Questions tagged [grammar]

文法. A collective term for syntax (the way sentences are put together) and morphology (forms of words, including the way new words are put together). Often used to describe function words such as particles, to describe word endings, and to talk about general sentence structure.

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What does the って mean here? [duplicate]

女: 先輩、来週、海外出張なんですが、特にしておいたほうがいいことって、ありますか。 I read somewhere on this site って can mean と言ってる. Is this correct translation/thinking? Senpai, next week, since we have the overseas business trip, is there ...
user342453's user avatar
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Is わけない the shortened version of わけがない?

Hi I would like to know if わけない is the shortened version of わけがない / わけはない (it is not possible that) I am pretty sure it is but it would be nice if I had some confirmation. I would like also to know ...
Makoto's user avatar
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What does 容姿 mean at the end of the sentence?

I know that 容姿 means (physical) appearance (of a person); one's face and figure. But I cannot figure it in the following context:(at the end of the sentence) やはり新参者は珍しいのかやけに注目を集めている 。...と、...
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Meaning of これってアレ

I have some difficulty understanding this grammar structure. The context is いやにみられてるんですけど。これってアレよ、きっと私から滲{にじ}み出る神オーラで。。。 I don't like the way they're looking at me. I know ! It's the goddess aura I ...
Makoto's user avatar
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I don't know how to explain となる here

I found となる in いまから約1世紀前となる1929年 and the English translation was "Almost a century ago in 1929," How does となる which means "become" fit in this sentence?
 Stephenshark62's user avatar
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1 answer
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Could you explain what does っていうのは mean here?

コンビニっていうのはそんなに複雑な話はしない場所。 I understand the meaning of the sentence well enough but I don't quite get the usage of っていうのは here. I think it's the casual form of ということは which I thought I knew how to use ...
Hoover Gonzalez's user avatar
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Difference between 単独で and 単独に

In an online dictionary for 単独, 単独 is used seemingly as an adverb in two example sentences, but with different particles: 「単独で登頂する」 「単独に存在する」 99% of other 単独 examples online use で. Since this is a ...
Hikonyan's user avatar
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Negative + でください

Please note this post does not answer the question, it’s not a duplicate. 熱い時開けないでください This is the warning messages on your car for engine coolant. But why is it not 熱い時開けなくてください, Since it should ...
dvx2718's user avatar
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人間では決して勝ちえることのできぬ存在, how to handle 決して?

人間では決して勝ちえることのできぬ存在. In this sentence, how should 決して be translated? My dictionary says this should be "never" but I'm thinking it should be "able". Otherwise, with the ぬ at the ...
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Can a passive verb modify a noun?

We can say something like this, using a passive verb at the end of a sentence: 英語は世界中で話されている But when we put verb before a noun to modify it, which of the following could you use, or would be ...
Jessogreat's user avatar
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meaning of 方かしら( possible duplicate) [duplicate]

I am looking for the meaning of 方かしら I am aware that かしら has a meaning of "I wonder" The question may (or not) has been in the post: Meaning of ほうなんで? この街に来るって事は、冒険者を目指している方かしら If you've ...
Makoto's user avatar
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Please help me understand the tadoushi/jidoushi distinction

I’m trying to understand the tadoushi/jidoushi distinction. I read an article in wikionary.org Here which seemed to make sense. In particular it stated that the tadoushi/jidoushi distinction is a ...
justerman's user avatar
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Interpreting 本人がどうにかするしかないことなので

I just started reading a comic, and I'm having a bit of trouble understand a line said in the first page. Basically a girl approaches her guy friend and tells him that she's been worried for him since ...
bob's user avatar
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Difference between two grammars, ろ and るんだ?

やめろ and やめるんだ both can translate as "Stop" as a command, but what is the difference? From the last answer on this post: https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/15800/what-is-the-...
Ragaroni's user avatar
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2 answers
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Understanding the sentence "人間では決して勝ちえることのできぬ存在"

While reading a book, I came across the following sentence: 人間では決して勝ちえることのできぬ存在 Even with the translation (fan-translated) "It was an opponent which humanity could not overcome", I am unable ...
Hippalectryon's user avatar
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1 answer
194 views

Usage of てくる in Motion of Object

I have a doubt in regard to the use of てくる, while marking motion of an object. Among other things, てくる can be used to mark motion of an object, and the fact that you received that motion. E.g. ...
APK's user avatar
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What is the difference 言う vs 言わせたい?

I was looking up a lyrics for a song that has the lyrics 君の背中追いかけてた 眩しいとか悔しいとか 言うより言わせたい I think the first sentence can be translated to "I chased after your back", second one "Whether ...
Lolfoollor's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
189 views

What is the grammatical function of 〜としており when quoting a statement?

