Particles, conjugations and endings for verbs and adjectives, and general sentence structure.
5
votes
1answer
153 views
The difference between (な形容詞)さ and (な形容詞)性?
I'm in the middle of writing a paper in Japanese, and I can't quite figure out which is right. If I want to nominalize a な形容詞, should I affix さ or 性 at the end? I've been checking on search engines, ...
10
votes
1answer
218 views
What is the subject when time passes in a narrative (eg １ヶ月を経る）
(This might be a quick easy question but sometimes the answers to these are unexpected.)
What is the subject in the following sentences？ I've given my best efforts for the examples 1-4 below. (I am ...
7
votes
2answers
203 views
What function does 「しいて」 serve in this sentence?
I have this sentence in a JLPT study textbook, as an example of the use of しいて:
食{た}べたくなければしいて食べることないから、食べられるものだけ食べてね。
The translation is, "If you don't want to eat it, you don't have to, so ...
5
votes
3answers
292 views
AはB emphasizing B, rather than A
There are quite a few comments on another
question discussing the sentence 彼が持っているのは二百円です, in which the emphasis apparently falls on 二百円. I posted a comment asking if this could be explained as the ...
12
votes
2answers
283 views
Difference between 〜といい〜といい ＆ 〜といわず〜といわず
Can somebody explain the difference between these two expressions?
I have pasted the definitions and some examples from 日本語表現文型辞典 to help but they seem to come down to the same thing. (When can one ...
4
votes
2answers
369 views
Plural in ancient Japanese?
It is known to Japanese learners that the Japanese verb isn't affected by the subject (number or gender). Today, a linguistics professor of my university told me he heard from his teacher that ancient ...
8
votes
2answers
187 views
Double subject construction?
I've recently been having trouble with constructions that seem to mark two subjects in the same clause. I've only encountered them in ～の方が... constructions, but I can't seem to make sense of them ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Is there a term for using conjugating verbs such that the sentence continues with another clause?
I'm referring specifically to using the て form to form a pseudo conjunction, and specifically the transformation of verbs in formal writing by using the verb stem instead of て form.
For example the ...
4
votes
1answer
152 views
「こわいだから。」 versus 「こわい、だから[…]」
In an answer on another question, @TsuyoshiIto wrote:
[U]nlike commas in English, 読点 in Japanese is rarely (if ever) grammatically required. Authors are free to use 読点 wherever they feel that it ...
4
votes
1answer
107 views
Function of に in 怒るに怒れない
In the book I'm reading, I came across the following sentence:
あたしは[怒]{おこ}るに[怒]{おこ}れなくなった。 (furigana added by me)
My translation is something like "I couldn't stay angry [at him]". ("My anger ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
Explanation / Meaning of らしく in 例文
Hi in this sentence 'らしく' is used, but I am not really sure about the meaning of らしく. I found this explanation for it, but it doesn't helps me to understand its meaning in the sentence:
way to use ...
8
votes
1answer
208 views
Expressing hope: to nozomu and koto wo negau
I have a question about these two verbs for 'hope':
と望む (to nozomu)
ことを願う (koto wo negau)
I also write down two examples, since I have a particular question about their use:
...
3
votes
1answer
164 views
足って used in Ponyo Song [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are these forms: かけちゃお, つないじゃお?
Is this って equivalent to 「と」？
From the Ponyo theme song:
ペータペタ ピョーンピョン
足っていいな かけちゃお!
Why is 足 given the て conjugation, as if ...
4
votes
1answer
158 views
General confusion ("Volitional＋ともせず”, redundancy, uses of と, )
I'm having trouble understanding the grammar in some sentences even if I understand the basic idea of the sentence. I may post with more questions later.
...
5
votes
2answers
129 views
How can I express that X is as big/small/fast/… as Y?
I would like to know how to express that something is equal in some aspect to another thing (or person, if that makes a difference), as you would express in English by saying:
X is as (adjective) as ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
形容詞 ending in /ei/ and /ii/
This page discusses the "adjective" べき and mentions that if it had evolved like other adjectives, it would have been べい.
That made me think: Why are there no 形容詞 ending in /ei/ or /ii/ (except for ...
5
votes
2answers
242 views
What is the difference between ずに and ない-form?
My wife is studying for the JLPT exam, and came across the following question:
２時間、＿＿＿＿＿立って話しました。
She narrowed the choices down to:
すわらずに
すわらないと
Or another similar question:
...
