grammar - chapter 7
A. Expressing wants with ~たい
We use -たい to indicate things that we want to do. The formula for doing this is as follows: V-BASE + たい. V-BASE refers to the verb with ます taken off. For example, the V-BASE of eat (たべます) is たべ. If you would like to express that you want to eat, you would say the following: 食べたい.
To conjugate たい, use the same pattern as A Adjectives (from the last chapter).
Polite Plain
Present Negative 食べたくないです 食べたくない
食べたくありません
Present Positive 食べたいです 食べたい
Past Negative 食べたくなかったです 食べたくなかったです
食べたくありませんでした
Past Positive 食べたかったです 食べたかった
The subject of たいです is always I or we; in sentences ending inたいですか the subject is always you. The subject is usually apparent (based on the way the sentence ends, and the context), so the subject is often omitted.
ねたいです。 I want to sleep.
ねたいですか。Do you want to sleep?
If you want to talk about what someone who isn't part of the conversation wants, use a phrase like it seems like (そう), or I hear/understand that, or he/she says that (と言いました).
田中さんは行きたいそうです。 It seems that Tanaka wants to go.
田中さんは行きたいと言いました。 Tanaka said he wants to go.
Typically, we mark objects of sentences with を right before a verb. However, in たい sentences, が is often preferred. Particles other than を remain the same. For example:
田中さんはカナダへ行きたい。 Tanaka wants to go to Canada.
バスにのりたい。 I want to ride the bus.
ここで書いてください。 Please write here.
A general rule for particle use is that people take が and objects can take が/を.
Culture note: directly expressing ones wants is quite uncommon, especially when juniors express wants to their superiors. In these cases, to be less blunt, use expressions such as たいんですが or たいと思います.
We use -たい to indicate things that we want to do. The formula for doing this is as follows: V-BASE + たい. V-BASE refers to the verb with ます taken off. For example, the V-BASE of eat (たべます) is たべ. If you would like to express that you want to eat, you would say the following: 食べたい.
To conjugate たい, use the same pattern as A Adjectives (from the last chapter).
Polite Plain
Present Negative 食べたくないです 食べたくない
食べたくありません
Present Positive 食べたいです 食べたい
Past Negative 食べたくなかったです 食べたくなかったです
食べたくありませんでした
Past Positive 食べたかったです 食べたかった
The subject of たいです is always I or we; in sentences ending inたいですか the subject is always you. The subject is usually apparent (based on the way the sentence ends, and the context), so the subject is often omitted.
ねたいです。 I want to sleep.
ねたいですか。Do you want to sleep?
If you want to talk about what someone who isn't part of the conversation wants, use a phrase like it seems like (そう), or I hear/understand that, or he/she says that (と言いました).
田中さんは行きたいそうです。 It seems that Tanaka wants to go.
田中さんは行きたいと言いました。 Tanaka said he wants to go.
Typically, we mark objects of sentences with を right before a verb. However, in たい sentences, が is often preferred. Particles other than を remain the same. For example:
田中さんはカナダへ行きたい。 Tanaka wants to go to Canada.
バスにのりたい。 I want to ride the bus.
ここで書いてください。 Please write here.
A general rule for particle use is that people take が and objects can take が/を.
Culture note: directly expressing ones wants is quite uncommon, especially when juniors express wants to their superiors. In these cases, to be less blunt, use expressions such as たいんですが or たいと思います.
B. Explanatory Ending んです
In lesson 5, the general use of んです was explained. This chapter demonstrates three more uses:
The first example went as follows:
A: どうしたんですか。What's the matter?
B: おかねがないんです。I haven't got any money.
However, what B's sentence indicates in actuality is that "there isn't any money". It avoids expressly saying that B doesn't have any money by instead saying that it just isn't there.
The third example went as follows:
A: あしたひまですか。Are you free tomorrow?
B: いいえ、日本語のしけんなんです。No, I have a Japanese test.
However, what B's sentence indicates in actuality is that "there is a Japanese test". It avoides expressly saying that B must take the test by instead saying that it is scheduled for tomorrow.
ああ、やすみなんです。 It is a holiday.
Note: nouns and adjectives require な before they can be attached to the んです ending. Otherwise, just use the plain form for all other sentences.
In lesson 5, the general use of んです was explained. This chapter demonstrates three more uses:
- A. Explain the reason for a situation without explicitly stating it
The first example went as follows:
A: どうしたんですか。What's the matter?
B: おかねがないんです。I haven't got any money.
However, what B's sentence indicates in actuality is that "there isn't any money". It avoids expressly saying that B doesn't have any money by instead saying that it just isn't there.
