We learned yesterday an expression using combination of “Masu-form without ‘masu’” and “sugi mashita”. Using “Masu-form”, the expression was about verb, which describes that you did something too much. On the other, today’s expression uses I-adjectives or Na-adjectives. Both adjectives are placed in front of “sugi masu” in the form of the stem. The stem is part of a conjugation word that doesn’t change by conjugation.
[Conjugation Word] = [Stem] + [Inflection Ending] = [No Change] + [Changing part]
In the case of I-adjectives, the stem is a word head which “i” is eliminated from noun-modifying form and short ending form. In the case of Na-adjective, the stem is a word head which “na” is eliminated from noun-modifying form or “da” is eliminated from short ending form.
1. Kono Co’ohi’i wa Ko sugi masu. (This coffee is too strong.)
“Koi” is an adjective that means a liquid is thick. Taking “i” away from “Koi”, you get “Ko”, and it can be combined with “sugi masu” to be “Ko sugi masu”.
2. Kono Tesuto no Mondai wa Kantan sugi masu. (Questions in this examination are too easy.)
“Kantanna/Kantanda” is a Na-adjective that means easy. Its stem is “Kantan”.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 of Section44 in “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
