grammar - Nakama 11
A. Expressing Ongoing and Repeated Actions: ~ている
In the past, we have learned that ~ている can be used to express a resulting state, such as すずきさんはぼつをしている。 (Suzuki is wearing a hat). We've also learned that it can express the resulting state of an instantaneous or recent change, such as 今日大雨がふっている。 (It is raining a lot today).
In this lesson, we will look at two more uses of ている:
Ongoing Action
~ている can be used with specific verbs that take place over a period of time, such as eating, drinking, raining, etc. For example:
Often in casual speech, ~ている is shortened to ~てる.
Repeated Action
Many verbs can be used to express habitual action using ~ている. For example:
In the past, we have learned that ~ている can be used to express a resulting state, such as すずきさんはぼつをしている。 (Suzuki is wearing a hat). We've also learned that it can express the resulting state of an instantaneous or recent change, such as 今日大雨がふっている。 (It is raining a lot today).
In this lesson, we will look at two more uses of ている:
- Ongoing Action
- Repeated Action
Ongoing Action
~ている can be used with specific verbs that take place over a period of time, such as eating, drinking, raining, etc. For example:
- すずきさんはさけを飲んでいる。
Suzuki is drinking sake. - 大雨がつづいている。
The heavy rain continues.
Often in casual speech, ~ている is shortened to ~てる.
Repeated Action
Many verbs can be used to express habitual action using ~ている. For example:
- 毎日朝ごはんを食べている。
Every day I eat breakfast. - 毎週部屋をそうじしている。
I clean my room every week.
B. Plain Past Forms + Casual Speech
In previous lessons, we have used the plain present form of verbs for grammar points such as ので (because), んです (explanation ending), から and けど, and とおもう. In this chapter, we will explore how the plain past form of verbs can be used.
As you might recall, the plain past positive form of verbs, adjectives and nouns is the た form. For a refresher on conjugating verbs into the past positive tense, see Lesson 5. For a refresher on conjugating adjectives and nouns, see Lesson 6. Additionally, this lesson explores the uses of plain past negative form of verbs, adjectives and nouns. For a refresher on conjugating verbs into the past negative tense, see Lesson 8 on the なかった form. For a refresher on the plain past negative form of adjectives and nouns, see Lesson 6.
Use of the plain form, typically among close friends and family, indicates closeness, intimacy, and carefree attitudes. To indicate maintenance of a proper social distance, です / ます are used. However, use of either one of these forms is not restricted to degree of formality. Rather, it can be attributed to a person's perceptions of their relationship to the person they are speaking with. A very pertinent example of this is the relationship between a teacher and his/her class: students will often use です / ます to indicate respect, but the teacher might use the plain form to indicate familiarity.
Some notes on the plain form and casual conversation:
In previous lessons, we have used the plain present form of verbs for grammar points such as ので (because), んです (explanation ending), から and けど, and とおもう. In this chapter, we will explore how the plain past form of verbs can be used.
As you might recall, the plain past positive form of verbs, adjectives and nouns is the た form. For a refresher on conjugating verbs into the past positive tense, see Lesson 5. For a refresher on conjugating adjectives and nouns, see Lesson 6. Additionally, this lesson explores the uses of plain past negative form of verbs, adjectives and nouns. For a refresher on conjugating verbs into the past negative tense, see Lesson 8 on the なかった form. For a refresher on the plain past negative form of adjectives and nouns, see Lesson 6.
Use of the plain form, typically among close friends and family, indicates closeness, intimacy, and carefree attitudes. To indicate maintenance of a proper social distance, です / ます are used. However, use of either one of these forms is not restricted to degree of formality. Rather, it can be attributed to a person's perceptions of their relationship to the person they are speaking with. A very pertinent example of this is the relationship between a teacher and his/her class: students will often use です / ます to indicate respect, but the teacher might use the plain form to indicate familiarity.
Some notes on the plain form and casual conversation:
- the particles は, が, and を are not used in conversations very frequently
- the question particle か is often omitted in casual conversation and replaced with rising intonation at the end of a sentence
- the だ associated with the copula verb (です) and with な adjectives are deleted in questions; additionally, deleting だ before particles such as ね and よ indicates femininity
- the plain form of んです is んだ or の. In questions の is usually used. Either の or んだ can be used in statements.
- ~てください becomes ~て
C. Describing Characteristics: ~は~が
You have seen this pattern used to describe physical appearance in Lesson 10. However, this can be extended to discuss and comment on other things. As usual, the particle は indicates what the sentence will be about.
Some examples:
You have seen this pattern used to describe physical appearance in Lesson 10. However, this can be extended to discuss and comment on other things. As usual, the particle は indicates what the sentence will be about.
Some examples:
- 冬は雪が多い。
In winter, there is lots of snow. - レスブリッジ大学はクラスが小さい。
The classes are small at the University of Lethbridge.
D. Adverbial Forms
When adjectives are conjugated into their adverbial form, they modify verbs. This can be done as follows:
Dictionary Form Adverbial Form
I Adjective (drop the い, add く)
たかい たかい たかく
Na Adjective (drop the な, add に)
しずか(な) しずか しずかに
Adverbial forms indicate how a verb is carried out. For example:
The adverbial form can also be used to express a change of state. This is done in one of two ways:
For example:
When adjectives are conjugated into their adverbial form, they modify verbs. This can be done as follows:
Dictionary Form Adverbial Form
I Adjective (drop the い, add く)
たかい たかい たかく
Na Adjective (drop the な, add に)
しずか(な) しずか しずかに
Adverbial forms indicate how a verb is carried out. For example:
- 雪がしずかにふっている。
Snow falls quietly. - 田中さんがうるさく話しました。
Tanaka talked loudly.