The third example went as follows:
A: あしたひまですか。Are you free tomorrow?
B: いいえ、日本語のしけんなんです。No, I have a Japanese test.
However, what B's sentence indicates in actuality is that "there is a Japanese test". It avoides expressly saying that B must take the test by instead saying that it is scheduled for tomorrow.
- B. Confirmation of one's suspicions
ああ、やすみなんです。 It is a holiday.
Note: nouns and adjectives require な before they can be attached to the んです ending. Otherwise, just use the plain form for all other sentences.
- C. Expressing surprise/irritation
C. But: が、けれど、けど
To express things in a [Sentence 1] but [Sentence 2] format requires the use of one of the three connective particles listed above. In this case が is not a subject particle.
が is the most formal, followed by けれど and then by けど (which is simply けれど shortened). Additionally, in spoken speech, が typically follows the polite form; for the other two connective particles, either plain or polite for will do. Some examples:
このかばんは小さいですが、高いです。 This bag is small, but expensive.
大学へ行ったけれど、げんきじゃないです。 I was going to go to the university, but I'm not well.
あたらしい CD を買ったけど、おかねがないです。I was going to buy a new CD, but I don't have any money.
These connective particles also have another use, which is to prepare the listener for the speaker to make an offer or request. Often, the sentence will end with the connective particle, leaving the second sentence unsaid so the listener is prepared to sympathize or surely listen to you. For example:
モールへ行きたいですけど。。。I want to go to the mall (but I need a ride).
The part of the sentence in parentheses is obvious in that particular situation, so it is often left out (so as to prompt the listener to offer a ride without the speaker having to request it).
To express things in a [Sentence 1] but [Sentence 2] format requires the use of one of the three connective particles listed above. In this case が is not a subject particle.
が is the most formal, followed by けれど and then by けど (which is simply けれど shortened). Additionally, in spoken speech, が typically follows the polite form; for the other two connective particles, either plain or polite for will do. Some examples:
このかばんは小さいですが、高いです。 This bag is small, but expensive.
大学へ行ったけれど、げんきじゃないです。 I was going to go to the university, but I'm not well.
あたらしい CD を買ったけど、おかねがないです。I was going to buy a new CD, but I don't have any money.
These connective particles also have another use, which is to prepare the listener for the speaker to make an offer or request. Often, the sentence will end with the connective particle, leaving the second sentence unsaid so the listener is prepared to sympathize or surely listen to you. For example:
モールへ行きたいですけど。。。I want to go to the mall (but I need a ride).
The part of the sentence in parentheses is obvious in that particular situation, so it is often left out (so as to prompt the listener to offer a ride without the speaker having to request it).
D. Structure Particles: に、から、まで
After expressions of time, に means at. から means from, and when used when talking about time, it indicates the starting time; after nouns/places, it indicates a starting point. まで means to, and when used for talking about time, it indicates the ending time; after nouns/places it indicates a destination. For example:
九時に大学へ行きます。 I go to the university at 9 AM.
うちから大学までバスにのります。 I ride the bus from my house to the university.
クラスは十時から三時までです。Class is from 10 until 3.
After expressions of time, に means at. から means from, and when used when talking about time, it indicates the starting time; after nouns/places, it indicates a starting point. まで means to, and when used for talking about time, it indicates the ending time; after nouns/places it indicates a destination. For example:
九時に大学へ行きます。 I go to the university at 9 AM.
うちから大学までバスにのります。 I ride the bus from my house to the university.
クラスは十時から三時までです。Class is from 10 until 3.
E. Approximate Time: ごろ
To express an approximate time, use ごろ after the time. Though に can be omitted in time sentences when you include ごろ, you cannot eliminate から or まで. For example:
六時ごろうちに来てください。Please come to my house around 6.
六時はんから九時ごろまでえいがを見ましょう。We will watch the movie from 6:30 until approximately 9.
To express an approximate time, use ごろ after the time. Though に can be omitted in time sentences when you include ごろ, you cannot eliminate から or まで. For example:
六時ごろうちに来てください。Please come to my house around 6.
六時はんから九時ごろまでえいがを見ましょう。We will watch the movie from 6:30 until approximately 9.
F. Kanji for times and dates
To ask about times, put "what" 何 before the appropriate counter:
何時 What hour?
何分 What minute?
何月 What month?
何日 What date of the month?
何曜日 What day of the week?
Recall that time words (except きょう、きのう、あした) require the particle に.
To ask about times, put "what" 何 before the appropriate counter:
何時 What hour?
何分 What minute?
何月 What month?
何日 What date of the month?
何曜日 What day of the week?
Recall that time words (except きょう、きのう、あした) require the particle に.