grammar - chapter 12
A. If/When/Whenever: と
This is very similar to the たら form learned in the last lesson. However, the use of と in place of たら demonstrates that when [sentence 1 + と] occurs, [sentence 2] is always realized. Because と indicates a guaranteed result or as a natural consequence, it is normally used to talk about facts or habitual actions. As a reminder, the format for these sentences is:
[sentence 1 (plain, present tense) + と] + [sentence 2]
The conjugation is as follows:
Plain form -to form
U verbs
to stand (positive) たつ たつと
to be at a loss (negative) こまらない こまらないと
Iru/eru verbs
to wake up (positive) おきる おきると
to sleep (negative) ねない ねないと
Irregular verbs
to do する してと
to come くる くると
A Adjectives
expensive (positive) たかい たかいと
cheap (negative) やすい やすくないと
Na Adjectives/Nouns
beautiful きれいだ きれいだと
convenient べんりだ べんりじゃないと
Some differences between たら and と:
Using particles with と sentences
When there are two different subjects (i.e.; a subject for sentence 1 and a subject for sentence 2), the subject in sentence 1 takes が, and the subject in sentence 2 takes が or は. Only when the subject of sentence 2 precedes sentence 1 entirely does it take は.
When there is one subject for both sentence clauses, the subject is only mentioned once in sentence 1, and takes the particle は.
This is very similar to the たら form learned in the last lesson. However, the use of と in place of たら demonstrates that when [sentence 1 + と] occurs, [sentence 2] is always realized. Because と indicates a guaranteed result or as a natural consequence, it is normally used to talk about facts or habitual actions. As a reminder, the format for these sentences is:
[sentence 1 (plain, present tense) + と] + [sentence 2]
The conjugation is as follows:
Plain form -to form
U verbs
to stand (positive) たつ たつと
to be at a loss (negative) こまらない こまらないと
Iru/eru verbs
to wake up (positive) おきる おきると
to sleep (negative) ねない ねないと
Irregular verbs
to do する してと
to come くる くると
A Adjectives
expensive (positive) たかい たかいと
cheap (negative) やすい やすくないと
Na Adjectives/Nouns
beautiful きれいだ きれいだと
convenient べんりだ べんりじゃないと
Some differences between たら and と:
- と cannot be used to express intentions, wishes, requests or give suggestions
- the sequence of events with と is inevitable and predictable; with たら the sequence can be changed
- と has a more formal tone, and will likely be included in formal reports
Using particles with と sentences
When there are two different subjects (i.e.; a subject for sentence 1 and a subject for sentence 2), the subject in sentence 1 takes が, and the subject in sentence 2 takes が or は. Only when the subject of sentence 2 precedes sentence 1 entirely does it take は.
When there is one subject for both sentence clauses, the subject is only mentioned once in sentence 1, and takes the particle は.
B. Giving Advice: ほうがいい
To make a suggestion or give advice, attach ほうがいい to plain past positive or plain present negative tenses of verbs. In other words,
Even though ほうがいい is attached to the past tense in the first example, it is giving advice about the present.
To make a suggestion or give advice, attach ほうがいい to plain past positive or plain present negative tenses of verbs. In other words,
- [Verb + た] + ほうがいい had better .../ it would be good if you ...
あさごはんを食べたほうがいいです。 You had better eat some breakfast. - [Verb + ない] + ほうがいい had better not .../ it would not be good if you ...
たくさんごはんを食べないほうがいいです。 You had better not eat too much rice.
Even though ほうがいい is attached to the past tense in the first example, it is giving advice about the present.
C. After Doing ...: てから
から is attached to the て form to indicate "after doing". As with other attachments to the て form, the final verb indicates past or present tense.
しゅうくだいをおわってから、モールに行きました。 After I finished my homework, I went to the mall.
から is attached to the て form to indicate "after doing". As with other attachments to the て form, the final verb indicates past or present tense.
しゅうくだいをおわってから、モールに行きました。 After I finished my homework, I went to the mall.
D. After: あと
あと, meaning "after" or "later", has the following uses:
Note that the last verb in the sentence determines the tense of the sentence as a whole.
This is different from てから in that the てから form indicates that Sentence 2 happens after sentence 1 has been completed, whereas in the あとで form, Sentence 2 follows Sentence 1.
あと, meaning "after" or "later", has the following uses:
- [noun] のあとで、[sentence]
あなたのクラスのあとで、モールで映画を見ましょう。 After your class, let's go see a movie at the mall. - [sentence 1 (in た form)] あとで、[sentence 2]
テストをおわったあとで、うちにかえりました。 After I finished the test, I returned home.
Note that the last verb in the sentence determines the tense of the sentence as a whole.
This is different from てから in that the てから form indicates that Sentence 2 happens after sentence 1 has been completed, whereas in the あとで form, Sentence 2 follows Sentence 1.
E. Before: まえ
まえ, meaning "before", has the following uses:
Note that the last verb in the sentence determines the tense of the sentence as a whole.
The same rules for the use of と and てから above apply to using は and が in sentences.
