June 1, 2008

word order

I said "word order is not important" before.
But , today, I would like to say a key point to make a sentence with right word order.
It is very easy.

A subjective word should be put the beginning of a sentence and a verb at the end of a sentence.
That's all.

eg:
Watashi wa densha de ikimasu. : I, train,by,go : I go by train
densha : (electric) train
de : by
iku : go
(ika-nai, iki-masu,iku,iku-toki,ike-ba,ike, itta)

Kore wa pen desu. : This, pen , is : This is a pen.
kore : this
pen : pen
desu : is / are

Ano hana wa totemo utsukushii (desu). : That , flower, very, beautiful (is) : That flower is very beautiful.
ano : that
hana : flower
totemo : very
utsukushii : beautiful
(an adjective word have a function of be-verb)

April 27, 2008

can't , can not

Watashi wa nihongo o hanasenai. : I, Japanese, can't speak. : I can't speak Japanese.
(I'm not able to speak Japanese, I don't have skills to speak Japanese)

watashi : I ,
watashi wa : I (subject)
nihongo : Japanese language
hanasu : speak
(hanasa-nai, hanashi-masu, hanasu, hanasu-toki, hanase-ba, hanase)
hanasenai : can't speak

Watashi wa nihongo o hanasanai : I, Japanese, don't speak : I don't speak Japanese.
( I can speak Japanese but I don't speak Japanese)

hanasu : speak
(hanasa-nai, hanashi-masu, hanasu, hanasu-toki, hanase-ba, hanase)

Watashi wa hashirenai. : I , can't run. : I can't run.
hashiru : run
(hashira-nai, hashiri-masu, hashiru, hashiru-toki, hashire-ba, hashire)

Watashi wa hashiranai. : I , don't run : I don't run.
hashiru : run
(hashira-nai, hashiri-masu, hashiru, hashiru-toki, hashire-ba, hashire)

tobenai : can't fly
tobu: fly
(toba-nai, tobi-masu, tobu, tobu-toki , tobe-ba , tobe)

tobanai : don't fly
tobu: fly
(toba-nai, tobi-masu, tobu, tobu-toki , tobe-ba , tobe)
nomenai : can't drink
nomu : drink
(noma-nai, nomi-masu, nomu, nomu-toki , nome-ba, nome)
nomanai : don't drink
nomu : drink
(noma-nai, nomi-masu, nomu, nomu-toki , nome-ba, nome)

exception;
In Japanese, there are cases in which "noun"+"suru" makes it verb.
suru : do
(shi-nai, shi-masu, suru, suru-toki, sure-ba, shiro)
benkyou : study(noun)
benkyousuru : study(verb)
unten : driving(noun)
unten suru : drive(verb)

Watashi wa benkyou shinai : I, study, don't : I don't study.
Watashi wa benkyou dekinai : I , study, can't. : I can't study.
dekiru(verb) : can, be able to
(deki-nai, deki-masu, dekiru, dekiru-toki, dekire-ba, dekiro)

April 12, 2008

infinitive

Infinitives ( to+verb) are often seen in English conversation.

eg. I go to bookshop to buy book. ("to buy" is infinitive in this case)

In Japanese , "....suru tameni" , " ...no tameni " or " ...tameni " is very convinient word for infinitives.

Watashi wa hon o kau tameni hon-ya ni ikimasu.( I, book, buy, to(infinitive), bookshop, to, go)
kau : buy
tameni : for the purpose of
hon-ya: bookshop,
ya : "ya" means shop
iku : go
(ika-nai, iki-masu, iku, iku-toki, ike-ba, ike)

"tameni" comes just after a verb(plain)
yomu tameni : to read
au tameni : to meet, to see
iu tameni : to say

"no tameni" comes after noun
dokusho(reading) no tameni : for reading
unten(driving) no tameni : for driving

"suru tameni" means " for doing..." ( same with " no tameni")
dokusho(reading) suru tameni : for reading
unten(driving) suru tameni : for driving

Pactice;

Watashi wa anata ni au tameni koko ni kita. : I came here to see you.
watashi : I
" wa " of "watashi wa" makes "I" subject.
anata : you
ni : to, with
"ni " of " anata ni" makes "you " objective.
au : meet , see
(awa-nai, ai-masu, au, au-toki, ae-ba ,ae)
tameni : for
koko : (noun) here
ni: to
kita : past tense of "kuru" , came
kuru :come
(ko-nai, ki-masu, kuru, kuru-toki, kure-ba, koi)
ki + ta : came

Watashi wa anata ni au tameni koko ni kita. : I, you , with, see, for , here, came : I came here to see you.