日本語で書く練習

[richvh]

出たばかり would be another possibility. The problem is that ている form isn't completely congruent with "to be -ing" form, and I'm not sure what the nuance is of 出ていた in regards to "was leaving"

For 帰ろうとした, see the part I edited into my previous post.

[Ongakuka]

:) Rich you saviour! I should have done this thing long ago...

EDIT: Erm.. this is an edit for my edit :p I understand now!

[Nibble]

richvh wrote:

Ongakuka wrote:
Could you help me to understand 帰ろうとした？ I'm guessing that it's a composition of kaeru's volitional, "to" and "shita" but I'm not quite sure what that entails.

Volitional + とする has the meaning of attempting to do something. See Tae Kim's guide

You might also think of it as 'about to', as in 行こうとしたとき、電話がかかってきた = "Just as I was about to go, the phone rang."

[richvh]

Ongakuka wrote:
I'll set to work on it now. But I'm surprised that です is not used between family members. だ sounds quite blunt to me, but if you recommend I change it then I'll do so. Thanks!!

Plain form is usually used between family members, especially parents to children. Using です・ます form to one's parent is probably appropriate, unless the family is egalitarian, or the child is quite young.

[Ongakuka]

Thanks guys. I'll attempt to use some more "to suru" forms where I can for practice.

Plain form is usually used between family members, especially parents to children. Using です・ます form to one's parent is probably appropriate, unless the family is egalitarian, or the child is quite young.

I'll bear that in mind. I'll assume therefore it's ok to use "tousan," especially since in this context I doubt "Chichi" is suitable.

My next problem is 話したがります I'll try and work it out myself first.

EDIT: Nope got nothing on that one.

[paul_b]

Ongakuka wrote:
I'll bear that in mind. I'll assume therefore it's ok to use "tousan," especially since in this context I doubt "Chichi" is suitable.

In group / out group. She'd probably use tousan when addressing her father but chichi when talking about him to somebody outside of the family.

[Ongakuka]

In group / out group. She'd probably use tousan when addressing her father but chichi when talking about him to somebody outside of the family.

I see. So if she used tousan to another person (not family) it would be rude since she's being respectful to her family and that would seem like being respectful to herself, kind of like using san on herself. Well it's Ok this time anyaway:) Smith hasn't come on stage yet.

[richvh]

Ongakuka wrote:
My next problem is 話したがります I'll try and work it out myself first.

EDIT: Nope got nothing on that one.

For the 〜た〜 part, see Tae Kim on Desire, for the 〜がる part, see Tae Kim on showing emotions
It's 話す plus たい plus がる. Also see this thread.

[Ongakuka]

Thankyou:)

[paul_b]

richvh wrote:

Ongakuka wrote:
My next problem is 話したがります I'll try and work it out myself first.

EDIT: Nope got nothing on that one.

For the 〜た〜 part, see Tae Kim on Desire, for the 〜がる part, see Tae Kim on showing emotions
It's 話す plus たい plus がる. Also see this thread.

You had a [ where there should have been a ]

[Ongakuka]

Oh ! I thougt it was simply past tense 話した。 So it is 話したい and がります which must equate to "looks as if he wants to talk"

excellent!

[paul_b]

Ongakuka wrote:
「父さん。。父さんとスミスさんは話したがります。大切と言いました！」
「そうだ。」と本田は答えた。「それがもっと意外ね。スミスはどこだ」

PART II

本田はスミスの家に待っていた。小さな部屋でしたが、たくさん宝飾があった。
「久しぶりですね！本田さん。。」とスミスは言った。本田は答えなかった。

「父さん。。スミスさんが父さんと話したがります。大切な話だと言いました！」
「そうだ。」と本田は答えた。「それがもっと意外だね。スミスさんはどこだ？」

PART II

本田はスミスの家に待っていた。小さな部屋でしたが、たくさん宝飾があった。
「久しぶりですね！本田さん。。」とスミスは言ったが、本田は答えなかった。

Really 宝飾 ? Also how did he end up waiting in Mr Smith's house?

[Ongakuka]

Thanks! I'll start editing.

大切な話だと言いました！」

Eh? What does this mean? I understand why everything else is changed. Thankyou for your help.

EDIT:　

Really 宝飾 ?

It's all part of the story. You'll see.:p

Also how did he end up waiting in Mr Smith's house?

Well the last sentence of the first part was どこだ？So the reader is meant to assume in part II that Honda is told that Smith is at his house. Does that not work?

[paul_b]

Ongakuka wrote:
Thanks! I'll start editing.

大切な話だと言いました！」

Eh? What does this mean? I understand why everything else is changed. Thankyou for your help.

Well you could just have 大切だと言いました but 大切な話 is the typical way of saying that they have something important to say.

Also how did he end up waiting in Mr Smith's house?

Well the last sentence of the first part was どこだ？So the reader is meant to assume in part II that Honda is told that Smith is at his house. Does that not work?

Well that bit works except that in order to be _waiting_ in his house he has to first be let in by someone (presumably Smith) and then left on his own to wait for Smith to come back again(?).

[Ongakuka]

Well you could just have 大切だと言いました but 大切な話 is the typical way of saying that they have something important to say.

Well if it's a set phrase I guess there's no need to go further than that. Thanks

Well that bit works except that in order to be _waiting_ in his house he has to first be let in by someone (presumably Smith) and then left on his own to wait for Smith to come back again(?).

I'm sorta working my way around that...