まえ, meaning "before", has the following uses:
- [noun] のまえに、[sentence]
たくさん学生はクラスのまえに、コーヒーを買います。 Many students buy coffee before class. - [sentence 1 (plain present form)] まえに、[sentence 2]
日本語のテストをするまえに、漢字とぶんかを勉強しました。 Before I did my Japanese test, I studied the kanji and grammar points.
*the る form/plain form indicates that before sentence 1 occurs or is completed, sentence 2 happens.
Note that the last verb in the sentence determines the tense of the sentence as a whole.
The same rules for the use of と and てから above apply to using は and が in sentences.
F. Marking a Route: を
Depending on the purpose of the sentence, the particle を serves two different purposes when giving directions:
Depending on the purpose of the sentence, the particle を serves two different purposes when giving directions:
- Marking the Route
- applies to verbs like とおる (to pass along/by) and まがる (to turn); additional verbs include わたる (to cross over), あるく (to walk), and はしる (to run)
- が marks the subject of the sentence; を marks the movement
- complete sentence structure looks like: [subject + が] + [route/place + を] + [とうる / まがる, etc.]
- 山田さんがみちをはしる。かどをまがる。 Yamada runs along the street. He turns a corner. - Marking a place you've left
- applies to verbs like でる (to come out, to leave) and おりる (to get off, to disembark)
- が marks the subject of the sentence; を marks the place the subject leaves
- から can be used in the place of を to indicate "(gets) out of"
- complete sentence structure looks like: [subject + が] + [vehicle/place + を] + [でる / おりる]
- 車からおりる。 I got out of the car.
- to mark the place you are going to enter, as you've learned in the past, you use the particle に with movements such as はいる (to enter, to come in) and のる (to ride, to embark)
G. New なる-form verbs
Recall that なる form verbs are verbs or actions that the speaker cannot control. Some new ones which require a bit of explanation are 見える and 聞こえる. The する form of these is 見る and 聞く.
A way to think of 見える and 聞こえる is to think of them as things that you weren't able to do/experience until something changed. In SFJ Notes 2 pg 98, they use the example of someone climbing on a mountain. Until the person gets to the top of the mountain, the sea was not visible. However, when the speaker reached the top of the mountain, the sea became visible (見える). Additionally, the speaker noticed that the quiet in the mountains made the birds easy to hear (聞こえる).
Like other なる verbs, these two new verbs take が as the particle for the direct object.
Let's use another example to illustrate. Imagine that you are walking through the city in search of a club where a new band is playing, but you can't find the club! When you turn the corner, suddenly: クラブが見えます。The club becomes visible. As you continue down the street, おんがくが聞こえます。 The music becomes audible.
Recall that なる form verbs are verbs or actions that the speaker cannot control. Some new ones which require a bit of explanation are 見える and 聞こえる. The する form of these is 見る and 聞く.
A way to think of 見える and 聞こえる is to think of them as things that you weren't able to do/experience until something changed. In SFJ Notes 2 pg 98, they use the example of someone climbing on a mountain. Until the person gets to the top of the mountain, the sea was not visible. However, when the speaker reached the top of the mountain, the sea became visible (見える). Additionally, the speaker noticed that the quiet in the mountains made the birds easy to hear (聞こえる).
Like other なる verbs, these two new verbs take が as the particle for the direct object.
Let's use another example to illustrate. Imagine that you are walking through the city in search of a club where a new band is playing, but you can't find the club! When you turn the corner, suddenly: クラブが見えます。The club becomes visible. As you continue down the street, おんがくが聞こえます。 The music becomes audible.
H. Place/Near To: ところ
ところ has a variety of meanings based on context:
In conversational language, ところ is often shortened to とこ.
ところ has a variety of meanings based on context:
- stands as a word for address (as in, the street address of your building)
私のところは。。。 My address is.... - an abstract location
きれいなところ (a beautiful place); 高いところ (an expensive place) - the place someone is at/near
ドアのところにすずきさんをまっています。 Suzuki is waiting near/at the door.
In conversational language, ところ is often shortened to とこ.
I. At Least: は
When the particle は is added to a specified quantity, it means "at least this # of ____". は is added directly after the quantity.
For example, 毎日こうえんで一時間半はあるく。 I walk in the park for at least an hour and a half every day.
When the particle は is added to a specified quantity, it means "at least this # of ____". は is added directly after the quantity.
For example, 毎日こうえんで一時間半はあるく。 I walk in the park for at least an hour and a half every day.
J. Ordinal Numbers: ~め
To rank numbers of things (i.e.; first, second, third, etc.), add め to a number. It is often written using the kanji 目.
To rank numbers of things (i.e.; first, second, third, etc.), add め to a number. It is often written using the kanji 目.
ひとり (one person) ひとりめ (first person)
2人 (two people) 2人め (second person)
ひとつ (one thing) ひとつめ (one thing)
ふたつ (two things) ふたつめ (second thing)
2か月 (two months) 2か月目 (second month)
ひとつめのかど (the first corner
一番目のえき