4
votes
2answers
314 views
Are there any common grammatical errors made by native Japanese speakers?
Sorry if this is a really open-ended question, but one thing occurred to me when I was asking a prior question here; are there any particular grammatical errors frequently made by native Japanese ...
9
votes
3answers
414 views
Typo or am I missing something? 「ドイツ語も勉強しないとですね。」
Context: I have been chatting with a Japanese girl who is going to move to Germany, and I asked if she had any experience with the German language and told her I had been considering learning German ...
3
votes
1answer
148 views
Etymology of それはそうと
Can anyone explain the etymology of それはそうと【其れはそうと】and possibly the grammar of how it fits into a sentence, which does not seem to follow the normal rules (It should have a copula だ、そうだと？)? I think of ...
4
votes
2answers
132 views
Noun followed by 「っぱだ」
I'm currently reading a Japanese children's book, and a character says
「金色の葉っぱだ」
I'm assuming the 「っぱだ」 is like saying 「たくさん」 or 「いっぱい」, but I don't actually know. Any help is appreciated!
7
votes
4answers
479 views
の cannot be used as a pronoun meaning “one” for “highly abstract objects” but what is a “highly abstract object”?(amended)
(Italics are used to indicate revisions to the orginal question made in response to feedback so far)
According to "A students' guide to Japanese grammar", by Naomi McGloin, の is used as a pronoun ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
What is the difference between using なる with the particles に and と [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between 〜となる and 〜になる?
What is the difference between using なる with the particles に and と? When should which be used?
9
votes
4answers
184 views
How to translate: “Keep/leave something”. So, how to express intention to leave something unchanged
Consider questions like:
Please leave the door open, thanks!
Could you please keep the lift's doors open? Thankyou
Please, leave it as it is.
They all imply something common: not changing the ...
2
votes
3answers
78 views
Omitting ようだ at the end of a sentence
父はデジタルカメラの講習を受けに行ったが、あまりの難しさにびっくりしたようだ。
So this sentence is saying, "my dad went to take a short course on digital cameras, but it was difficult to the point of surprising him." Could you say
...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Questions about this sentence
"当時の関係者何人かにあたって記憶を確かめてみたが、人の記憶の欠落部分というのは、捏造で補われる仕組みになっているらしく、共通の体験が、しばしば、お互いに矛盾する記憶になっていることに驚かされた。"
What does "にあたって" mean there ?
"驚かされた" is referring to what/whom exactly ?
Does "関係者何人か" mean ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Grammar dictionary [closed]
The dictionary that I use primarily is http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/ . I wanted to know of good sources online for looking up how different aspects of Japanese grammar work. I would prefer it if the ...
5
votes
3answers
188 views
Trouble understanding this use of あっての
I've previously asked two separate questions regarding あっての, (and there's a third on here from Pacerier) and I thought I had it figured out, but then I found this sentence (from a JLPT practice ...
3
votes
1answer
151 views
Can't quite understand this sentence
この間、時間を見つけては、過去の歴史をひもといてみたのだが、再認識させられたのは、人間というのは、どれほど多くの涙とともに飲み下した教訓であっても、喉元を過ぎたとたんに忘れてしまう生き物であるということだった.
Especially what "忘れてしまう生き物" is supposed to mean in "喉元を過ぎたとたんに忘れてしまう生き物であるということだった".
3
votes
1answer
196 views
What is the difference between でなくand ではなく？
This is the sentence I have just read:
外国へ行くとしたら、ただの旅行ではなく、勉強を 目的として 行きたい。
If I ever have a chance to go abroad then I would like to go to study rather than just travel.
The は feels ...
11
votes
2answers
260 views
Can someone explain the logic of the grammar “とは限らない”
I found this example sentence in "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar" under a grammar point unrelated to "とは限らない":
"運動をよくする人が必ずしも長生きするとは限らない。"
I understand the meaning of the sentence ...
3
votes
1answer
118 views
Help with a usage of 自慢
私は彼が自慢だ。
I'm Proud of Him
彼は私が自慢だ。
He is proud of me.
I am confused by this pattern with 自慢. It kind of looks like 自慢 is being used as an adjective (?), but the definition in ...
3
votes
2answers
150 views
Why is も used instead of が in the sentence 「日本ではクモを見ると良いことがあると言う人もいますよ」
What is the exact sentiment expressed by も in this sentence as opposed to が?