The adverbial form can also be used to express a change of state. This is done in one of two ways:
- Adverbial form + する --- this translates as "to make someone/something into"
- Adverbial form + なる --- this translates as "to become"
For example:
- 先生は学生をかしこくする。
The teacher makes the students clever. - がくせいがかしこくなる。
The students become clever.
E. Expressing Uncertainty
~でしょう (probably)、~かもしれない (maybe)、~かな (I wonder) express a speaker's uncertainty by varying degrees. Each of these expressions takes the plain form of verbs and adjectives, though な adjectives go without だ.
Use the following charts for conjugation guides:
Probably Maybe I wonder
Verbs (Ex: たべる)
Present Positive たべるでしょう たべるかもしれない たべるかな
Present Negative たべないでしょう たべないかもしれない たべないかな
Past Positive たべたでしょう たべたかもしれない たべたかな
Past Negative たべなかったでしょう たべなかったかもしれない たべなかかったかな
I Adjectives (Ex: おもしろい)
Present Positive おもしろいでしょう おもしろいかもしれない おもしろいかな
Present Negative おもしろくないでしょう おもしろいくないかもしれない おもしろくないかな
Past Positive おもしろかったでしょう おもしろかったかもしれない おもしろいかったかな
Past Negative おもしろくなかったでしょう おもしろくなかったかもしれない おもしろくなかったかな
Na Adjectives (Ex: きれい(な))
Present Positive きれいでしょう きれいかもしれない きれいかな
Present Negative きれいじゃないでしょう きれいじゃないかもしれない きれいじゃないかな
Past Positive きれいだったでしょう きれいだったかもしれない きれいだったかな
Past Negative きれいじゃなかったでしょう きれいじゃなかったかもしれない きれいじゃなかったかな
Nouns + Copula (Ex: ねこ)
~でしょう (probably)、~かもしれない (maybe)、~かな (I wonder) express a speaker's uncertainty by varying degrees. Each of these expressions takes the plain form of verbs and adjectives, though な adjectives go without だ.
Use the following charts for conjugation guides:
Probably Maybe I wonder
Verbs (Ex: たべる)
Present Positive たべるでしょう たべるかもしれない たべるかな
Present Negative たべないでしょう たべないかもしれない たべないかな
Past Positive たべたでしょう たべたかもしれない たべたかな
Past Negative たべなかったでしょう たべなかったかもしれない たべなかかったかな
I Adjectives (Ex: おもしろい)
Present Positive おもしろいでしょう おもしろいかもしれない おもしろいかな
Present Negative おもしろくないでしょう おもしろいくないかもしれない おもしろくないかな
Past Positive おもしろかったでしょう おもしろかったかもしれない おもしろいかったかな
Past Negative おもしろくなかったでしょう おもしろくなかったかもしれない おもしろくなかったかな
Na Adjectives (Ex: きれい(な))
Present Positive きれいでしょう きれいかもしれない きれいかな
Present Negative きれいじゃないでしょう きれいじゃないかもしれない きれいじゃないかな
Past Positive きれいだったでしょう きれいだったかもしれない きれいだったかな
Past Negative きれいじゃなかったでしょう きれいじゃなかったかもしれない きれいじゃなかったかな
Nouns + Copula (Ex: ねこ)
Present Positive ねこでしょう ねこかもしれない ねこかな
Present Negative ねこじゃないでしょう ねこじゃないかもしれない ねこじゃないかな
Past Positive ねこだったでしょう ねこだったかもしれない ねこだったかな
Past Negative ねこじゃなかったでしょう ねこじゃなかったかもしれない ねこじゃなかったかな
Present Negative ねこじゃないでしょう ねこじゃないかもしれない ねこじゃないかな
Past Positive ねこだったでしょう ねこだったかもしれない ねこだったかな
Past Negative ねこじゃなかったでしょう ねこじゃなかったかもしれない ねこじゃなかったかな
Some Notes on "Probably" (~でしょう)
- This indicates probability/conjecture. It can be used for future and past actions. It is often used in weather forecasts.
- When used with rising intonation, it can signal to listeners that you are looking for confirmation. This is a casual usage, however, and should not be used with superiors.
- If the question particle か follows でしょう, it is considered more polite.
- でしょう can be paired with たぶん (perhaps).
- The plain form of でしょう is だろう; when the plain form is used with questions, it is often interpreted as self talk.
Some Notes on "might" (かもしれない)
- This indicates probability/conjecture. It can be used for future and past actions.
- To understand the difference between this and でしょう, the probability expressed with かもしれない is about 50% lower.
- Though there is a ない on the end, this is not to be confused with the ない form of verbs!
Some Notes on "I wonder" (かな)
- This is considered casual speech, as it is self-directed talk.
- This cannot be used to describe what another person wonders about.
- It indicates present tense, and would not say something like "I wondered". In the chart above, ねこだったかな means "I wonder if it was a cat". The past tense is attached to the noun, not to かな.
- You cannot directly ask questions with this, but if a listener overhears, it is as if you are indirectly asking for a response.
- This should not be used with superiors, because it is quite informal.
- Feminine speech uses かsh