I understand 〜として to have the basic meaning of "as" or "assuming X" for making certain hypothetical statements, but I'm confused what function it serves in the following statement: ...
Paolo Menuez's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
139 views

Difference in the 4 sentence constructions

I have a sentence that, I was trying to frame, however, I cannot decide between ね, よ and だろう/でしょう, which ending particle that I should use. The context is: Aさんのお母さんがほうれん草を作った、でも、Aさんがほうれん草が好きじゃない. そして, ...
APK's user avatar
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What are the grammatical roles of the two のs in the following sentence?

What are the roles of the two の particles in the following sentence? 彼はこういうのがうまいのです。
Quince Blossom's user avatar
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Which 気力もつきかけている is appropriate here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvBrve8BLog&t=2m57s sm21891947 - スーパーメトロイド(SFC) 店頭映像 | Super Metroid Promotional Preview The official english captions for this sentence gives: もう戦う気力も尽きかけている。= My ...
SomaRise's user avatar
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1 answer
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How many meaning does 前進しか許されない! have?

Is this supposed to be an expression, an idiom or a saying or proverb or whatever, because I have seen this used a lot. There seem to be no entries for "前進しか許す" This video on youtube gives ...
SomaRise's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Help understand the ところを?

そんな彼女が、普通に笑うところを、一目でいいから見てみたかったーーと。 Hi. How should I understand the ところを? I have searched a lot about the explanation of the construction ところを but none of them fits the context. Thank you.
chino alpha's user avatar
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How should I understand the grammatical construction たりだとか?

「ええ。他にも、一緒に班組もうぜ!って言ったらマジのトーンで『えぇ……』って言われたりだとか、落ちた消しゴム拾ってあげたら『あ……それ、もういらないからあげる……』って言われたりだとか……」 Hi. How should I understand the construction たりだとか grammatically and semantically? Is たり a noun so we ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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の - questioning and confirmation

I learned the grammatical structure of の for questioning (and explaining) things a while ago, but the exact meaning and which gender uses it has kind of confused me. Here are a few varied sentence I'd ...
batv1's user avatar
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1 answer
819 views

How to properly use verb stem instead of the te form?

I'm writing an essay for school and to keep the word count down I've been using the verb masu form's stem instead of the te form. However, I'm slightly confused by how consistent it needs to be. Does ...
FoolishStrawberry's user avatar
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1 answer
176 views

Understanding the structure of つもりです

I just learned a phrase つもりです which can be used to express plan to do something. For example, 来月、日本へ旅行に行くつもりです and 私は結婚しないつもりだ. But what confuses me is the structure of the sentence, 日本へ旅行に行く is ...
lincr's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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Difference between using 読点 and て形 when using multiple adjectives

When linking adjectives, you can either use 読点(、) or て-form. So I could write the following sentence in two ways: くじゃくは、長い、美しい尾を扇のように広げました。 くじゃくは、長くて美しい尾を扇のように広げました。 The peacock expanded its long, ...
Shurim's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
157 views

Scope of よ particle, when used to convey new information

よ particle, has among other uses, is used to convey new information, which he believes that the other person does not know about/he assumes that the other person does not know. E.g. One person, who ...
APK's user avatar
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0 answers
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What is the difference in meaning when 触る is used with に vs when it is used with を? [duplicate]

According to jisho.org, 触る is both transitive and intransitive. How is it that it can be both? Here are two example sentences from my dictionary: 僕の車を触らないでくれ。 ぼくのカメラに触らないでくれ What is the difference ...
vaer-k's user avatar
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What would be the function or meaning of わけですし?

『それにしても、随分と思い切りましたわね、士道さん』 狂三が、面白がるような口調で言ってくる。士道は一瞬口ごもってから返した。 「……仕方ねえだろ。それに、狂三だって賛成したじゃねえかよ」 『まあ、それはそれですけれど。ーー確かに、折紙さんが現れる前に<ファントム>を追い払うことができたのなら、折紙さんはそもそも攻撃する目標を失うわけですし』 The context is that ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
231 views

Explanation of どうにもなんない

Could you explain to me how どうにもなんない works ? I know that どうにも + V + ない = not by any means, but here I have なん in between instead of a verb. Context: a boy has just died and is being discouraged to ...
Makoto's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
213 views

Why になります and not になりました when referring to how much time has passed?

