grammar - chapter 11
A. If/When: たら
たら joins two sentences together to indicate that when sentence 1 occurs, sentence 2 will occur as well. In English, we think of this when we use words like "when", "if" or sometimes "after". The format for using たら is as follows:
[sentence 1 + たら] + [sentence 2]
The たら form is conjugated the same as the た form you first learned in JPNS 1100. For clarification, see below:
Plain form -tara form
U verbs
to stand (positive) たつ たったら
to be at a loss (negative) こまらない こまらなかったら
Iru/eru verbs
to wake up (positive) おきる おきたら
to sleep (negative) ねない ねなかったら
Irregular verbs
to do する したら
to come くる きたら
A Adjectives
expensive (positive) たかい たかかったら
cheap (negative) やすい やすくなかっら
Na Adjectives/Nouns
beautiful きれいだ きれいじゃなかったら
convenient べんりだ べんりじゃなかったら
Intended Use of たら:
It cannot express factual statements in present tense.
When たら is used in a sentence written in past tense (i.e.; the final verb of the sentence in sentence 2 is in past tense), it indicates that sentence 2 was surprising or unexpected.
あしたモールで映画を見たら、すずき先生に会いました。 When I saw a movie at the mall yesterday, I saw/met Suzuki sensei.
Finally, a speaker can ask for advice using the たら form by using the following format:
[question word] + [verb + たらいいですか]
来週何曜日に会ったらいいですか。 When (what day) should we meet next week?
Note that you don't need to have two sentences/phrases to ask a question in the たら form.
Using Tara Review-hot potatoes
たら joins two sentences together to indicate that when sentence 1 occurs, sentence 2 will occur as well. In English, we think of this when we use words like "when", "if" or sometimes "after". The format for using たら is as follows:
[sentence 1 + たら] + [sentence 2]
The たら form is conjugated the same as the た form you first learned in JPNS 1100. For clarification, see below:
Plain form -tara form
U verbs
to stand (positive) たつ たったら
to be at a loss (negative) こまらない こまらなかったら
Iru/eru verbs
to wake up (positive) おきる おきたら
to sleep (negative) ねない ねなかったら
Irregular verbs
to do する したら
to come くる きたら
A Adjectives
expensive (positive) たかい たかかったら
cheap (negative) やすい やすくなかっら
Na Adjectives/Nouns
beautiful きれいだ きれいじゃなかったら
convenient べんりだ べんりじゃなかったら
Intended Use of たら:
- That for sentence 2 to occur, sentence 1 is required.
Ex: しゅくだいをおわったら、パーチエーに行きます。 If I finish my homework, I will go to the party. - Express Intention.
あした雨がふくなかったら、来ます。 If it doesn't rain, then I will come. - Make a request.
テストをおわったら、出してください。 When you finish your test, please hand it in. - Express obligation.
It cannot express factual statements in present tense.
When たら is used in a sentence written in past tense (i.e.; the final verb of the sentence in sentence 2 is in past tense), it indicates that sentence 2 was surprising or unexpected.
あしたモールで映画を見たら、すずき先生に会いました。 When I saw a movie at the mall yesterday, I saw/met Suzuki sensei.
Finally, a speaker can ask for advice using the たら form by using the following format:
[question word] + [verb + たらいいですか]
来週何曜日に会ったらいいですか。 When (what day) should we meet next week?
Note that you don't need to have two sentences/phrases to ask a question in the たら form.
Using Tara Review-hot potatoes
B. Think That...: と思う
と思う is used to talk about what you are thinking and feeling, or to express opinions, ideas, guesses and intentions. It can also be used to ask about other people's thoughts. The format is as follows:
[person が] + [thought/feeling/etc. と] おもう
Some tips:
と思う is used to talk about what you are thinking and feeling, or to express opinions, ideas, guesses and intentions. It can also be used to ask about other people's thoughts. The format is as follows:
[person が] + [thought/feeling/etc. と] おもう
Some tips:
- Often in these sentences, 私が is omitted because it is understood that おもう refers to the speakers thoughts.
