タグ: V-ta+toki

Japanese learning (A2 S23): Adverbial Clause similar to “When-Clasue” that describe a Timing of an Action in Main Clause: [V-dic/V-ta Clause] toki, [Main Clause].

Yesterday, we learned the sentence construction in which the adverbial clause ending with “-toki,” modifies the main clause. And verbs in the adverbial clause are in Dictionary form or Nai-form so that they can be placed in front of a noun “toki”. Examples are as follows;

1. Eigo no Hon o Yomu toki, Denshi-Jisho o Tsukaimasu. (When I read an English book, I use an electronic dictionary. — Dictionary form + toki

2. Denwa ni Derarenai toki, Me’eru o Kudasai. (If you can’t answer my phone call, send me an email.) — Nai-form + toki   

There adverbial clauses ending with “toki,” in 1 and 2 are a kind of conditional clauses. You see “if” in English translation of the sentence 2. Conditions are;

<1> Condition is that the action “Yomu (read)” takes place.

<2> Condition is that the situation “Derarenai (can’t answer the phone)” exists.

It is like these conditions are “when you do” and “when you don’t (can’t) do”. But think about verbs. For most of verbs, things change from before the action taking place to after the action had been done. In Japanese, an action which is not yet taken place becomes Dictionary form. An action which has already been done becomes Ta-form. So for today, let us learn the difference between the following two;

[V-dic] + toki, [Main Clause].

[V-ta] + toki, [Main Clause].

(1) Main Clause of Present tense

– Maiasa Kaisha ni Iku toki, Densha ni Norimasu. (When I go to my company every morning, I get on a train.) — Dictionary form + toki,

– Maiasa Kaisha ni Itta toki, Minna ni Aisatsu o Shimasu. (When I get to my company every morning, I say hello to my co-workers.) — Ta-form + toki,

(2) Main Clause of Past tense

– Narita Kuukou e Iku toki, Kaban o Kaimashita. (While I was on the way to Narita Airport, I bought a bag.) — Dictionary form + toki,

– Narita Kuukou e Itta toki, Kaban o Kaimashita. (When I got to Narita Airport, I bought a bag there.) — Ta-form + toki,

In the above examples, you can see that tenses do not agree between subordinate clause and the main clause. Paying attention to tense agreement is good, but it is more important to decide the tense of each verb based on if it’s action of “already done” or “about to be done”.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section23 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A1 S23): Adverbial Clause similar to “When-Clasue” that describes a Condition: [V-dic/V-nai Clause] toki, [Main Clause].

Recently, we have learned how to modify a noun using a verb clause. In today’s sentence construction too, a verb modifies a noun. The noun is “toki” which basically means “time” and “when”.

1. Densha ni Noru toki, Kippu o Kaimasu. (When getting on a train, I buy a ticket.)

Let’s analyze the construction of the sentence 1;

– [Densha ni Noru]+toki, Kippu o Kaimasu. = [Verb Clause]+toki, [Main Clause].

In this construction, “[Verb Clause]+toki” works as an adverbial for the main clause, especially its predicate, the verb “Kaimasu”. And sentences of this construction don’t simply express when to do something, but also have a nuance of preconditions for the main clause. For example, look at the sentence 1 again;

1. Densha ni Noru toki, Kippu o Kaimasu.

English translation is (When getting on a train, I buy a ticket.)

But it can also be translated as follows (If I get on a train, I will buy a ticket.), which has more nuance of precondition in the “V+toki”.

The sentence 1 uses the dictionary form of the verb “Noru/Norimasu” just in front of “toki”. If a Nai-form is used, the nuance of precondition becomes more clear as shown below;

2. Kippu no Kai kata ga Wakaranai toki, Ekiin ni Kiite Kudasai.

(If you don’t know how to buy a ticket, please ask a station employee.)

Because “[V-dic]+toki,” and “[V-nai]+ toki,” have a nuance of precondition for the main clause, a sentence of today’s construction tends to talk about the usual state, rather than to be time/date specific.

3-1 Juu ichi-ji ni Douro o Wataru toki, Kuruma ni Ki o Tsukemasu. (Time-specific)

(When I cross a road at eleven o’clock, I will be careful about cars.)

3-2 Douro o Wataru toki, Itsumo Kuruma ni Ki o Tsukemasu. (In usual state)

    (When I cross a road, I always become careful about cars.)

Of course, the sentence 3-1 is not common.

4-1 Suiyoubi ni Shimbun o Yomu toki, Megane o Kakemasu. (Date-specific)

(When I read a newspaper on Wednesday, I put glasses.)

4-2 Shimbun o Yomu toki, Taitei Megane o Kakemasu. (In usual state)

    (When I read a newspaper, I usually put glasses.)

4-1 sounds funny. It should be “Yonda toki” and “Kakemashita” in past tense.

But what I am talking about is not absolute. Look at the following;

5. Mokuyoubi ni Byouin he Iku toki, Hokenshou o Motte Ikimasu. (Date-specific)

(When I go to the hospital on Thursday, I will bring my health insurance card.)

The sentence 5 is date-specific, and it’s likely to be used in some occasion.

Not only “[V-dic]+toki,”, read and remember the following sentences with “[V-nai]+ toki,”;

6. Ryouri ga Dekinai toki, Shokudou de Gohan o Tabemasu.

    (When I can’t cook, I eat my meal in restaurant.)

7. Okane ga Nai toki, Osake o Nomi ni Ikimasen.

    (When I don’t have money, I don’t go drink alcohol.)

Note that the Nai-form of “Aru/Arimasu” is not “Aranai” but just “Nai”.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section23 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”