I hope someone here can help me with a question that I have had for ages, but can't find an answer to. When I ask my Japanese friends I just get a blank look! In sentences where one is talking about ...
Hilary Metcalf's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
224 views

Understanding 他動詞vs自動詞 more clearly

I have been trying to grasp the concepts of transitive vs intransitive as I learn Japanese and had some questions on the following 窓を開けている... OK 窓を開けてある..... OK 窓が開いている.... OK now I have an issue with ...
bob's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
341 views

Meaning of このくらいに

I have some difficulty to correctly analyze the structure このくらいに in the sentence Context: a person who holds responsibilities has laughed a lot and she says わたしのストレス発散はこのくらいにしておいて. My stress has ...
Makoto's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
176 views

Usage of 色の in the following sentence

I was reading 雪女 Can anyone please explain me the difference between 白い女 and 色の白い女. Especially the usage of 色の and why, 色の precedes 白い. Also, shouldn't be more like 白い coming before 色, as in 白い色の女 (...
APK's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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What does "ni sou" mean in ごく自然にそうなる

When I Google translate the sentence it says "it will happen very naturally". If I break down the sentence into parts: Goku: very (adverb) Shizen: naturally (adverb) Ni sou: ??? Naru: to ...
Belphegor's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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meaning of だというに

Could you explain how だというに works in the following case 先程までの緊張感もなく、相手は女神だというのに、俺は既にタメ口だった。 Even though she was a goddess, I found myself speaking bluntly, without any of the anxiety I'd felt until a ...
Makoto's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
248 views

そんな飲み方をしてしまいたくなるのが interpreting してしまいたくなる

今、ちょっと休憩です。今日もまた、7時まで頑張ります!そして、また、お茶ミルについてですけど、本当に買ってよかった。今、休憩で、また抹茶を作りました。そして、おろししょうががあったので、半分入れた。そんな飲み方、え~ってかんじだけど、そんな飲み方をしてしまいたくなるのが、このお茶ミルです。 Can someone help me parse the last sentence, im having ...
bob's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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3 Questions from a Shin Kanzen Master N1 Passage

Here is another passage I read from Shin Kanzen Master Dokkai N1. (Well, it's actually an excerpt from Asahi Shinbun.) For this passage, I have several questions: Usage of という Here I encircled two ...
rebuuilt's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
1k views

立派 (rippa) 素敵 (suteki) difference

As the title says, what exactly is the usage of these two terms: 立派 (rippa) 素敵 (suteki) They both mean something like "great!", "nice!", but are they synonyms? It is sometimes ...
Jordi De Coster's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
289 views

Why is [欲しい]{ほしい} used here to ask about someone's desire?

There's a scene where some employee shows her prototypes to her manager. And this manager looks at her after browsing those and says: [意見が欲しい]{いけんがほしい}? Now I thought [欲しい]{ほしい} is strictly used for ...
Matin Sasan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
486 views

む verbs and corresponding ましい adjectives

In studying words like 羨ましい and 勇ましい, I've noticed that there are almost always corresponding (mostly transitive) む verbs: 羨む -> 羨ましい 勇む -> 勇ましい (transitive version seems to be archaic) 好む -> ...
Sam's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
1k views

When can you use (masu stem) + (another verb)

Here are some examples of the grammatical structure I am referring to: (verb A) to (verb B) = (masu stem of verb B) (sometimes に) (verb A conjugated normally) I went to pick up = 取りに行った I forgot to ...
John Lee's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
129 views

Help understanding some corrections on my sentences made using あげる、くれる, もらう

my japanese friend corrected some sentences I made and unfortunately can't speak the greatest english so I was looking for some explanation. I made the following sentences. I recently learned about て+...
bob's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
119 views

Can に have the same function as として?

In this sentence: 君は選ばれたのだ 私の退屈を埋めるための欠片の1つに Does the particle に work in the same way as として? Is it the same as 私の退屈を埋めるための欠片の1つとして ? Thanks for the answer!
Shibasaki's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do you join たる-adjectives?

When joining い-adjectives and な-adjectives, you simply put them in 連用形 + て: この料理は美味しくて安いです。 田中さんは綺麗で親切です。 However, I have a bit of trouble with たる-adjectives. I couldn't find any resources on it. ...
LittleWhole's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
63 views

I have a question. Why is the particle に instead of は for this sentence? Isnt the one doing supposed to be は not に? Thank you [duplicate]

I have a question. Why is the particle に instead of は for this sentence? “私に何かできることがあれば” Isnt the one doing supposed to be は not に? Thank you
カール's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
415 views

How does という work in the following sentence?

I've read online that という is translated as : called, that, like. But how does this sentence translate: コンサート・ピアニストになりたいという夢は終わった、という気分でした。 There are two instances of という here and the first instance I ...
Belphegor's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
181 views

The grammar behind "ていて+Adj" pattern

Today I came across this sentence: "見ていて難しくない?" That question was used to ask an actor about his own movie. And when I used Google Translate it gave me this translation: "Isn't it ...
Huân Bùi's user avatar

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