Questions tagged [syntax]
統語論. Rules governing construction of phrases and sentences in a language.
590
questions
5
votes
2answers
134 views
Difference between「なんか」and「なんだか」?
What are some examples of their usage? Is なん the short form of 何【なに】 in both words?
Also, not sure if this is correct, but the だ in the middle of なんだか should be the copula. Why is the copula being ...
3
votes
2answers
115 views
Sentence construction 活躍をしてる現場
他のヒーローが俺くらい活躍をしてる現場なんて見たことがない
In this sentence, the main noun in the clause before なんて is 現場, so I would understand this sentence as "I haven't seen a place that the other heroes flourish as ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
Using 人 vs の vs 人の when talking about a person's nationality
What should be used when describing someone by their nationality?
Example:
日本人女性 vs 日本の女性 vs 日本人の女性
I've seen all three of these used, but it's hard for me to see the difference.
3
votes
1answer
248 views
Which part of the sentence is emphasised in Japanese?
My question relates to which part of the information is emphasised more in Japanese, the part that comes first or in the end of a sentence for instance what would be the nuance in this type of ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Differences between ～たら and ～なら [duplicate]
I have this sentence to conjugate in the right form, but I have doubts about what to use. If I use ～たら then the sentence must have a logical-temporal sense. If I use ～なら instead it will have a ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Understanding the subject and object when using 満足/満足できない
I'm a little confused as to who the sentence is referring to as the satisfied/dissatisfied person.
for example: 彼はもう彼女満足できない。
I understand this sentence to mean: He cant be satisfied by/with her ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Correctness of this sentence
The original sentence was:
運転教官は私に毎日運転するように言いました。
The driving instructor told me to drive every day.
But I wanted to change it into something more complex or perhaps similar to how a native speaker ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
How come this sentence そんなことでどうする？ takes on so many forms?
ロニキス
「はは。クロード、これしきの事で怯えているのか？少尉ともあろうものが、そんなことでどうする？
The context is that Ronixis is a commander who hands Claude a pistol and tells him to use it in case of an attack.
I'm confused at exactly what ...
0
votes
1answer
131 views
Can someone break down this sentence for me?
「人は話せるようになるとすぐ いろいろなことを尋ねます」I would like this sentence to be broken into Subject, Object, Verb... I can only distinguish a few of the particles, and I understand (because of dictionary) that「話せる」means ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Is ある in this sentence used to refer to animate objects (children)?
I was doing some searches and so know that it is not as simple as just ある = nonliving and いる = living, but the sentence still makes me confused because of "みんな的には…" and "良いとかある？"
...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
What's an equivalent in Japanese to "I'm asking this because..."?
Like, in a conversation one might first ask:
"When are you going on holiday?"
and then follow up with a clarification:
"I'm asking this because I need someone to watch my kids next week....
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Does the construct: [verb]+るっちゃ[verb]るけど, make any sense grammatically?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2QAVNPdJso&t=2m39s
2年間ぐらい全然漢字使ってなくて、今なんか書こうと思えば、ま、ちょっと難しい。読めるっちゃ読めるけど...
I haven't used kanji at all for about two years, and if I want to write something now, it's ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
Does anyone know if this is supposed to be some kind of expression これが憎めないんだなぁ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3w8m7zZfs&t=2m5s
スリッピーはちょっと気が弱いが、これが憎めないんだなぁ。
Slippy is a bit faint of heart, ...
憎む 【にくむ】 to hate; to detest
0
votes
1answer
191 views
Connotations of 身もふたもないこと
My question is about the expression "身もふたもないこと".
I know that "身もふたもない" means blunt or point-blank, but is there any additional connotation such as "stupid" or "silly&...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
How to find implied sentence parts in flash news
The following is a flash news from テレ朝
沖縄県 「緊急事態宣言」政府への要請を正式決定
Two questions:
What particles are implied after Okinawa prefecture and after quoted "declaration of emergency state"?
Since ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Can 案が検討されまして also be used to mean "implemented"?
I'm not sure how to make sense of this section of text.
