タグ: volitional form

Japanese learning (A3 S31): Stating your Will using a Verb in Volitional Form: [Verb in Volitional Form] to Omotte imasu.

1. Nihon e Ikou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about going to Japan.)

We can’t find a subject in the sentence 1. If there is no subject in a sentence of beginners’ level, the subject is usually “Watashi (I)”. Then the sentence structure would be displayed as below;

2. [Subject=Watashi] wa {Verb Clause} to Omotte imasu.

We have already learned an expression of embedded clause in the exercises A1 and A2 of the section 21, where the sentences end with “to omoimasu.”. “to” is a particle that marks the end of the embedded clause. As for “Omoimasu” was just a Masu-form of the verb “Omou”. In the today’s sentence construction, the sentence’s ending is “Omotte imasu.” Why “V-te imasu” is used for today’s sentence? If someone says “Ikou to Omoimasu”, would this make big difference? Probably there is not much difference between “to Omoimasu” and “to Omotte imasu” because “Omou(think)” is a verb that tends to be stative rather than active. But for the sentence 1, it would be better to use “to Omotte imasu.” because you have been thinking for some period of time about what you are going to do from now on. “Have been thinking” is the point to use “V-te imasu”. And let me say this; mastering “V-te iru” is important to proceed from beginner’s level to intermediate level. This is a good chance to learn application of “V-te iru”.

The followings are examples of today’s sentence construction.

<Group 2 Verbs>

– Ashita, Eiga o Miyou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about to watching a movie tomorrow.)

– Nichiyoubi, Itaria Ryouri o Tabeyou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about eating Italian food on Sunday.)

<Group 3 Verbs>

– Rainen mo Kono Umi ni Koyou to Omotte imasu. (I am thinking about coming to this seashore again next year.)

– Nihon o Ryokou-shiyou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about traveling in Japan.)

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Atarashii Pasokon o Kaou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about buying a new personal computer.)

Gr-K : Nihon de Hatarakou to Omotte immasu. (I have been thinking about working in Japan.)

Gr1-G : Hawai no Umi de Oyogou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about swimming in the beach in Hawaii.)

Gr1-S : Raishuu Apa’ato o Sagasou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about looking for an apartment.)

Gr1-T : Tsugi no Shiai de Katou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about winning the upcoming match.)

Gr1-B : Renkyuu ni Toukyou de Asobou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about having a fun in Tokyo in consecutive holidays.)

Gr1-M : Shizukana Machi ni Sumou to Omotte imasu. (I have been thinking about living in a quiet town.)

Gr1-R : Ichiban Mae no Seki ni Suwarou to Omotte imasu. (I am thinking about sitting in the front raw.)

What we are learning above is a sentence to express a will with a verb in volitional form. Of course, a learner needs to learn a lot of volitional forms in order to be able to utter the sentence of today. But a fact is that many learners don’t want to learn volitional forms and would tend to substitute the following sentence for today’s sentence.

– [V-masu without “masu”]+tai desu. / tai to Omoimasu. / tai to Omotteimasu.

Example; Nihon e Ikitai desu. (I want to go to Japan.)

This sentence using “-tai” is to express your desire, hope, and wish that are a little different from a will. It is desirable for learners to learn volitional form because the form is very often used for expressing your will, and as shown yesterday, for casual suggestions.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section31 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A2 S31): Making a Suggestion to a Friend in Casual Speech Style: [Verb in Volitional Form]

There is a very important issue when learning Japanese. But a textbook writer hardly writes it in the book explicitly, nor a teacher teaches well in the classroom. You have to choose the speech style properly in accordance with your listeners and the situation. If the level of learners is intermediate or higher, I would present four speech style; Rough, Friendly, Polite, and Honorific. But for beginners, I would tell learners to choose one of two speech style properly. They are casual and polite speech styles.

– Casual speech style: Use this style when talking to your friends. Ends of sentence take the forms of “short ending style” and often a friendly ending particles like “-yo.”, “-ne.”, and “-yone.” are attached at the end of the sentence.

– Polite speech style: Use this style when talking in public space like a school, company, station of the public transportation, and so on. Ends of sentence take the forms of “Desu-Masu style”.

If someone speaks in casual speech style where actually people should use polite speech style, his/her Japanese would sound rude. In worst case scenario, an error on selecting speech style would bring a serious consequence for foreign people. Therefore, a Japanese teacher must teach this speech style issue well, in order to prevent the learner from such a dangerous situation.

Most of Japanese sentences in Minna no Nihongo are written in polite speech style. So, it is safe for people from foreign country to speak to native Japanese speakers with what is written in Minna no Nihongo. Some exceptions are the section 20 which is to learn the short endings for sentences and the casual speech style. And also, the exercise A2 in the section 31 is introducing expressions that is to be used in casual speech style. It’s simple. It’s just to use a volitional form when telling your suggestion to people intimate to you, like friends.

