タグ: no o

Yesterday we learned sentences in which “V-dic + no” is applied to the object of a transitive verb predicate sentence, particularly;

(Watashi wa) [{V-dic} + no ] o Wasure mashita.

Example : Shukudai o Suru no o Wasure mashita. (I forgot to do the homework.)

Today’s sentences are also similar kinds that have “V+no” in the object part of a transitive verb predicate sentence.

(Anata wa ) [ V + no ] o Shitte imasuka.

“Anata wa” is the subject, but Japanese hardly use “Anata” in conversation. “Anata” is used only when a wife calls her husband. Therefore, it’s better for you to avoid saying “Anata” in conversation with ordinary people. The transitive verb for predicate was “Wasure mashita” for yesterday, which was a simple past tense. But today’s predicate verb is different, “Shitte imasuka”. It is a question because the last letter “ka (か)” is an ending particle for question. More importantly, “Shitte imasu” is a “V-te iru”. Note that “Shiru” is an instantaneous action as a verb, and “Shitte iru” is stative. Therefore, English verb “know” is translated into not “Shiru/Shirimasu” but “Shitte iru/Shitte imasu”.

Another important thing is that verbs for “V+no” are not only dictionary form but also Nai-form and Ta-form. When you ask a question “Do you know?”, the question can be about a thing about to happen, about a thing that “isn’t”, or about a thing in the past or completed.

(1) [V-dic + no] o Shitte imasuka.

(2) [V-nai + no] o Shitte imasuka.

(3) [V-ta + no] o Shitte imasuka.

The examples are shown below in the comparison with verb in other forms;

1. Ashita Satou-san ga Taiin-suru no o Shitte imasuka. (Do you know Sato-san will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow?)

2. Kinou Satou-san ga Taiin-shita no o Shitte imasuka. (Do you know Sato-san was discharged from the hospital yesterday?)

“Taiin-suru” is dictionary form, while “Taiin-shita” is Ta-form.

3. Raishuu no Kayoubi, Gomi no Shuushuu ga Aru no o Sitte imasuka. (Do you know that garbage collecting will be done in Tuesday next week?)

4. Raishuu no Kayoubi, Gomi no Shuushuu ga Nai no o Sitte imasuka. (Do you know that garbage collecting will be done in Tuesday next week?)

The sentence 3 uses the dictionary form of “Aru” for positive context. Since the sentence 4 is of negative context, you need to use a Nai-form. But be careful, the Nai-form of “Aru” is not “Aranai” but “Nai”.

5. Machi no Higashi ni Atarashii Shoppingu Mo’oru ga Dekita no o Shitte imasuka.

(Do you know the new shopping mall was built in the eastern part of the town?)

“Dekiru” is used for the potential form of “Suru”. But “Dekiru” is also used as a verb that means something is built, comes up, and is completed. If you say “Shoppingu Mo’oru ga Dekiru no o Sitteimasuka.”, your question means “Do you know a shopping mall will be completed?”. The sentence 5 is a question about a shopping mall that has already completed. Therefore, the verb “Dekiru” needs to be Ta-form “Dekita”. Remember that Ta-form is for past/perfect tense.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section38 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”