Either it says that buses were considered for use but ultimately left without stranded passengers, OR that sightseeing buses were used and ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Can 総指揮 be used outside of a military context?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4JDxrrSGT0
「えーー、こんにちは、あるいはこんばんは。えー、糸井重里です。
今度、任天堂から、えー、マザーというタイトルで、えー、僕の、えー、組織、監督脚本というなんか大げさ が/な 触れ込みで、マザーという新しいロールプレイングゲームが出ます。
I'm not sure if its そうしき 総指揮 general ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
The function of して and のかに
I don't really understand what して and のかに mean or their function in the following sentence?
さあ私がどのようにして友達のマイケルに出会ったのかについてお話しましょう
1
vote
2answers
182 views
Does 泣いている describe a continuous action or a state after a change has taken place?
Intransitive verbs describe a change that people/things undergo from my understanding and do not take a direct object. I've also read that the te-form of intransitive verbs with いる describe a state ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Can も replace を when used with 気にしない
For example I want to say
俺は彼だったらあなたも気にしない
I know that it should be あなたを気にしない, but I couldn't find it being used this way anywhere online in the meaning "didn't care ABOUT you, too". にも ...
2
votes
1answer
459 views
How to express "I'm so X that Y?"
I found these two grammar points but I can't seem to be able to use them to express what I want.
くらい、ほど
Let's say I want to say "I'm so full that I will never walk again"
The closest I can ...
3
votes
1answer
160 views
What is the right order of this sentence? (JLPT N2 practice question)
From Shin Kanzen Master JLPT N2:
新しい店をオープンする ＿ ＿ ＿* ＿ かたまってきた。
１ の ２ ようやく ３ にあたって ４ 方針が
The right answer at the starred position is 4.
One arrangement I thought might make this answer work is:
...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
What does 表現とか感じるもの mean in this context?
The definitions for「表現」and「感じるもの」seem to take on different meanings in different sentences, I can't find which definitions are appropriate for this phrase, or if the phrase means something completely ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
How to parse 彼は甲殻のように固い背中を下にして横たわり
I am (still) reading Metamorphosis(from Kafka) and can't figure out how to parse
彼は甲殻のように固い背中を下にして横たわり
Translated as
He lay on his armour-hard back
I suppose the japanese version litteraly looks ...
-2
votes
1answer
227 views
How in the heck does this colloquial japanese sentence make any sense grammatically?
I am aware that this is colloquial japanese, but the individual parts are jumbled haphazardly to where I can't figure out how this is supposed to follow even somewhat correct grammar. I got 2 ...
4
votes
1answer
140 views
Questions about punctuation in a light novel
I have the first time of No game No life in Japanese. However, there are some things that puzzled me quite a bit about the punctuation. As you can see in the photo, I don't understand the reason why ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Help understanding this sentences
道の隅で咲いたり枯れる夢たち
それじゃずっと 自由なのに自由じゃないまま
This sentences are taken from a song and there are two things I don't quite understand.
First, I get the meaning of the first one, but why isn't it 咲いたり枯れたりする ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
Odd Word order (Noun at end of sentence) [duplicate]
I am slightly confused at the structure of this sentence and why 黒髪の男 is appearing at the end of the sentence.
ぴたり、と足を止める黒髪の男.
my suspicion is that "黒髪の男” is appearing at the end of the ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Why does noun-connecting form （の、こと）work in this example?
So my tutor and I have been talking about this example and I still can't ascertain an answer I understand from him as to why it works (the piece in bold).
ただ走るのではなくて サーかを しながら走るのがいいです
What I ...
1
vote
3answers
300 views
Subject confusion in ~たい sentences
I know たい means "want to." But the examples below confused me. Especially the second sentence translates to "I want to eat." I don't know why this is the translation. I'm not sure ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
Does 防具による攻撃 mean "attacks with armor" or "attacks depending on armor"
This is a vhs promotional video about a videogame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUhd8qoQl6E&t=4m55s
さらにタクティクスオウガでは、ユニットの武器や防具による攻撃、魔法攻撃、各ユニットの特性を生かした攻撃など、バラエティーに富んだアクションをもフルアニメーションで構成。
My ...
