Japanese Grammar FAQ - Revision history

Ongakuka: /* Are Japanese tenses different from English? */

2013-02-19T09:20:30Z

Are Japanese tenses different from English?

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:20, 19 February 2013
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	For uncertain future events, simply add だろう・でしょう after the verb: 「彼はいつか帰ってくるだろう。かれはいつかかえってくるだろう。」"Someday he will return" (I think he will, but I can't be certain.)		For uncertain future events, simply add だろう・でしょう after the verb: 「彼はいつか帰ってくるだろう。かれはいつかかえってくるだろう。」"Someday he will return" (I think he will, but I can't be certain.)

		+
		+	No matter what tense, the て form of a verb can be used to carry on the sentence. The two sentences below are in different tenses, but the verb in て form (開ける・あける to open) does not need to specify the tense because that is done by the final verb （入る・はいる　to enter)
		+
		+	（私は）ドアを開けて部屋に入ります。　"（I) open the door and enter the room"
		+	（私は）ドアを開けて部屋に入りました。 (I) opened the door and entered the room"

	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===		=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

Ongakuka: /* What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) */

2013-02-17T05:37:00Z

What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda)

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:37, 17 February 2013
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	だ follows nouns and na-adjectives, as in 「猫（ねこ）だ」 or 「きれいだ」, but the polite form です conveniently may follow i-adjectives also. 「寒いです」		だ follows nouns and na-adjectives, as in 「猫（ねこ）だ」 or 「きれいだ」, but the polite form です conveniently may follow i-adjectives also. 「寒いです」
		+
		+	=== Are Japanese tenses different from English? ===
		+
		+	Talking about things in the past, present or future is easy enough in Japanese, but the past tense in particular can be somewhat misleading.
		+
		+	1. Future. 私は勉強します。わたしはべんきょうします。 This literally means "I study" but because the dictionary form of Japanese verbs indicates one's intentions, it can be used to express what you are about to do. To express things at a later date in the future, you can use the dictionary form with time specific words such as "next week:" 「来週、映画を見に行きます。らいしゅう、えいがをみにいきます。」"Next week, ... go to see a movie." Note that the subject ("I" or "we" or "they") is left out as it would be understood from the context.
		+
		+	For uncertain future events, simply add だろう・でしょう after the verb: 「彼はいつか帰ってくるだろう。かれはいつかかえってくるだろう。」"Someday he will return" (I think he will, but I can't be certain.)
		+

	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===		=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

Ongakuka: /* Can I use か(ka) after だ(da)? */

2013-02-17T05:13:18Z

Can I use か(ka) after だ(da)?

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:13, 17 February 2013
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	寒いんだ　０		寒いんだ　０

-	The first sentence means "It's (or "I'm") cold." The second sentence could mean "Oh it's cold" (~~contrary to my expectation~~) or "I'm cold" (in explanation.) Please refer to the んだ・のだ section for more details.	+	The first sentence means "It's (or "I'm") cold." The second sentence could mean "Oh it's cold" (indicating realization) or "I'm cold" (in explanation.) Please refer to the んだ・のだ section for more details.

	だ follows nouns and na-adjectives, as in 「猫（ねこ）だ」 or 「きれいだ」, but the polite form です conveniently may follow i-adjectives also. 「寒いです」		だ follows nouns and na-adjectives, as in 「猫（ねこ）だ」 or 「きれいだ」, but the polite form です conveniently may follow i-adjectives also. 「寒いです」

Ongakuka: /* Can I use か(ka) after だ(da)? */

2013-02-17T05:10:36Z

Can I use か(ka) after だ(da)?

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:10, 17 February 2013
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	When asking a question in polite Japanese, your sentence will often end in 「ですか。」However, even though ですis a polite form of だ, Japanese people do not say だか, which actually gives off a distinct country-bumpkin feel. Questions in casual speech are best ended with the particle の (refer to the んだ・のだ section)		When asking a question in polite Japanese, your sentence will often end in 「ですか。」However, even though ですis a polite form of だ, Japanese people do not say だか, which actually gives off a distinct country-bumpkin feel. Questions in casual speech are best ended with the particle の (refer to the んだ・のだ section)

-	It should also be noted that だ should not follow an i-adjective （「い形容詞」）or a verb.	+	It should also be noted that だ should not follow an i-adjective （「い形容詞」）or a verb.

