Questions tagged [verbs]
動詞. A class of words which describe events or states and can be inflected to indicate tense, aspect, voice, and so forth. In citation form, all Modern Japanese verbs end in -(r)u.
1,101
questions
2
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1answer
299 views
When do you use forms of 歩く as a verb to talk about walking?
I've come across different usages of 歩く as a verb and was unsure in which scenarios they would be most appropriate to use.
Is 歩く used with 来る?
東京タワーまで歩いて来ます。
Or is it used with 行く?
東京タワーまで歩いて行きます。
...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
What are the differences between し, するの and すること?
When should I use し, するの and すること as nouns? Not just the verb "する", but any verb e.g. ”見”, "見るの" and "見ること"/ "書き", "書くの" and "書くこと".
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7
votes
1answer
177 views
How to use the verb "数える" properly?
While studying yesterday, I came across the following sentence: "バスの中で お客さんの数を 数えました" (the spaces are included in the exercise). The meaning is simple enough, but when I asked my teacher ...
2
votes
1answer
266 views
Is 売られる the potential form of 売る?
I came across this sentence:
米はキロ単位で売られる。
The translation given was "Rice is sold by the kilogram." I assume that 売られる's meaning is more like "is sold" or "to be sold" ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
Change into intransitive form
How will the following sentence be written using intransitive verb. Will the verb 建てる use が or を
うちの前に高いビルを建てました。
Will it be:
うちの前に高いビルが建てられて日当たりが悪くなりました。
Or
うちの前に高いビルを建てられて日当たりが悪くなりました。
2
votes
1answer
86 views
「 〜のです。」is confusing when I have to use it with the casual form of the verb
I'm having trouble understanding the difference between 何かあるのですか。and 何かあったのですか。Are they both the same? Initially I thought that the former was present tense and the latter was past tense but I really ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views
Is this sentence from Bunpro misaligned with the provided translation, regarding verb tense and state of being? [duplicate]
I am using Bunpro SRS, and I came across the following sentence:
ポケモンは、日本中だけでなく、世界中で流行ったゲームだ。
The translation provided is:
Pokémon is popular not only all over Japan, but throughout the world.
The ...
4
votes
2answers
238 views
に versus を with 会いました verb
I casually used を in the sentence クマを会いました。I was corrected with クマに会いました。Checking references and sample sentences I found no を examples. I think there is something fundamental about を and に that I do ...
0
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2answers
69 views
Is Okotowarishimasu for a politer Kotowarimasu a type of form that can be used for other verbs?
Or just a special case for Kotowaru?
For the changing verbs to -ri + shimasu. Is this a standard form?
3
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2answers
104 views
ます form for る(u) verbs?
I'm a bit confused about the ます form for る(u), I assumed it's just the [stem form]+ます。
For the verb 召し上がる, the ます form was 召し上がります. But for いらっしゃる, the ます form was いらっしゃいます?
What's the rule deciding ...
-1
votes
1answer
104 views
Is This Verb Conjugation Method Reliable?
I recently found out about Japanese verb conjugations, and came across a helpful video. Can anyone tell me if this is legit, and can be used for any verb, or if I may have trouble if I use it as my ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Why is the volitional form of する - しよう, considering the classical post-む pre-spelling reform form was せう which should net *しょう?
Why is the volitional form of する - しよう, considering the pre-spelling reform but post-む form was せう, which according to sound changes and modern kana orthography should become しょう? Especially ...
0
votes
1answer
190 views
Conjugation patterns for u-dropping verbs [closed]
I was given a table by my book:
The pattern I spotted is, except for u-dropping verbs ending in つ, we have that every verb preserves its consonant (s, k, g, m, n, b, w or r) when conjugated. Thus, ...
0
votes
1answer
112 views
Why is であり Used in this sentence?
The sentence is
二人のやり取りに、当事者でありながら置いていかれた形の美智子は不満そうに唇を尖らせると.
I believe that であり may be being used here to connect the two verbs together but I'm not certain.
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0answers
30 views
What is the difference between 化粧する and 化粧をする？ [duplicate]
From what I've found online, there seems to be no real difference between ～する and ～をする but is that really true? I'm especially confused about this for irregular verbs...
1
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2answers
111 views
Are verbs of movement typically used in compounds?
I've been reading a lot of graded readers lately (targetted at JLPT N4/N3 level). I recognize that these are not "pure authentic native Japanese", but I also don't believe they are ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
The verb [手伝]{てつだ}う, does it use the particle に?
