grammar - CHAPTER 3
A. Giving and Receiving (SFJ Notes pg 56-7)
Understanding the language of giving and receiving relies on first the understanding of the verbs to use in each situation and secondly on the function of particles in relation to each verb.
To begin this section, you must first know the verbs to give (あげる・あげます) and to receive (もらう・もらいます). Below is a quick demonstration:
These examples do not demonstrate who the present is given to or received from. To indicate this, the use of the directional particle に or から is used. However, this particle changes meaning depending on if it is used in a sentence with give (あげる) or receive (もらう). Each sentence pattern has a basic formula that students can follow.
Receiving
Basic Sentence Pattern:
RECEIVER はGIVER に・から THING をもらいます。
Receiver wa giver ni/kara thing o moraimasu.
Some examples:
The Basic Sentence Pattern for giving is as follows:
GIVER はRECEIVER にTHING をあげます。
Giver wa receiver ni thing o agemasu.
It is important to note that から (from) cannot be used with this sentence pattern. It ONLY translates to “from”.
Whereas に with the use of the receiving verb もらう is typically translated as “from”, に with the use of the giving verb あげる is typically translated as “to”.
Some examples:
This site has some useful tips and information on giving and receiving -- ignore the use of kureru (くれる).
Giving/Receiving Review
Giving/Receiving Sentence Pattern Review- Hot Potatoes
Understanding the language of giving and receiving relies on first the understanding of the verbs to use in each situation and secondly on the function of particles in relation to each verb.
To begin this section, you must first know the verbs to give (あげる・あげます) and to receive (もらう・もらいます). Below is a quick demonstration:
- プレゼントをあげます。
- Purezento o agemasu.
- Give a present.
- プレゼントをもらいます。
- Purezento o moraimasu.
- Receive a present.
These examples do not demonstrate who the present is given to or received from. To indicate this, the use of the directional particle に or から is used. However, this particle changes meaning depending on if it is used in a sentence with give (あげる) or receive (もらう). Each sentence pattern has a basic formula that students can follow.
Receiving
Basic Sentence Pattern:
RECEIVER はGIVER に・から THING をもらいます。
Receiver wa giver ni/kara thing o moraimasu.
Some examples:
- たなかさんはやましたさんにプレゼントをもらいます。
- Tanaka-san wa Yamashita-san ni purezento o moraimasu.
- Tanaka receives a present from Yamashita.
- シャルマさんはたなかさんからケーキをもらいます。
- Sharuma-san wa Tanaka-san kara keeki o moraimasu.
- Sharuma receives cake from Tanaka.
- わたしはマクミーキンせんせいににほんごをならいます。
- Watashi wa makumiikin-sensei ni nihongo o naraimasu.
- I learn Japanese from McMeekin sensei.
- わたしはシャルマさんからペンをかります。
- Watashi wa Sharuma-san kara pen o karimasu.
- I borrow a pen from Sharuma.
The Basic Sentence Pattern for giving is as follows:
GIVER はRECEIVER にTHING をあげます。
Giver wa receiver ni thing o agemasu.
It is important to note that から (from) cannot be used with this sentence pattern. It ONLY translates to “from”.
Whereas に with the use of the receiving verb もらう is typically translated as “from”, に with the use of the giving verb あげる is typically translated as “to”.
Some examples:
- マクミーキンせんせいはがくせいにペンをあげます。
- Makumiikin-sensei wa gakusei ni pen o agemasu.
- McMeekin sensei gives pens to the students.
- わたしはともだちにプレゼントをあげます。
- Watashi wa tomodachi ni purezento o agemasu.
- I give a present to my friend.
- せんせいはがくせいんにペンをかします。
- Sensei wa gakusei ni pen o kashimasu.
- The teacher lends a pen to the student.
- せんせいはがくせいににほんごをおしえます。
- Sensei wa gakusei ni nihongo o oshiemasu.
- The teacher teaches Japanese to the students.
- たなかさんはウエートレスにおかねをはらいます。
- Tanaka-san wa ueetoresu ni okane o haraimasu.
- Tanaka pays money to the waitress.
