Sentence construction Flashcards
fluency
きょうかしょを返て(かえす)ください
Please return ( かえす return something) the textbook
つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいきますか
more casual:つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいく?
**
The sentence 「つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいきますか」 is grammatically correct and natural in Japanese. It translates to “Does the next train go to Shinjuku Station?” Let’s break it down and analyze it:
Sentence Breakdown
つぎの (tsugi no):
Meaning: “Next.”
Role: Modifies でんしゃ (densha) to mean “the next train.”
でんしゃ (densha):
Meaning: “Train.”
Role: Subject of the sentence.
は (wa):
Meaning: Topic marker.
Role: Indicates that つぎのでんしゃ (the next train) is the topic of the sentence.
しんじゅくえきに (Shinjuku eki ni):
Meaning: “To Shinjuku Station.”
Role: Destination marker に (ni) indicates the direction or goal.
いきますか (ikimasu ka):
Meaning: “Does it go?”
Role: Polite question form of the verb いく (iku), meaning “to go.”
Literal Translation
つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいきますか。
Romaji: Tsugi no densha wa Shinjuku eki ni ikimasu ka?
English: “Does the next train go to Shinjuku Station?”
Explanation of Grammar
つぎのでんしゃ (tsugi no densha):
つぎ (tsugi) means “next,” and でんしゃ (densha) means “train.” Together, they mean “the next train.”
しんじゅくえきに (Shinjuku eki ni):
しんじゅくえき (Shinjuku eki) is “Shinjuku Station,” and に (ni) is the particle indicating direction or destination.
いきますか (ikimasu ka):
いきます (ikimasu) is the polite form of いく (iku), meaning “to go.”
か (ka) is the question particle, turning the sentence into a question.
Nuances
This sentence is polite and appropriate for asking about train directions in formal or everyday situations.
It is commonly used when checking train routes or destinations.
Alternative Phrasing
If you want to make the sentence more casual, you can say:
つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいく?
Romaji: Tsugi no densha wa Shinjuku eki ni iku?
English: “Does the next train go to Shinjuku Station?” (casual).
Summary
つぎのでんしゃはしんじゅくえきにいきますか is grammatically correct and natural.
It is a polite and common way to ask if the next train goes to Shinjuku Station.
にもつをてつだってください
Please help me with my luggage.
まどをあけてください。いっしょにばんごはんを食べる。
This is grammatically correct, but it sounds a little unnatural. Here’s why and how to make it better:
The Issue:
* Sudden shift in topic: The first part is a request to open a window. The second part is an invitation to eat dinner together. While both are grammatically sound, the connection between them is weak. It feels like two separate sentences put together without a clear link.
How to Improve It:
Here are a few ways to make the sentence flow more naturally, depending on the nuance you want to convey:
1. Adding a Reason:
* 窓を開けてください。なぜなら一緒に晩ご飯を食べるからです。(Mado o akete kudasai. Nazenara issho ni ban gohan o taberu kara desu.) - Please open the window. Because we’re going to eat dinner together.
* 窓を開けてください。一緒に晩ご飯を食べましょう。(Mado o akete kudasai. Issho ni ban gohan o tabemashou.) - Please open the window. Let’s eat dinner together. (This version implies that opening the window is somehow related to eating dinner, perhaps for ventilation).
2. Implied Connection:
* 窓を開けてください。そうしたら一緒に晩ご飯を食べましょう。(Mado o akete kudasai. Sōshitara issho ni ban gohan o tabemashou.) - Please open the window. Then let’s eat dinner together. (This implies that opening the window is a prerequisite or a signal for starting dinner).
3. Separate Sentences:
* 窓を開けてください。(Mado o akete kudasai.) - Please open the window.
* 一緒に晩ご飯を食べませんか。(Issho ni ban gohan o tabemasen ka?) - Would you like to eat dinner together? (This is the most natural if there’s no direct connection between the two actions).
Which one to use?
The best option depends on the context and what you want to emphasize. If there’s a clear reason why the window needs to be opened before dinner, use option 1. If it’s just a general suggestion, option 3 might be the most appropriate.
Additional Notes:
* Politeness: Using “kudasai” (please) makes the request polite.
* Invitation: “一緒に晩ご飯を食べませんか” (Issho ni ban gohan o tabemasen ka?) is a common way to invite someone to dinner. It’s more polite than “一緒に晩ご飯を食べましょう” (Issho ni ban gohan o tabemashou), which is more of a suggestion.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
どこのくににすんでいますか?