For example, if I want to say "I helped my uncle yesterday", how would I say it?
昨日私のおじさんにてつだいました。
Or, I would just use the particle を.
昨日私のおじさんをてつだいました。
2
votes
1answer
139 views
Problem Understanding the 経つ Verb
So I came across this sentence in a textbook:
家の近くで殺人事件が起きて１か月経つが、いまだに犯人は見つかっていない。
I think the sentence is supposed to mean 'Since the murder occurred near my house, a month has passed, but the ...
1
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1answer
135 views
What is the etymology of ~らぐ verbs?
What is the etymology of verbs like [安]{やす}らぐ, [和]{やわ}らぐ, [薄]{うす}らぐ, [平]{たひ}らぐ, etc.? I know they all come from adjectives, but where does the 〜ぐ come from?
Maybe [揺]{ゆ}らぐ could also fit into this ...
0
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1answer
91 views
Identifying ichidan and godan verbs from polite (masu) form?
I've googled, and it only comes up with results for the plain form of verbs. Is the answer just to change the polite form to plain form and then distinguish? If so, how do I do that?
0
votes
1answer
99 views
What is the word 喉首目?
イルーシュはがら空きになった喉首目がけて、今度は刃先を突き立てた。
The word 喉首目 is not in dictionaries, but it's used in this context simply for throat (喉). What is this word?
Also, can someone confirm if けて is for 蹴る (kick), ...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
What does 聞く actually represent (if it means both ask and listen)?
Usually, when words have multiple meanings (/translations) they're all just translations/branches of the same idea
(eg. 頼む is listed as '1. to request; to beg; to ask 2. to call; to order; to reserve...
2
votes
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
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0answers
76 views
How does the て form work here?
So I've been told that when you use the て form of verbs in a sentence, the last verb is the one that tells you in what tense the sentence is, but I found this sentence:
目を合わせて逸らさない、というのはそれで真摯に見える。...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Difference between 任せる and 任す?
Looking at the dictionary, both 任せる and 任す seem to have the same meaning and they're both transitive verbs, so I wonder if there is any difference between them. Is there any situation where one of ...
0
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0answers
117 views
Why do some endings have no verbs for them? I.e. ず・ぷ・ゆ
There seem to be a limited number of u-row characters that do not have verbs associated with them, and I'm curious why some of them do not exist. There once were ふ verbs, but there are no ぷ、ず、ゆ、づ ...
1
vote
2answers
135 views
To be hit by the sun verb
I found three ways to say "If I'm too exposed to the sun, I get a headache". Can you confirm that these three sentences are right? And if there are some nuances between them?
...
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0answers
75 views
How to say 'My stocks (investment) went up/down'
If I want to say 'my stocks went up/down', do I use the verbs 上がる/下がる as in
株式が上げました。
or are different verbs used?
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0answers
71 views
僕が書いた文章を直してくれませんか [closed]
練習としてポルトガル語（母国語）の文章を和訳してみました。構わずどんなところでも直してください！
これはなぜ人がはやく諦めるかについて。
失敗の懸念。たぶん最も一般的な理由。「負ける恐れが勝つ意志の息を止める」ということわざがあります。きみに勝って、のろくさせて、居心地場にとどめさせるからこそ意志の息を止める。この社会は私たちを失敗に備えていない。不準備の私たちは試すことさえ恐れている。...
4
votes
1answer
484 views
Meaning of にある時? (「死にそうな目にあった時...」
I found this sentence:
死にそうな目にあった時、すぐに入りなおさないと。
I know what it means, but I can't understand the grammar behind "にあった時".
5
votes
1answer
843 views
Meaning of せないかんのよ
Reading Tokyo Ghoul I found this sentence:
カミさんやらチビたちにまだまだ家族サービスせないかんのよ
After looking around I more or less understand it, expect the せないかん part: I'm guessing のよ are just ending particles and せない is ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
When is 請じる used?
I read a novel, with the following sentence :
社会部記者と称する男は、快く支配人の部屋へ請じられた。
According to jisho.org,請じる means "to invite; to show (someone) in". I searched online for examples of sentences ...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
Is there a difference between 場が凍る and 場が凍り付く?
Is there a difference between 場が凍る and 場が凍り付く? Both seem to be in use. Both are 自動詞/五段活用. An example sentence by yours truly:
教室で先生に「お前何言ってんだ」って言っちゃって場が凍った
教室で先生に「お前何言ってんだ」って言っちゃって場が凍りついた
I have ...
