タグ: jananese learning

Japanese Learning: Superlative expressions using adjectives and adverb “ichiban”; [A] de [B] ga Ichiban [Adjective] desu.

In this post, we are going to learn superlative expressions in the form of conversation with a question and an answer. The constructions are as follows;

Q : [Noun] de [Interrogative word] ga Ichiban [Adjective] desuka.

A : [Subject] ga Ichiban [Adjective] desu.

In order to learn the above expressions, we need to know the followings;

– These are Adjective predicate sentences. Therefore, you need to recognize whether the adjective you are going to use is an I-adjective or Na-adjective.

– The particle “de” in this context has a function to limit the range/variation of a Noun.

– An interrogative word shall be chosen in accordance with the noun.

– The adverb “Ichiban” works to indicate the sentence is superlative.

Practice and remember well the following examples of conversation, especially about what an interrogative word is being used in the question.

1. Nani = what

Q : Kudamono de Nani ga Ichiban Oishii desuka. (What is the best fruit?)

A : Ringo ga Ichiban Oishii desu.(I think an apple is the best.)

2. Dare = who

Q : Kurasumeeto de Dare ga Ichiban Genki desuka. (Who is the most energetic student in your class?)

A : Satou-san ga Ichiban Genki desu. (Sato-san is the most energetic.)

3. Doko = where

Q : Nihon de Doko ga Ichiban Kirei desuka. (Where is the most beautiful place in Japan?)

A : Hokkaidou ga Ichiban Kirei desu. (Hokkaido is the most beautiful.)

4. Itsu = when

Q : Ichinen de Itsu ga Ichiban Isogashii desuka. (When is the busiest time in a year?)

A : Sangatsu ga Ichiban Isogashii desu. (March is the busiest in a year.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 12 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: Sentence Endings of “Past-Positive” for Noun, Na- adjective, and I-adjective Predicates; Use Properly “Deshita” or “Kattadesu”

Sentence endings are the most important part of Japanese sentences. We have already learned sentence endings in past tense for verb predicate sentences;

– Past-positive : V+ mashita

example: Tabemashita (ate)

– Past-negative : V+ masendeshita

example: Tabemasendeshita (didn’t eat)

There are four types of predicate sentences in Japanese. Let’s learn the endings of past-positive for Noun, Na-adjective, and I-adjective predicate sentences.

1. Noun Predicate => [Noun]+deshita.

 example : San’nen mae, Watashi wa Koukousei deshita.

(Three years ago, I was a high school student.)

Note that “Koukousei” is a noun

2. Na-adjective => [Na-adj]+deshita.

 example : San’nen mae. Kono kouen wa Kirei deshita.

(Three years ago, this park was clean and beautiful.)

Note that “Kirei” is not an I-adjective but Na-adjective. And spelling is “Kirei”, but pronunciation is “Kire’e”.

3. I-adjective => [I-adj]+kattadesu.

example : Kinou wa Atatakatta desu.

(Yesterday, it was warm.)

Note that you need to use “kattadesu” for “Past-Positive” of an I-adjective predicate sentence. DO NOT SAY “×Atatakai deshita”, which is wrong.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 12 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: “Kakarimasu” a verb to say How long it does take (2)

The following sentence was shown yesterday;

1. Watashi no Ie kara Kaisha made Densha de Yon juppun Kakarimasu.

(It takes forty minutes from my home to the company by train.)

How to describe minutes and hours like Yon Juppun was shown yesterday. So, let us look at some other things in the sentence 1.

[Place A] kara [Place B] made

“Kara”and “made” have been already introduced; “A kara” means the starting time, and “B made” means the ending time. Not only for starting time and ending time, “A kara B made” is also used to express spatial starting point and ending point.

[Means of Transportation] de

Particle “de” is used to describe what you use when you take action. Although there are many types of usage of “-de”, typical usages are as below;

– Means of transportation

example : Maiasa Basu de Kaisha e Ikimasu. (I go to the company by bus every morning.)

– Place where action takes

example : Ie de Nemasu. (I sleep in my house.)

– Tools/Means

example : Nihonjin wa Hashi de Gohan o Tabemasu. (Japanese eat food using chopsticks.)

– Language

example : “Butaniku” wa Eigo de Nan desuka. (What is it called for Butaniku in English?)

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Satou-san no Ie kara Kaisha made Densha de Donokurai Kakarimasuka.

(Sato-san, how long does it take from your home to the campany?)

B : Watashi no Ie kara Kaisha made Densha de Ichi jikan Kakarimasu.

(From my home to the company, it takes about one hour.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A6 on Section 11 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: Numbering System for Counting Number of People; Hitori, Futari, San’nin —

The numbering system fir counting number of people in Japanese is as below;

– one = Ichi, one person = Hitori

– two = Ni, two people = Futari

– three = San, three people = San-nin

– four = Yon, four people = Yo-nin (Don’t say Shi-nin which means a dead person)

– five = Go, five people = Go-nin

– six = Roku, six people = Roku-nin

– seven = Shichi, seven people = Shichi-nin

– eight = Hachi, eight people = Hachi-nin

– nine = Kyuu, nine people = Kyuu-nin, Ku-nin

– ten = Juu, ten people = Juu-nin

As shown above, you need to remember Hitori and Futari, but for three and more, you just use the quantifier “-nin”.

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Kono Kyoushitu ni Ryuugakusei ga Nan-nin Imasuka. (How many international students are in this classroom?)

B : Kono Kyoushitsu ni Ryuugakusei ga Yo-nin Imasu. (Four international students are in this classroom.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section 11 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

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。>