This site has some useful tips and information on giving and receiving -- ignore the use of kureru (くれる).
Giving/Receiving Review
Giving/Receiving Sentence Pattern Review- Hot Potatoes
B. Suggesting and Inviting SFJ Notes pg 60-1
Suggestions
A suggestion phrase is characterized by the use of ~~ましょう or ~~ましょうか, which roughly translates to “let’s go” and “shall we?”, respectively.
To form sentences with this phrase, you simply replace the ~~ます ending of a verb with ましょうor ましょうか, depending on whether you are making it a statement or a question (recall that the use of か at the end of the sentence makes it a question).
The suggestion phrase indicates two things:
1) a suggested course of action
2) the speaker’s proposed intention.
Invitations
Negating ましょうか to form ませんか (masen ka) turns the phrase into an invitation.
Suggestions
A suggestion phrase is characterized by the use of ~~ましょう or ~~ましょうか, which roughly translates to “let’s go” and “shall we?”, respectively.
To form sentences with this phrase, you simply replace the ~~ます ending of a verb with ましょうor ましょうか, depending on whether you are making it a statement or a question (recall that the use of か at the end of the sentence makes it a question).
The suggestion phrase indicates two things:
1) a suggested course of action
- としょかんにいきましょうか。
- Toshokan ni ikimashouka.
- Shall we go to the library?
- はい、いっしょにいきましょう。
- Hai, issho ni ikimashou.
- Yes, let’s go together.
2) the speaker’s proposed intention.
- たなかさんはにほんにかえりましょう。
- Tanaka-san wa nihon ni kaerimashou.
- Tanaka intends to/proposes to return to Japan.
Invitations
Negating ましょうか to form ませんか (masen ka) turns the phrase into an invitation.
- としょかんにいきませんか。
- Toshokan ni kimasen ka.
- Won’t you come to the library (with me)?
C. Ordering at a Restaurant SFJ Notes pg 61-2
Ordering at a restaurant requires the use of some counters that we do not yet know. Particularly handy are the counters for people/group numbers (indicated through the use of ~~にん/~~人 “nin”) and the counters for the number of things one wishes to order (indicated through the use of ~~つ “tsu”).
Recall from past discussions of counters that the counter goes after the particle and before the verb. A sample sentence would look like: SUBJECT はOBJECT を[# + COUNTER] VERB (subject wa object o [number plus relevant counter] verb).
In the case of ordering at a restaurant, the phrase “please” ください (kudasai) is also included.
Some examples:
An example:
Counting People Review
Tips and Tricks for counting people can be found here.
Tips and Tricks for counting things can be found here.
Ordering at a restaurant requires the use of some counters that we do not yet know. Particularly handy are the counters for people/group numbers (indicated through the use of ~~にん/~~人 “nin”) and the counters for the number of things one wishes to order (indicated through the use of ~~つ “tsu”).
Recall from past discussions of counters that the counter goes after the particle and before the verb. A sample sentence would look like: SUBJECT はOBJECT を[# + COUNTER] VERB (subject wa object o [number plus relevant counter] verb).
In the case of ordering at a restaurant, the phrase “please” ください (kudasai) is also included.
Some examples:
- コーラをみっつください。
- Koora o mittsu kuidasai.
- We’d like three colas, please.
- たなかさんはかんじを四十べんきょうします。
- Tanaka-san wa kanji o yonjuu benkyoushimasu.
- Tanaka studied 40 kanji.
An example:
- Waitress: なんにんきますか。
- Nannin kimasu ka.
- How many people will come?
- Guest: ふたりきます。
- Futari kimasu.
- Two will come.
Counting People Review
Tips and Tricks for counting people can be found here.
Tips and Tricks for counting things can be found here.
D. です as Substitute for a Verb SFJ Notes pg 58-9
When responding to a question containing a question word, colloquial speech dictates that you can replace the particle + verb with です. For example:
In even more informal situations, the です can be dropped from the sentence altogether.
For more examples of this, click here.
