Making sentences

[h3lladvocate]

I been studing lapanese for about 2 months and i have resently siged up for the kanji a day e0mail list (about 3 weeks ago) and i was wondering, when am i gonna learn how to make some actual sentences? So far all the emails are nouns, i dont know anything else but nouns. Are there nouns in kanji? Are there adjetives in kanji? If not, how do you have verbs and adjetivs and adverbs ect.? Please explain what writing systems are normally used for a part of speech, this is all so confusing.

[Infidel]

kanji a day is a learning supplement not a substitute. You will still need to learn the grammar because without the grammar the words are practically useless.

Get a textbook. That is where you learn to make sentences. All kanji-a-day is, is a vocabulary word of the day.

[h3lladvocate]

Well i cant really get a text book because i dont have a way of getting to a store or ordering online seeing im only 15 so do you have any suggestions on how i could do it online?

[Infidel]

ask parents? Check out from a library. Save a month of allowance. There are decent Japanese books under $20.

[h3lladvocate]

My parents dont really like me spending my time learning another language, so they probobly would take mo to the store to get a book. Any other options? Like some other really good sites?

[Infidel]

Unfortunately, the only really good site is a pay site. None of the free sites qualify higher than below average.

Save up, sooner or later your mom is gonna take you to the mall or give your money to a friend.

There is still the library option.

[yankumi]

Here are some websites for grammar:


This one is for kids, so the graphics may be a bit childish for you, but the lessons are quite good and include audio.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/say.html

This is a good website, but unless you have a popup blocker, it has many, many annoying popups.
http://japanese.about.com/


http://www.nihongoresources.com/downloads/An%20introduction%20to%20Japanese.pdf

http://www.timwerx.net/language/jpverbs/

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~armiller/japanese/japanese.htm

Check your library. If you live in a city with a large library system, see if they have interlibrary loan--where I live, I can go to the main library website, look up a book, and then request to have it sent to my branch library.

Check out library book sales. The last one I went to, I was fortunate enough to pick up several useful books for 1.00 each. Here's a website where you can check to see if there are any sales in your area.

http://www.booksalefinder.com/index.html

[KeroGero]

What kind of parents don't want their kid learning another language?! Would they rather see you spend your time burning your brains out watching TV? You're not the only one I've heard this from, either, which is what really gets me. Man, I've always been encouraged to do things that keep my mind busy.
Possibly because no one wants to have to deal with me <.<

Anyway, here's a site I find useful http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

[yankumi]

kerogero--I agree. I homeschool my daughters and I think anyone taking the initiative to educate themselves should be commended.

[h3lladvocate]

Well, my parents dont really take off to the whole "japanese" things. zdont know why. I have to sneak watch anime. Luckl;y, they let me buy manga, but thats basically where thy draw the line. Thanks for the site, imma have to check em out.

[yankumi]

Good luck with the studies! I am teaching myself as well, so I know it can be challenging. And I hope my comment did not imply any disrespect towards your parents, I do realize everyone parents differently.

[mr_pain]

"My parents dont really like me spending my time learning another language, so they probobly would take mo to the store to get a book."

Live in Kansas perchance?

[Kates]

Tae Kim's site is a nice one that takes you from the basics to some advanced topics:

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

Oh, and the info about going to the library is great--I know ours has a few Japanese books and cassette/CD learning sets.

[Mariya]

h3lladvocate: I have similar difficulties to yours...just have a good look around. All the sites mentioned here are extremely useful. If you get stuck somewhere in your studies, post questions. Take a look at past threads in your spare time, seeing as they may answer some of your questions.

Good luck. PM if you need any further assistance.

[h3lladvocate]

Thank you all very much for the sugestions. mr_pain, your close, i actually live in texas. Unfortuantly, my school library has no launguage books, but those site, expecially the one pdf, are alll very usefull. Domo arigato.