Chapter 4 Grammar

Question 1

Indirect INFORMATION question (when, what, where, etc.) DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 1

In Japanese, an embedded information question ends with a PLAIN FORM followed by か. The only exceptions are noun + the copula verb だ and な-adjectives. In these cases, だ is deleted.

Thus, the formation of the construction is the same as かもしれません and でしょう.

Indirect questions can be followed by a range of main verbs, including 知っている、見る、聞く、分かる、かんがえる、おしえる、忘れる、きめる、and おぼえている.

どの銀行がいいですか。Which bank is a good one? ー＞ どの銀行がいいか聞きました。I asked which bank is a good one.

小包 (こづつみ) がいつとどきますか? When will the package arrive? ー＞ 小包がいつとどくか知りません。I don’t know when the package is arriving. (will arrive)

Question 2

じゅうしょ（住所）はどこ教えて下さい。

Answer 2

Please tell me where the address is. (what the address is)

Question 3

どこでその人に会ったか忘れました。

Answer 3

I forgot where I met that person.

Question 4

いくらお金をからたかおぼえていますか。

Answer 4

Do you remember how much money you borrowed?

Question 5

英語の試験はいつか知ってる？

Answer 5

Do you know when the English exam will be?

Question 6

どこ勉強したらいいか分かる？

Answer 6

Do you know which part I should study?

Question 7

Indirect INFORMATION question (when, what, where, etc.) NOTES:

Answer 7

The subject of the question clause is often, but not always, marked by が, when it refers to something or someone other than the speaker. This makes it clear that the subject of the question is different than the speaker.

教室がどこか知りません。I don’t know where the classroom is.

Question 8

Indirect YES-NO question, whether or not 〜; if〜 DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 8

In order to embed a yes-no question, use かどうか instead of か.

銀行からお金をかりますか。Should I borrow money from the bank? ー＞ 銀行からお金をかりるかどうかまだ決めていません。I have not decided whether I will borrow money from the bank.

Question 9

今、ドルを円にかえた方がいいかどうかおしえて下さい。

Answer 9

Please tell me whether I should exchange dollars for yen now.

Question 10

アメリカの銀行でふつうよきん（預金）のこうざ（口座）をひらく時、パスポートがいるかどうか知っていますか。

Answer 10

Do you know if I need my passport when I open a regular bank account in the US?

Question 11

〜ていく DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 11

〜ていく is used when the direction is AWAY FROM the current location of the SPEAKER. It can be used when the speaker does something and LEAVES HIS/HER CURRENT LOCATION, as in the following example:

朝ごはんを食べて行きましょう。Let’s eat breakfast before we go (lit.: Let’s eat breakfast and go/leave)

Additionally, 〜ていく is used when the speaker does something in a direction away from where he/she starts.

銀行にうんてんめんきょしょうを持っていきました。I took my driver’s license to the bank.

Verbs that take place in the direction away from where the speaker is (持つ、乗る、つれる）express TAKING SOMETHING TO.

Question 12

しゅくだいをして行きます。

Answer 12

I will do my homework before I go.

Question 13

ここで少し休んでいきましょう。

Answer 13

Let’s take a little break here before we go.

Question 14

単語をおぼえて行きます。

Answer 14

I will memorize the vocabulary before I go.

Question 15

ゆうびんきょくまでくるまに乗っていきます。

Answer 15

I will go to the post office by car.

Question 16

子供を学校につれて行きます。

Answer 16

I took my child to school.

Question 17

このはがき、ポストに入れていってくれない？

Answer 17

Can you put this postcard into a mailbox on your way (to your office)?

Question 18

〜てくる DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 18

The て-form of verbs + くる is the exact opposite of the て-form of verbs + いく. While the use of いく implies a direction away from the current location of the speaker, くる indicates a movement TOWARD the location of the SPEAKER.

Question 19

ふうとうを買って来ました。

Answer 19

I bought some envelopes before I came (here). (lit.: I bought some envelopes and came.)

Question 20

作文を書いてきましたか。

Answer 20

Have you written a composition before coming (here)?

Question 21

単語の意味をしらべてきましたか。

Answer 21

Have you checked the vocabulary meaning before coming (to class)?

Question 22

会話の練習をしてきましたか。

Answer 22

Did you practice speaking before coming (to class)?

Question 23

判子を作って来て下さい。

Answer 23

Please have your seal made and bring it.

Question 24

学校証を持ってきて下さい。

Answer 24

Please bring your student ID.

Question 25

友達が電話をかけてきた。

Answer 25

My friend before coming (over).

Question 26

弟をここまでつれて来ました。

Answer 26

I brought my brother here.

