、名詞並列の「と」は明日説明します。>