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0answers
80 views
(Passive) verbs and nouns
I have question regarding the use of verbs as "adjectives" for nouns.
When should I use the passive form of the verb? When should I use the standard form of the verb?
For example, when ...
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3answers
361 views
Causative passive form vs. Passive causative form: Both are grammatically possible, but is there a citation to prefer one over the other?
The "causative passive" form is very well documented. It's easily made possible because the a causative verb is a valid ichidan verb, and therefore compatible with the passive conjugation.
...
2
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2answers
89 views
What does 送る mean in this sentence and is it similar to 生活を送る?
幻聴？あたし妄想見やすいタイプなのかな？父親の愛情なき幼児体験おくってっからな…
(first sentence for context)...because I experienced childhood without my father's love.
Would it work to also say 「幼児体験で育ったから」?
I'm also wondering if it is ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Meaning of たりしたら
I was reading something and I found this thing attached to a verb. The sentence was this one:
ふと脇を見て、そこに洗濯物がたたんであったりしたら。
What meaning does it have?
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Using 来る for product release
Is 来る strictly for coming to a physical location, or can it be used to describe a product a product release.
For example:
来月映画は来ます。
The movie will be coming out next month.
これは先月来た映画の写真です。
This is ...
1
vote
1answer
281 views
Why are there so many three kana kunyomi verbs beginning with あ?
謝る、扱う、現れる、表す、諦める、争う、改める、…
Why are there so many verbs beginning with あ and with three kana kunyomi?
Is there some etymological reason for this? I can't imagine this is completely incidental, though ...
5
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1answer
178 views
What effect does adding 「取り~」 before a verb have?
I've encountered many verbs with 「取り~」 inserted. Up till now I've treated 「取り+verb」 as separate vocabulary, but quite often, the definitions are not much different than the base verb alone. In ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
Can the particle を work as から in certain situations?
I found the next sentence:
村を飛び出した
Because of 飛び出す being an intransitive verb, then that を is not working as a direct object marker, right? Then can を work as a "substitute" for から in this ...
0
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1answer
58 views
What's the difference between 【Noun + が + いadj】 and 【Noun + の + Verb】
I was reading and I found the next sentence:
そこから動きの鈍った魔物がもぞもぞと入り込んでくる
And I had that question, What's the difference between that and saying
そこから動きが鈍い魔物がもぞもぞと入り込んでくる
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0answers
37 views
Past-tense inflection used for a future action [duplicate]
In this sentence
早く寝た方がいいですよ。
which is translated as
You should go to sleep early.
I am confused about the reason in which the past tense inflection for 寝る is used. Is this a similar construct ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Understanding the negative potential form
In this sentence:
無用なものを入れると、無用なものしか取り出せない
Which I interpreted literally as
"If you put in useless things, nothing but useless things aren't able to be taken out."
It seems that a more ...
4
votes
1answer
182 views
How would one say "to call on a student"?
I would like to write a sentence to the effect of "the student was afraid to be called on." I have searched all over to find the verb of "calling on" a student and the best I can ...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Conjugating Nidan Verbs
I am studying elementary Japanese, not classical forms of the language. In the online dictionary Jisho.org, I found the verb 憂ふ/'to be worried or concerned about' listed as a nidan verb. Does that ...
9
votes
1answer
271 views
Where does the -a stem come from with auxiliary-constructed transitive/intransitive verb pairs if the base verb is a 二段活用 (or カ行変格活用)?
It seems to be generally understood that transitive/intransitive verb pairs, when they are not a 四段活用 and a 二段活用 that share the same 終止形, were created by taking a base verb, whether transitive or ...
2
votes
1answer
398 views
Why 鍵を開ける instead of 鍵で開ける
So I am a beginner when it comes to japanese and today I stumbled upon the phrase "鍵を開ける".
As I understand, one of the usages of the particle で is, how something or where something is done.
...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Difference between っての名詞 and る名詞
In the grammar explanation for なりに on japanesetest4you.com, I ran into the following sentence:
私には私なりの理由があっての事だったんです。
I am curious about one part in particular:
があっての
Is this any different than がある? I ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
A question about 目を合わせる
So the thing is that I found the next sentence:
目を合わせて逸らさない、というのはそれだけで真摯に見える。
I understand the whole sentence and all, but that 「目を合わせて逸らさない」is troubling me.
I asked what it meant, and it was ...