- と indicates that the phrase preceding it is a quotation
- thoughts are expressed in the plain form
- to express a thought you are having at the time of your statement, use とおもっている
C. する and なる verbs revisited
In previous lessons with する and なる, we differentiated between to do (する) and to become (なる). Verbs can also be divided into する and なる depending on if the subject or the actor controls the action. する verbs (i.e.; transitive verbs) are verbs that express an intentional action on the speaker's part or action that the speaker controls, such as 食べる (to eat), 行く (to go), つける (to turn on). なる verbs (i,e,; intransitive verbs) are verbs that focus on the results of an action or something that happens without the subject's control, such as あく (to open by itself), つく (to turn on by itself). Here is an illustrative example below:
私は電気をつける。 I turn on the light.
電気がつく。 The light turns on.
In the first sentence, the subject controls the sentence. In the second, the action occurs outside of the speaker's control. As in this example, many verbs will have two forms, a する form and a なる form.
Transitive Verbs (する) often take the particle を when discussing the direct object. Intransitive Verbs (なる) often take the particle が when discussing the direct object.
For a list of paired transitive and intransitive verbs, see page 72 in SFJ Notes Book 2.
Flash videos testing transitive-intransitive
Transitive-Intransitive Review 1-hot potatoes
Transitive-Intransitive Review 2-hot potatoes
Transitive-Intransitive Review 3-hot potatoes
In previous lessons with する and なる, we differentiated between to do (する) and to become (なる). Verbs can also be divided into する and なる depending on if the subject or the actor controls the action. する verbs (i.e.; transitive verbs) are verbs that express an intentional action on the speaker's part or action that the speaker controls, such as 食べる (to eat), 行く (to go), つける (to turn on). なる verbs (i,e,; intransitive verbs) are verbs that focus on the results of an action or something that happens without the subject's control, such as あく (to open by itself), つく (to turn on by itself). Here is an illustrative example below:
私は電気をつける。 I turn on the light.
電気がつく。 The light turns on.
In the first sentence, the subject controls the sentence. In the second, the action occurs outside of the speaker's control. As in this example, many verbs will have two forms, a する form and a なる form.
Transitive Verbs (する) often take the particle を when discussing the direct object. Intransitive Verbs (なる) often take the particle が when discussing the direct object.
For a list of paired transitive and intransitive verbs, see page 72 in SFJ Notes Book 2.
Flash videos testing transitive-intransitive
Transitive-Intransitive Review 1-hot potatoes
Transitive-Intransitive Review 2-hot potatoes
Transitive-Intransitive Review 3-hot potatoes
D. Called ...: という
This is used to discuss words that are unfamiliar to the listener and/or speaker.
The format for the sentence is: [known word] という [unknown word]
For example:
あした「うまみ」というレストランに行きます。 Tomorrow I am going to a restaurant called Umami.
This is used to discuss words that are unfamiliar to the listener and/or speaker.
The format for the sentence is: [known word] という [unknown word]
For example:
あした「うまみ」というレストランに行きます。 Tomorrow I am going to a restaurant called Umami.
E. Extent: で
When で is preceded by a quantity of something, time, or amount of money, it indicates extent.
一週間でレポートを書きました。 I wrote the report in one week.
このCDを1500円で買いました。 I bought this CD for 1500 Yen.
このぺんは五つで300円です。 These pens are five for 300 Yen.
When で is preceded by a quantity of something, time, or amount of money, it indicates extent.
一週間でレポートを書きました。 I wrote the report in one week.
このCDを1500円で買いました。 I bought this CD for 1500 Yen.
このぺんは五つで300円です。 These pens are five for 300 Yen.
F. Duration and Cost: かかる
To talk about how much something costs, use the following format: [time/money + が] + [quantity/duration + で] + かかる
The [time/money + が] can often be omitted.
このシャツはどのぐらいかかりますか。 How much does this shirt cost?
1530円かかります。 It costs 1530 Yen.
To talk about how much something costs, use the following format: [time/money + が] + [quantity/duration + で] + かかる
The [time/money + が] can often be omitted.
このシャツはどのぐらいかかりますか。 How much does this shirt cost?
1530円かかります。 It costs 1530 Yen.
G. Frequency per Unit: に
一日 / 日 に 3度 3 times a day
一週間 / 週 に 2日 2 days a week
一か月 / 月 に 1回 once a month
一年 / 年 に 1,2度 once or t
The counters 度 and 回 above can be used interchangeably.
一日 / 日 に 3度 3 times a day
一週間 / 週 に 2日 2 days a week
一か月 / 月 に 1回 once a month
一年 / 年 に 1,2度 once or t
The counters 度 and 回 above can be used interchangeably.