The followings are examples of casual suggestions using Volitional form of verbs;

<Group 2 Verbs>

– Ashita, Roku-ji ni Okiyou. (Let’s get up at 6 tomorrow.)

– Isshoni Hiru-Gohan o Tabeyou. (Let’s have a lunch together.)

<Group 3 Verbs>

– Rainen mo Kono Umi ni Koyou. (Let’s come to this seashore again next year.)

– Kono Kouen o Sampo-shiyou. (Let’s walk this park.)

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Uta o Utaou. (Let’s sing a song.)

Gr-K : Eki made Arukou. (Let’s walk to the station.)

Gr1-G : Pu’uru de Oyogou. (Let’s swim in the pool.)

Gr1-S : Nihongo de Hanasou. (Let’s talk in Japanese.)

Gr1-T : Basu o Matou. (Let’s wait for a bus.)

Gr1-B : Kono Kouen de Asobou. (Let’s play in this park.)

Gr1-M : Kono Hon o Yomou. (Let’s read this book.)

Gr1-R : Basutei made Hasirou. (Let’s run to the bus stop.)

So, the above suggestions using volitional form are to be used to your friend, because they are expressions in casual speech style. If the last one (Gr1-R) is changed to be expressions of polite speech style, it would be like follows;

A: Basutei made Hashirimasenka.

B: Hai, Hashirimashou.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section31 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A1 S31): A Verb Conjugation “Volitional form”: Patterns for Group1, 2, and 3 verbs

The section 31 of Minna no Nihongo is to learn expressions of intention. One of such sentences to express your intention, “Volitional form” of a verb is used. The exercise A1 is listing Masu-form and Volitional-form. Also in this post, Volitional forms of verbs are shown for each conjugation patterns below;

VOLITIONAL FORM of VERBS

Dictionary Form / Masu Form — Volitional Form

<Group 2 Verbs>

Okiru / Okimasu (get up) — Okiyou

Oshieru / Oshiemasu (teach/tell) — Oshieyou

Taberu / Tabemasu (eat) — Tabeyou

<Group 3 Verbs>

Kuru / Kimasu (come) — Koyou

Suru / Shimasu (do) — Shiyou

<Group1 Verbs>

Gr1-W : Tsukau / Tsukaimasu (use) — Tsukaou

Gr-K : Aruku / Arukimasu (walk) — Arukou

Gr1-G : Oyogu / Oyogimasu (swim) — Oyogou

Gr1-S : Naosu / Naoshimasu (repair, correct) — Naosou

Gr1-T : Matsu / Machimasu (wait for) — Matou

Gr1-B : Asobu / Asobimasu (play for fun) — Asobou

Gr1-M : Yomu / Yomimasu (read) — Yomou

Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — Hasirou

It will be shown in the exercises A2 and A3 about how these verbs in volitional forms are used in a sentence. Today I just show you the above list, but let me add an explanation about a difficult part. When it comes to verb conjugations, it would be difficult for learners to distinguish between Group2 verbs and Group1-R verbs.

Gr2 : Okiru / Okimasu (get up) — <RIGHT>Okiyou   <WRONG>Okirou

Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — <RIGHT>Hasirou  <WRONG>Hashiyou

As you see above, the right volitional forms use “-you” for Group2 verbs and “-rou” for Group1-R verbs. The followings are a little bit of exercises

Q: Which is the right Volitional Form?

1. Tsukuru/Tsukurimasu — Tsukuyou  OR  Tsukurou

2. Neru/Nemasu — Neyou  OR  Nerou

3. Nemuru/Nemurimasu — Nemuyou  OR  Nemurou

4. Shiraberu/Shirabemasu — Shirabeyou  OR  Shiraberou

5. Kaeru/Kaerimasu — Kaeyou  OR  Kaerou

6. Suwaru/Suwarimasu — Suwayou  OR  Suwarou

7. Kuraberu/Kurabemasu — Kurabeyou  OR  Kuraberou

8. Yameru/Yamemasu — Yameyou  OR  Yamerou

9. Sawaru/Sawarimasu — Sawayou  OR  Sawarou

10. Hajimeru/Hajimemasu — Hajimeyou  OR  Hajimerou

The answers will be shown tomorrow (Probably, maybe, perhaps…,). How to solve the above questions are as follows;

<1> Make Nai-form

<2> What is just in front of “-nai”?

<3> If it’s “i” or “e”, the verb is Group2 verb, if it’s “ra”, the verb is Group1-R.

<4> For Gr2, put “-you”. For Gr1-R, put “-rou” to the stem of verb.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section31 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”