grammar - chapter 16
A. Plain Form of ~ましょう: ~よう
Recall from Lesson 3 in Japanese 1000 the ~ましょう form which translated as "let's" or "shall we". In this lesson, we will explore the plain form of ~ましょう, which is used in casual speech.
It can be conjugated as follows:
Group I (change the ~う to ~おう
聞く きこう
持つ もとう
ひっこす ひっこそう
すう そおう
Group II (change the る to よう)
しる しよう
あげる あげよう
Group III
する しよう
くる こよう
This format can also be used to express intentions or plans, in combination with the ~と思う / ~と思っている format. Note that [~よう + ~と思う / ~と思っている] can be used exclusively to express your own plans, while [Dictionary Form of Verb + ~と思う / ~と思っている] is used to express others' intentions only. For example:
公園でさんぽしようと思います。 I'm thinking of taking a leisurely walk through the park.
公園でさんぽしようと思います。 Tanaka is thinking of taking a leisurely walk through the park.
Go here to watch a video and take a quiz on plain form of mashou (Unit 36)
Recall from Lesson 3 in Japanese 1000 the ~ましょう form which translated as "let's" or "shall we". In this lesson, we will explore the plain form of ~ましょう, which is used in casual speech.
It can be conjugated as follows:
Group I (change the ~う to ~おう
聞く きこう
持つ もとう
ひっこす ひっこそう
すう そおう
Group II (change the る to よう)
しる しよう
あげる あげよう
Group III
する しよう
くる こよう
This format can also be used to express intentions or plans, in combination with the ~と思う / ~と思っている format. Note that [~よう + ~と思う / ~と思っている] can be used exclusively to express your own plans, while [Dictionary Form of Verb + ~と思う / ~と思っている] is used to express others' intentions only. For example:
公園でさんぽしようと思います。 I'm thinking of taking a leisurely walk through the park.
公園でさんぽしようと思います。 Tanaka is thinking of taking a leisurely walk through the park.
Go here to watch a video and take a quiz on plain form of mashou (Unit 36)
B. Indicating a Range of Activities: ~たり、 ~たりする
This grammar point is used to list a range of activities, with the implication being that the activities mentioned were only some of what occured/occurs.
To put verbs in this format, simply add り to the た form of the verbs. Often, there will be two or more verbs in a sentence. Often, the last verb in the sequence will be followed by some form of する.
週末はしゅうくだいをしたり、ビデオゲ-ムをしたり、5KMでは走たりします。
This grammar point is used to list a range of activities, with the implication being that the activities mentioned were only some of what occured/occurs.
To put verbs in this format, simply add り to the た form of the verbs. Often, there will be two or more verbs in a sentence. Often, the last verb in the sequence will be followed by some form of する.
週末はしゅうくだいをしたり、ビデオゲ-ムをしたり、5KMでは走たりします。
C. Indicating an Addition:~し
~しis used to connect two or more things that are similar. It can be translated as "what's more" or "and besides". This point can also be used to indicate reason for [Sentence/Phrase 2] in a given sentence.
To use this grammar point, simply add it to the plain form of any verb, adjective or noun.
天気がわるいし、お金がないし、公園で泳ぎません。 Since the weather is bad, and I haven't got any money, I won't go swimming at the park today.
~しis used to connect two or more things that are similar. It can be translated as "what's more" or "and besides". This point can also be used to indicate reason for [Sentence/Phrase 2] in a given sentence.
To use this grammar point, simply add it to the plain form of any verb, adjective or noun.
天気がわるいし、お金がないし、公園で泳ぎません。 Since the weather is bad, and I haven't got any money, I won't go swimming at the park today.
D. Nominalizing a Sentence: の / こと
This grammar point is translated best as "(the fact) that". It is attached to verbs to turn them into nouns. The example below illustrates the difference between using の / こと and omitting it.
田中さんはサッカ-がす好きです。 Tanaka likes soccer.
田中さんはサッカ-をするのがす好きです。 Tanaka likes playing soccer.
Adding の / ことmakes the verb function like a noun.
Generally, の is used more in conversation than こと. Some other things that make の different from こと are:
Ex. すずきさんが歌っているのが聞きます。
- it is preferred in sentences using ~が上手 / 下手だ / 好きだ / きらいだ / いやだ
This grammar point is translated best as "(the fact) that". It is attached to verbs to turn them into nouns. The example below illustrates the difference between using の / こと and omitting it.
田中さんはサッカ-がす好きです。 Tanaka likes soccer.
田中さんはサッカ-をするのがす好きです。 Tanaka likes playing soccer.
Adding の / ことmakes the verb function like a noun.
Generally, の is used more in conversation than こと. Some other things that make の different from こと are:
- の is only used in the following types of sentences:
Ex. すずきさんが歌っているのが聞きます。
- it is preferred in sentences using ~が上手 / 下手だ / 好きだ / きらいだ / いやだ
- こと is only used with the following sentence structure: [Noun] は [Noun] です。
E. Noun Modification: Abstract Nouns
We have explored noun modification several times throughout these courses. In this look at noun modification, abstract/ relative clauses will be explained.
For a reminder of basic noun modification, return to Lesson 10 and Lesson 13. As with previous lessons on noun modification, recall that the word/phrase you wish to modify often comes immediately before words like "which", "that" and "who" (as we think in English).
Below are some examples of this with abstract phrases:
We have explored noun modification several times throughout these courses. In this look at noun modification, abstract/ relative clauses will be explained.
For a reminder of basic noun modification, return to Lesson 10 and Lesson 13. As with previous lessons on noun modification, recall that the word/phrase you wish to modify often comes immediately before words like "which", "that" and "who" (as we think in English).
Below are some examples of this with abstract phrases:
- コ-ヒ-を作る人がやさしいです。 The person who makes coffee is nice.
- たくさん木がある所へ行きましょう。 Let's go to the