	寒いだね　X　寒いね　０		寒いだね　X　寒いね　０
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	The first sentence means "It's (or "I'm") cold." The second sentence could mean "Oh it's cold" (contrary to my expectation) or "I'm cold" (in explanation.) Please refer to the んだ・のだ section for more details.		The first sentence means "It's (or "I'm") cold." The second sentence could mean "Oh it's cold" (contrary to my expectation) or "I'm cold" (in explanation.) Please refer to the んだ・のだ section for more details.
		+
		+	だ follows nouns and na-adjectives, as in 「猫（ねこ）だ」 or 「きれいだ」, but the polite form です conveniently may follow i-adjectives also. 「寒いです」

	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===		=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

Ongakuka: /* What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) */

2013-02-15T08:40:51Z

What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda)

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:40, 15 February 2013
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-	~~終わったんだ~~ It's finished/over (Here ん describes the speaker's realization at that very moment that something has finished.)	+	終わったんだ。 It's finished/over (Here ん describes the speaker's realization at that very moment that something has finished.)
		+
		+	おわったんだ。

	=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===		=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===

Ongakuka: /* What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) */

2013-02-15T08:39:54Z

What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda)

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:39, 15 February 2013
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-	Using ん・の in a statement:	+	Using ん・の in a statement can be to give an explanation, or acknowledge/understand something you didn't before.

	これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)		これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)

	これは、べんりなのです。		これは、べんりなのです。
		+
		+
		+	終わったんだ It's finished/over (Here ん describes the speaker's realization at that very moment that something has finished.)

	=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===		=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===

Ongakuka: /* だ(da) VS です(desu) */

2013-02-15T08:30:38Z

だ(da) VS です(desu)

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:30, 15 February 2013
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	The copula だ・です is used to finalize a statement. They mean the same thing, except that です is polite and, like any polite Japanese, is usually prioritized when speaking to anyone outside of friends and family. The extremely polite form is でございます (de gozaimasu)		The copula だ・です is used to finalize a statement. They mean the same thing, except that です is polite and, like any polite Japanese, is usually prioritized when speaking to anyone outside of friends and family. The extremely polite form is でございます (de gozaimasu)

-	Other forms of this word include である (de aru) which is used in formal or academic text/speech. It sounds very certain and sometimes even proud - like the title of Natsume Soseki's book: 我輩は猫である "I am a Cat." The Samurai-esque alternative is でござる (de gozaru).	+	Other forms of this word include である (de aru) which is used in formal or academic text/speech. It sounds very certain and sometimes even proud - like the title of Natsume Soseki's book: 我輩は猫である "I am a Cat." The Samurai-esque alternative is でござる (de gozaru).


		+	=== Can I use か(ka) after だ(da)? ===
		+
		+	When asking a question in polite Japanese, your sentence will often end in 「ですか。」However, even though ですis a polite form of だ, Japanese people do not say だか, which actually gives off a distinct country-bumpkin feel. Questions in casual speech are best ended with the particle の (refer to the んだ・のだ section)
		+
		+	It should also be noted that だ should not follow an i-adjective （「い形容詞」）or a verb.
		+
		+	寒いだね　X　寒いね　０
		+
		+	さむいだね　X　さむいね　０
		+
		+	On the other hand, verbs/i-adjectives can be joined to だ with ん/の but the meaning will be affected. For example:
		+
		+	寒い　０
		+
		+	寒いんだ　０
		+
		+	The first sentence means "It's (or "I'm") cold." The second sentence could mean "Oh it's cold" (contrary to my expectation) or "I'm cold" (in explanation.) Please refer to the んだ・のだ section for more details.