1
vote
1answer
118 views
Interpretation of し at the end of an ambiguous twitter message
This image from the Hololive subreddit has me scratching my head. It seems to suggest that there was only one way of interpreting the tweet at the top of the image. I checked just to be sure but ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
目の前にたかだ usage in a sentence [closed]
目の前にたかだパフェが置かれただけなのにキャッキヤツとはしゃいでいる。彼女に言わせれば「何がたかがよ!」という感じなのだろうが。
The part that confused me is: 目の前にたかだパフェ...
I took it as 目の前 似た 佳だ パフェ (An excellent parfait like the one before her now).
However, ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
What is the difference between Japanese は and を as a particle?
so for topic markers I usually use は but what about を? I assume its used for verbs? if its not then correct me.
3
votes
2answers
216 views
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Is するということであります speaking in the past, or present?
This is from a commercial for Hermie Hopperhead:
長官:大変お待たせいたしました。
それでは、現時点で分かっている事実を発表いたします。
まず、名前はハーミーホッパーヘッド。
記者A:すいません。もう一度お願いいたします。
長官:ハーミーホッパーヘッド。全部カタカナです。
エ、これが、ある惑星から脱出するということであります。
...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Syntax of 住み心地のいい小さな家
I was randomly reading a grammar book (despite I'm still being in N5) and found the follow sentence:
住み心地のいい小さな家
The sentence was alone, without context, and it was translated to something like "...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
explanation of 俺だったが [duplicate]
Hi I have found the following sentence
"普段学校に行かず家に引き篭もっている俺だったが、今日は珍しく外出をした。"
translated as:
Normally I stay locked in my room. Don’t even go to school. But today,
for once, I left the ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
は versus が in this sentence
In the Genki 1 textbook, the question prompt
本を読んでいる人は誰ですか？
appears alongside an illustration with a bunch of people doing different activities. The textbook user is then supposed to pick out a ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
思います grammar including て-Form
I have question regarding the following sentence in English:
I also think that holidays are good and people need it.
At first I came up with this:
私も休日がよくて人はそれがいると思います。
But I am not sure whether ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Purpose and meaning of やること in correction
I'm trying to understand a correction in a sentence. I wrote:
ことをやるクエストがありすぎます。
There are too many quests to do.
But it has been corrected to
1. やるクエストがありすぎます。
2. やることクエストがありすぎます。
3. やることがありすぎます。
...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Can the phrase にまた_が戻ってくるんだ have multiple meanings?
This is script from a game where 2 characters are talking to each other. One says:
「賞金が出たら馬を買おう
セボック村にまた馬が戻ってくるんだ
徴集兵のバイトなんかオサラバだぜ
Here is the NTSC-U version:
With a reward, I'll get a horse
and ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Use of のどこが when asking about traits
I have noticed a recurring sentence pattern of Xのどこが好き/嫌い e.t.cですか？ meaning what do you like/hate about X. I was just wondering if anyone knows what exact function どこ is performing in this sentence. I ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
を-marked 非情-Passive in Adjectival Phrase
I've come across this sentence in a publicly available preview of ノルウェイの森:
何日かつづいたやわらかな雨に夏のあいだのほこりをすっかり洗い流された山肌は深く鮮かな青みをたたえ。
I see two different ways of parsing the adjective phrase describing the ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Because I cannot find the root verb in any dictionary, what does をしめて回った mean in this sentence?
This is from a Manga, or so I heard.
中学時代に地元の学校をしめて回ったマキちゃん。
Maki-chan squeezed around a/some local school in the era/period during junior high school.
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Interrogative/Counters with か、も、でも, but also with particles
I know that by attaching か、も、でも to the end of an interrogative word can form a new meaning, but if particles are also used, where should the position of each thing be?
Example:
Which day? いつの日？
Some ...
5
votes
1answer
211 views
is Vてはじめて it's own grammar construction or simply something made up to help Japanese learners?
The Vてはじめて、construction is generally taught as its own grammar point to mean "not until X", "only after X". However from what I've been told by other learners as well as natives, ...
4
votes
1answer
118 views
I don't get what ''元気よくとはいかない'' means
''~とりあえず、新学期。まぁさ、元気よくとはいかないけど、でもこんな天気もいいし、桜も咲いてるし、もう少しだけ愛想が良くてもいいんじゃないかしら？''
What はいかない is? is it like てはいけない (must not/don't have to)? If so, why はいけない and not はいかない?
Could you break '''元気よくとはいかない'' ...
