Grammar Notes Lesson 1A

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I．Verbals

  1. Conjugations:

    V-masu (affirmative imperfective)
    V-masen (negative imperfective)
    V-masita (affirmative perfective)
    V-masen desita (negative perfective)

  2. Tense:

    imperfective--unfinished/has not occured
    perfective----finished/has occured

れい(Examples)

  1. Ikimasu.
  2. Wakarimasen.
  3. Tukurimasita.
  4. Dekimasen desita.

れんしゅう (Exercises)

How do you say the following in Japanese?

1A.1: I understand/don't understand. → Answer

1A.2: I will come/won't come. → Answer

1A.3: I understood/didn't understand. → Answer

1A.4: I came/didn't come. → Answer

1A.5: I drank/didn't drink. → Answer

II．Sentence−particles: か[ka] ,ね [ne], よ[yo]

  1. か[ka]-- for questions
  2. ね[ne]-- for confirmation
  3. よ[yo]-- for assertion

れい (Examples)

  1. Wakarimasita ka.
  2. Asita kimasu ne.
  3. Kinoo kaimasita yo.

れんしゅう (Exercises)

How do you say the following in Japanese?

1A.6: Do you understand (it)? → Answer

1A.7: I UNDERSTOOD (it). (asserting) → Answer

1A.8: You understand, don't you? (confirming) → Answer

III．Negative　Questions

れい (Examples)

  1. A: Wakarimasen ka.
    B: Hai, wakarimasen. Sumimasen.
  2. A: Kinoo simasen desita yo.
    B: Aa, simasen desita ka.
  3. A: Tabemasen ka.
    B: Arigatoo gozaimasu.

れんしゅう (Exercises)

How do you say the following in Japanese?

1A.9:

A: I won't come.
B: Won't you come? (confirming what A said)

 →

Answer
1A.10:

A: I won't come.
B: (Oh), won't you come?
(what A said is contrary to B's assumption.)

 →

Answer
1A.11:

A: Won't you come? (Invitation)
B: Yes. Thank you.

→

Answer

IV．Affirming　and　Negating

はい[hai]/ええ[ee] means "(yes) what you have said is correct".

いいえ[iie]/いえ[ie]/いや[iya] means "(no) what you have said is not correct".

れい (Examples)

  1. A: Tigaimasu ka.
    B: Ee, tigaimasu yo.
  2. A: Kyoo simasita ne.
    B: Ie, simasen desita. Asita simasu yo.
  3. A: Dekimasen desita ka.
    B: Ie, dekimasita yo. Hai.

れんしゅう (Exercises)

1A.12:

A: Did you understand?
B: Yes, I did.

 →

Answer
1A.13:

A: Did you drink (it)?
B: No, I didn't.

 →

Answer
1A.14:

A: Won't you come?
B: No, I won't. (That's right, I won't come.)

→

Answer
1A.15:

A: Didn't you understand (it) ?
B: No, I didn't. (That's right, I didn't understand (it).)

→

Answer
1A.16:

A: You're going to eat (it), aren't you?
B: Yes, I'm going to.

 →

Answer
1A.17:

A: You are not going to eat (it), are you?
B: That's right. I am not going to eat (it).

 →

Answer
1A.18:

A: Won't you drink (some)? (Invitation)
B: Yes, thank you. (Acceptance)

 →

Answer
1A.19:

A: Won't you eat (some) (Invitation)
B: Well..... (rejecting the Invitation)

 →

Answer

Miscellaneous Notes

  1. Usage of dekimasu
    (a) completion: Dekimasita ka? (Did you finish (it)?)
    (b) ability/capability of sports, languages, etc.
    (talking about Tennis, for instance) Dekimasu ka? (Can you play ?)
  2. Usage of tyotto "a little/a bit": this phrase can be used as a polite refusal as we see in ex. 19 above.
  3. Itadakimasu (before you start eating/drinking).....
    (cf. Gotisoosama desita (after you finish eating/drinking))
  4. Usage of the verbs: ikimasu "to go" (motion away from the speaker) and kimasu "to come" (motion towards the speaker.)

Exercise Answers

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[L.1 Quiz Review Materials] [Japanese 1]