	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===		=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

Ongakuka: /* What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) */

2013-02-14T09:57:58Z

What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda)

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:57, 14 February 2013
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	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===		=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

-	～んだ is a contraction of ～のだ. They can follow an い形容詞 (i-adjective) or a verb. If you want to follow a な形容詞(na-adjective) you must include the な(na), please see examples below. Usage should be covered elsewhere, but I'll just say that inserting ん or の suggests one is seeking an explanation (when used in a question) or giving an explanation (when used in a statement.)	+	～んだ is a contraction of ～のだ. They are interchangeable, and both can be used in polite or casual Japanese. Since the former is more common, using the latter will sound like you are purposefully trying to sound serious, or proper, so I would say it works well in polite Japanese.
		+
		+	They can follow an い形容詞 (i-adjective) or a verb. If you want to follow a な形容詞(na-adjective) you must include the な(na), please see examples below. Usage should be covered elsewhere, but I'll just say that inserting ん or の suggests one is seeking an explanation (when used in a question) or giving an explanation (when used in a statement.)

	Using ん・の in a question:		Using ん・の in a question:
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	しゅくだいはもうやったの？		しゅくだいはもうやったの？
		+

	Using ん・の in a statement:		Using ん・の in a statement:

	これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)		これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)
		+
		+	これは、べんりなのです。

	=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===		=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===

Ongakuka: /* だ(da) VS です(desu) */

2013-02-14T09:25:50Z

だ(da) VS です(desu)

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:25, 14 February 2013
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-	~~'''~~=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===~~'''~~	+	=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ===

	～んだ is a contraction of ～のだ. They can follow an い形容詞 (i-adjective) or a verb. If you want to follow a な形容詞(na-adjective) you must include the な(na), please see examples below. Usage should be covered elsewhere, but I'll just say that inserting ん or の suggests one is seeking an explanation (when used in a question) or giving an explanation (when used in a statement.)		～んだ is a contraction of ～のだ. They can follow an い形容詞 (i-adjective) or a verb. If you want to follow a な形容詞(na-adjective) you must include the な(na), please see examples below. Usage should be covered elsewhere, but I'll just say that inserting ん or の suggests one is seeking an explanation (when used in a question) or giving an explanation (when used in a statement.)
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	これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)		これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)
-
-

	=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===		=== Conditionals: what's the difference? ===

Ongakuka: /* Conditionals: what's the difference? */

2013-02-14T09:25:21Z

Conditionals: what's the difference?

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:25, 14 February 2013
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	That said, Yoroshiku!		That said, Yoroshiku!
		+
		+
		+	=== だ(da) VS です(desu) ===
		+
		+	The copula だ・です is used to finalize a statement. They mean the same thing, except that です is polite and, like any polite Japanese, is usually prioritized when speaking to anyone outside of friends and family. The extremely polite form is でございます (de gozaimasu)
		+
		+	Other forms of this word include である (de aru) which is used in formal or academic text/speech. It sounds very certain and sometimes even proud - like the title of Natsume Soseki's book: 我輩は猫である "I am a Cat." The Samurai-esque alternative is でござる (de gozaru).
		+
		+
		+
		+	'''=== What is ～んだ (-nda) / What is ～のだ (-noda) ==='''
		+
		+	～んだ is a contraction of ～のだ. They can follow an い形容詞 (i-adjective) or a verb. If you want to follow a な形容詞(na-adjective) you must include the な(na), please see examples below. Usage should be covered elsewhere, but I'll just say that inserting ん or の suggests one is seeking an explanation (when used in a question) or giving an explanation (when used in a statement.)
		+
		+	Using ん・の in a question:
		+
		+	イギリスは、今寒くないんですか　Isn't the UK cold now? (Here「ん」demonstrates the speakers interest for the listener's knowledge/explanation.)
		+
		+	いぎりすは、いまさむくないんですか
		+
		+
		+	宿題はもうやったの？　Have you already done your homework? (In casual speech, it generally works well to use の as your question marker.)
		+
		+	しゅくだいはもうやったの？
		+
		+	Using ん・の in a statement:
		+
		+	これは、便利なのです。　This useful/convenient. (Here the「の」is saying 'that's why!' in explanation as to why you like or recommend something.)
		+