When responding to a question containing a question word, colloquial speech dictates that you can replace the particle + verb with です. For example:
- どこに行きましたか。
- Doko ni ikimashita ka.
- Where did you go?
- 図書館です。
- Toshokan desu.
- The library.
- 何になさいますか。
- Nani ni nasaimasu ka.
- What will you have (to eat)?
- 私はポークです。
- Watashi wa pooku desu.
- I will have pork.
In even more informal situations, the です can be dropped from the sentence altogether.
For more examples of this, click here.
E. ~~にします and になります: To Do vs. To Become SFJ Notes pg 59-60
The verb する(します) translates to “to do” or “to make”. Generally speaking, this verb can be applied to a wide range of situations as an “all-purpose” verb. Based on conversational context, the intended meaning of する・します makes itself clear. Whatever the intended meaning of する・します, it must always represent an action that a human being can carry out (in other words a “transitive” verb).
Some examples:
On the other hand, the verb なる(なります) translates to “to become”. In a similar fashion, this acts as an all-purpose verb with meanings derived from context. However, the difference is that なる・なります is used to represent actions that happen outside of a person’s control (in other words, an “intransitive” verb).
An example:
An explanation of naru can be found here (focus only on #3), and an explanation for suru can be found here.
The verb する(します) translates to “to do” or “to make”. Generally speaking, this verb can be applied to a wide range of situations as an “all-purpose” verb. Based on conversational context, the intended meaning of する・します makes itself clear. Whatever the intended meaning of する・します, it must always represent an action that a human being can carry out (in other words a “transitive” verb).
Some examples:
- 何にしますか。
- Nan ni shimasu ka.
- What shall we have?
- コーヒーにしましょう。
- Koohii ni shimashou.
- Let’s have coffee.
On the other hand, the verb なる(なります) translates to “to become”. In a similar fashion, this acts as an all-purpose verb with meanings derived from context. However, the difference is that なる・なります is used to represent actions that happen outside of a person’s control (in other words, an “intransitive” verb).
An example:
- いくらですか。
- Ikura desu ka.
- How much is it?
- 全部で1500円になります。
- Zenbu de 1500-en ni narimasu.
- It comes to 1500 yen.
An explanation of naru can be found here (focus only on #3), and an explanation for suru can be found here.
F. いつ When? SFJ Notes pg 60
Much like how “when” appears at the beginning of an English question, so does the Japanese いつ. Some examples:
Much like how “when” appears at the beginning of an English question, so does the Japanese いつ. Some examples:
- いつにほんにいきましたか。
- Itsu nihon ni ikimashita ka.
- When did you come to Japan?
- いつフランス語を勉強しましたか。
- Itsu furansu-go o benkyoushimashita ka.
- When did you study French?
G. Particles SFJ Notes pg 62-4
In past lessons, we examined the ability to substitute particles such as が and を (structure particles) with the discourse particles は and も to change the topic of the sentence. Recall that は and も could not replace へ, に, で and と. Instead, as the following examples will illustrate, は・も can be added to に・へ・で・と to convey the desired meaning.
Consider the sentence below:
In past lessons, we examined the ability to substitute particles such as が and を (structure particles) with the discourse particles は and も to change the topic of the sentence. Recall that は and も could not replace へ, に, で and と. Instead, as the following examples will illustrate, は・も can be added to に・へ・で・と to convey the desired meaning.
Consider the sentence below:
- あした先生は友だちとプールに行きます。
- Ashita sensei wa tomodachi to puuru ni ikimasu.
- Tomorrow sensei will go to the pool with a friend.
- プールにはあした先生が友だちと行きます。
- Puuru niwa ashita sensei ga tomodachi to ikimasu.
- As for (going) to the pool, sensei will go there with a friend tomorrow.
Chapter 3 Review Exercises
Particle Practice Part 2 Review- Hot Potatoes
Question Words Review- Hot Potatoes
Verbs Review- Hot Potatoes
General Vocab Review- Hot Potatoes
Particle Practice Part 2 Review- Hot Potatoes
Question Words Review- Hot Potatoes
Verbs Review- Hot Potatoes
General Vocab Review- Hot Potatoes