Question 27

文法のしゅくだい、してきた？

Answer 27

Did you bring your grammar homework?

Question 28

〜ていく + 〜てくる NOTES - Connotation:

Answer 28

The verbs いく and くる do not necessarily correspond to the English “to come” and “to go.” The speaker’s position is considered the center point.

いく is used when the speaker or someone or something else MOVES AWAY from the speaker’s current position and くる is used when describing a movement TOWARDS the speaker’s current position.

Therefore, て-form + いく indicates an action or event which moves AWAY the speaker’s current location while て-form + くる indicates an action or event which moves TOWARDS the speaker’s position.

Question 29

〜ていく + 〜てくる NOTES - Usually written in:

Answer 29

When verbs like いく and くる are used as auxiliary verbs, they are USUALLY written in HIRAGANA. However, て-form + いく/くる retains the verb’s original verb meanings, so KANJI CAN be used.

Question 30

〜ていく NOTES - Casual Speech:

Answer 30

In casual speech, the sound い in 〜ていく may be dropped.

ごはん、作ってくよ。I will cook a meal and go.

Question 31

山田さんのどころに持ってって。

Answer 31

Take (it) to Mr. Yamada.

Question 32

晩御飯を食べてったらどう？

Answer 32

How about eating supper before leaving?

Question 33

〜 てもらう and 〜ていただく DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 33

て-form of verbs + もらう/いただく(to receive) + たい (want) = express SPEAKER’S DESIRE TO HAVE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING.

いただく= polite version of もらう = HONORIFIC SPEECH

〜と思います = less direct but more polite expression while the speaker’s intention is still very clear.

〜んです can be used to INTRODUCE A TOPIC as shown throughout this text.

その本をかえしてもらいたいと思います。I would like to have my book back.

その本かえしてもらいたいんだけど、いい？I would like to have my book back, OK?

POTENTIAL FORM of もらう/いただく + forms such as ませんか = make a request

Question 34

この荷物をとどけてもらいたい。

Answer 34

I want you to deliver this package.

Question 35

弟をすいせんしてもらいたい。

Answer 35

I want you to recommend my younger brother.

Question 36

お金をかしていただきたい。

Answer 36

I would like you to lend me some money.

Question 37

ふつう預金の口座をひらいていただきたい。

Answer 37

I would like you to open a regular bank account (for me).

Question 38

住所をおしえていただいと思います。

Answer 38

I would like to know your address.

Question 39

住所を教えていただきたいんですが。

Answer 39

I would like to know your address . . .

Question 40

その本をかえしてもらえませんか。

Answer 40

Can I have my book back? (lit.: Can I receive the favor of getting my book back?)

Question 41

住所をおしえていただけませんか。

Answer 41

Could you tell me the address? (lit.: Could I receive the favor of being taught your address?)

Question 42

この漢字の書き方が分からないんだけど、書いてもらえないかな？

Answer 42

I don’t know how to write this kanji, so can you write it for me?

Question 43

すみませんが、しゃしん、とっていただけませんか。

Answer 43

Excuse me, could you take a picture of us?

Question 44

〜 てもらう and 〜ていただく NOTES: Potential form VS request + levels of politeness:

Answer 44

If the potential form is used with the main verb, the speaker is simply asking the listener whether he/she is capable of doing something. Therefore, it does not indicate a request.

The level of politeness between 〜てくれませんか and 〜てもらえませんか is roughly the same. Similarly, 〜てくださいませんか and 〜ていただけませんか have a similar level of politeness.

The choice between くれる and もらえる or くださる and いただく tends to depend on personal preferences, regional differences, stylistic variations, and generation.

Question 45

Expressing a desire to have someone do something, using 〜てほしい DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 45

て-form + ほしい expresses the SPEAKER’S DESIRE TO HAVE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING. However, this form cannot be used for superiors. use 〜ていただきたい instead.

To express a desire to have someone NOT do something, use 〜ほしくない、〜もらいたくない、or 〜ないでほしい。

Question 46

この荷物、ちょっと持ってほしいんだけど、いい？

Answer 46

I’d like you to hold this luggage, is that OK?

Question 47

明日レポートを持って来てほしいんだけど、いい？

Answer 47

I’d like you to bring the report, is that OK?

Question 48

この葉書はつかってほしくないんですけど。

Answer 48

I don’t want you to use this postcard.

Question 49

この葉書はつかわないでほしいんですけど。

Answer 49

I don’t want you to use this postcard. (lit.: I want you to not use this postcard.)