日本ではクモを見ると良いことがあると言う人もいますよ
It's a sentence in response to someone saying "I saw a spider in my room, I was scared".
2
votes
3answers
265 views
How do I say “before” or “used to” in Japanese?
朝に作文を買ったの時、質問になります。
How can I say something like:
I didn't used to like this band.
*Before, I didn't like this band.*
5
votes
2answers
147 views
How do I say “the reason why” or “the purpose of” in Japanese?
While studying this morning, I became interested in how to say "When you were a child, did you read books for fun?" in Japanese.
In this case, would I use ため?
Or would it be something like this:
...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Problems with particles
I'm trying to understand when to use appropriate particles in a sentence, and keep up with vocab too! Please someone help.
customer: "そのぼうし[の, を, か, ね] ください"
"たけしさん [か, の, よ, or no particle] ...
12
votes
3answers
170 views
Positioning of quantities (using counters)
Example 1
ビール一杯を飲む
一杯のビールを飲む
ビールを一杯飲む
Example 2
ネジ2本を取り付ける
2本のネジを取り付ける
ネジを2本取り付ける
Is there any difference between the above examples with the positioning of the ...
10
votes
4answers
172 views
Range of numbers
How would one express a range of numbers regarding an action?
Example: I usually study anywhere between 2 to 4 hours a day.
Would the からーまで grammar structure be appropriate here?
...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
How does は apply itself to によっては?
From the question: "How does the use of いかんによっては in this question determine one answer over another?", it is observed that:
The use of によって means to change state or behaviour depending on, or ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
Why does 考えて need も in the “て + ごらん” pattern?
Consider these three lists:
てごらん
考えてもごらん
てもごらん
In the verb-te form + ごらん structure, it seems that only the verb 考える needs to have も. (It seems that 考える can be used without も, but a cursory look ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
What is the difference between どころか or ものか?
This is a sentence from my JLPT prep book:
新しい首相に代わったが、景気は回復する （ ）、悪化する一方であった。
The answer is: ものか, but I thought it was どころか.
I can't figure out why どころか isn't correct or is unnatural. They ...
5
votes
1answer
176 views
Obligatory zero particle
Sometimes, particles are omitted.
I've read, however, that this can be analyzed as inserting a "zero particle" instead. See for example Particle omission or zero particle by Mitsuaki Shimojo. See ...
4
votes
1answer
149 views
Function of the first の in とかの他の
Are ...とか他の... and ...とかの他の... equivalent? What is the function of the first の in the latter example?
And why can't a の follow とか in ...とかその他...? Or can it?
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Grammar problem [closed]
I'd like to ask how can I say in Japanese 'a friend of mine reminded me this great band'?
I thought I should use the ~思い出させてくれる form, but I guess it still too difficult for me.
8
votes
2answers
221 views
What is the difference between べからず and べからざる?
In my JLPT practise book, I have the following question:
A：噂にまどわされる＿＿＿＿＿、とは言うものの・・・。
B：つい、信じちゃうよね。
べく 2.べき 3.べからざる 4. べからず
I knew the answer was between 3 and 4, but I couldn't ...
7
votes
4answers
284 views
How does the use of いかんによっては in this question determine one answer over another?
In my JLPT practise book, in a section explaining the use of いかんによっては, which roughly means "depending on", they have the following question:
...
4
votes
1answer
186 views
What is “masu-stem + ざま”?
Here is a part of a sentence from my book:
・・・・手裏剣をよけざま・・・・
I can't find any help in any of my references on the pattern of "masu-stem + ざま", which makes me hesitant to say that's exactly what ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
Why do we use 楽しめそう and 楽しみ rather than 楽しい・楽しそう in these sentences?
Could someone explain why we use 楽しめそう instead of 楽しそう in the first sentence and what exactly 楽しみ means and why?
(The translations are my best guess at what the sentences might mean.)
...
8
votes
1answer
306 views
When is 「だ／である」required between a noun and the quotation particle と?
Note: Recent edits in response to comments have been added in italics
The sentence prompting this question is:
時下ますますご清栄のことと、お喜び申し上げます
Which I have always "loosely" taken to mean:
I am ...
8
votes
1answer
158 views
Can けれども be analysed further?
Consider the conjunction ども, e.g.:
行けども
言えども
Formation rule:
Verb Hypothetical form (仮定形) + ども
This leads me to hypothesise that the conjunction けれども (meaning "but; however; although") is ...