Question 50

この葉書はつかってもらいたくないんですけど。

Answer 50

I don’t want you to use this postcard. (lit.: I don’t want to have you use this postcard.)

Question 51

Expressing a desire to have someone do something, using 〜てほしい NOTES: To express a desire for someone other than the listener:

Answer 51

To express a desire for a specific person other than the listener to do something, use the particle に.

山田さんに、行ってほしい。I want Mr. Yamada to go.

Question 52

山田さんに、行ってもらいたい。

Answer 52

I want Mr. Yamada to go. (lit.: I want to have Mr. Yamada go.”

Question 53

山田さんに、行っていただきたい。

Answer 53

I want Mr. Yamada to go. (lit.: I want Mr. Yamada to do me the favor of going.)

Question 54

Expressing willingness using 〜ましょう/〜ましょうか DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 54

While 〜ましょう/〜ましょうか are used to make suggestions, they can also be used to express the speaker’s WILLINGNESS TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

In casual speech, plain forms of the volitional 〜ましょう can be used. Add 私が/ぼくが to emphasize the speaker’s WILLINGNESS to do something.

Question 55

荷物をとどけましょうか。

Answer 55

Shall I deliver the luggage?

Question 56

おばあちゃんに何を送りましょうか。

Answer 56

What shall I send to my grandmother?

Question 57

私がかえしておきましょう。

Answer 57

I will return it.

Question 58

お金はぼくが銀行へいって、引き出してこよう。　　

Answer 58

I’ll go to the bank and withdraw the money.

Question 59

まどをしめましょうか。

Answer 59

Shall I close the window?

Question 60

大変ですね。手伝いましょう。

Answer 60

It looks tough (too much for you). I will help you.

Question 61

かさかりてこようか。

Answer 61

Shall I go borrow an umbrella?

Question 62

〜ましょう/〜ましょうか NOTES: How to explicitly offer help:

Answer 62

To explicitly offer help, rather than simply show willingness to do something, use て-form of the verb + あげましょう (か)/ あげよう (か). The auxiliary verb forms あげる and あげましょう/あげよう indicate that the speaker is doing a favor for the listener.

This form is NOT HONORIFIC SPEECH, because offering a favor to a superior sounds arrogant in Japanese.

あ、ぺんを忘れちゃった？じゃあ、ぼくのをかうぃてあげっようか。Oh, you forgot your pen? I can lend you mine.

Question 63

Expressing time limits using までに (by 〜, by the time 〜) DEFINITION + CONJUGATION:

Answer 63

The particle までに specifies a TIME LIMIT within which an action or event MUST BE COMPLETED. If までに is used, the action in the main clause must be completed.

までに can be used with a clause that ends with the PLAIN PRESENT FORM.

Question 64

Differences between までに and 前に (before): INDICATION

Answer 64

While 前に merely indicates CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE, までに indicates a TIME LIMIT OR DEADLINE by which something must be completed. For this reason, までに often occurs with phrases such as なければならない (must).

日本に留学する前に、100万円ためなければならない。I must save one million yen before going to Japan (no definitive deadline)

日本に留学までに、100万円ためなければならない。( must save one million yen before going to Japan (definitive deadline; serious inclination to save up money before that date)

Question 65

Differences between まで (until) and までに:

Answer 65

First, まで can be used with TIME expressions and SPACE expressions but まで(ni) can be used ONLY with TIME expressions.

Second, まで indicates that the action or event must continue UNTIL the specified time while までに indicates that the action or event must be completed BY the specified time.

四時までまちました。I waited until four o’clock.

明日の昼まえにかえして下さい。Please return it by noon tomorrow.

Question 66

明日までに従業料をはらわなければならない。

Answer 66

I must pay my tuition by tomorrow.

Question 67

十二時までに作文を出して下さい。

Answer 67

Please turn in your composition by 12 o’clock.

Question 68

今度の誕生日までに１０キロやせたい。

Answer 68

I want to lose 10 kilograms (22lb) by my next birthday.

Question 69

夏休みがおわるまでに、レポートを書かなけ(reba)

ならない。

Answer 69

I must write a paper by the end of the summer break.

Question 70

小包がとどくまでに、何日ぐらいかかりますか。

Answer 70

How long will it take for the package to arrive?

Question 71

卒業するまでに、日本語能力試験のN1をとりたい。

Answer 71

I want to pass N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test by the time I graduate.

Question 72

新しいテレビがとどくまで、家でまっています。

Answer 72

I will wait at home until the new TV arrives.

Question 73

新しいテレビがとどくまでに、へやのそうじをしてしまいましょう。

Answer 73

Let’s clean up the room before the new TV arrives.