Or, どのくにに。。。。
**
The sentence 「どなくににすんでいますか」 is not grammatically correct in Japanese. Let’s break it down and identify the issues:
**Changed to どの
1. どなくに (donakuni)
- Issue: This is not a valid word in Japanese. The correct word for “which country” is どのくに (dono kuni) or simply どこのくに (doko no kuni).
2. に (ni)
- Correct Usage: The particle に (ni) is used to indicate location, but it is redundant here because どこ (doko) or どのくに (dono kuni) already implies a location.
3. すんでいますか (sunde imasu ka)
- Correct Usage: This part is grammatically correct. It means “do you live?” (polite form).
Corrected Sentence
The grammatically correct version of your sentence would be:
どのくににすんでいますか?
Romaji: Dono kuni ni sunde imasu ka?
English: “Which country do you live in?”
Alternative Phrasing
If you want to make the sentence more casual, you can say:
- どこのくににすんでいるの?
Romaji: Doko no kuni ni sundeiru no?
English: “Which country do you live in?” (casual).
BOOST
The particle の can be used at the end of a sentence as an informal alternative to か to indicate a question. の used in this way can follow a plain verb, an い adjective, or either a noun or a な adjective followed by な (i.e. as なの).
—
Explanation of Corrections
1. どのくに (dono kuni): “Which country.”
2. に (ni): Indicates the location where the action (living) takes place.
3. すんでいますか (sunde imasu ka): Polite form of “do you live?”
Summary
- どなくににすんでいますか is incorrect because どなくに (donakuni) is not a valid word.
- The correct sentence is どのくににすんでいますか? (Dono kuni ni sunde imasu ka?).
Let me know if you need further clarification or additional examples!In what country do you live?
Where do you live?
どこからしゅっしんですか?
どこからきたの?
しゅっしんはどこですか?
**
- どこに (doko ni)
Issue: The particle に (ni) is incorrect in this context. When asking about someone’s origin or hometown, the correct particle is から (kara), meaning “from.” - しゅっしん (shusshin)
Meaning: “Origin” or “hometown.”
Correct Usage: しゅっしん is a noun, so it needs to be connected properly to the rest of the sentence.
- ですか (desu ka)
Correct: This is a polite sentence-ending phrase used to ask a question.
Corrected Sentence
The grammatically correct version of your sentence would be:
どこからしゅっしんですか?
Romaji: Doko kara shusshin desu ka?
English: “Where are you from?” or “What is your hometown?”
Explanation of Corrections
どこから (doko kara): “From where?”
The particle から (kara) is used to indicate origin or starting point.
しゅっしん (shusshin): “Origin” or “hometown.”
ですか (desu ka): Polite question marker.
Alternative Phrases
If you want to ask “Where are you from?” in a more casual way, you can say:
どこからきたの? (Doko kara kita no?) – “Where are you from?” (casual).
しゅっしんはどこですか? (Shusshin wa doko desu ka?) – “What is your hometown?” (polite).
The correct sentence is どこからしゅっしんですか? (Doko kara shusshin desu ka?).
Let me know if you need further clarification or additional examples!
New chat
Where do you come from?
どこからきたの?
来た past of くる
Where do you come from?
こんやえいがに行きたい。
I would like to go to a movie this evening.
よるになにおしますか?
What do you do in the evening?
たいへんなしごとはおもしろいですね
Tough work is interesting, isn’t it?
こんしゅうまつ、いっしょにあそびますか
Shall we hang out this weekend?
なぜか、 いそぐ気(き)はおこらない。
気がしない more casual
**
Yes, the sentence 「なぜか、いそぐ気はおこらない。」 is grammatically correct and natural in Japanese. It translates to “For some reason, I don’t feel like hurrying.” Let’s break it down and analyze it:
Sentence Breakdown
1. なぜか (naze ka):
- Meaning: “For some reason” or “somehow.”
- Role: Adverbial phrase explaining the speaker’s uncertainty.
-
いそぐ (isogu):
- Meaning: “To hurry” or “to rush.”
- Role: Verb in its dictionary form.
-
気は (ki wa):
- Meaning: “Feeling” or “mood.”
- Role: Topic marker は (wa) emphasizes the subject of the sentence.
-
おこらない (okoranai):
- Meaning: “Does not arise” or “does not occur.”
- Role: Negative form of the verb おこる (okoru), meaning “to arise” or “to occur.”
Literal Translation
- なぜか、いそぐ気はおこらない。
Romaji: Naze ka, isogu ki wa okoranai.
English: “For some reason, the feeling to hurry does not arise.”
Explanation of Grammar
1. なぜか (naze ka):
- This phrase is used to express that the speaker doesn’t know the exact reason for something. It adds a sense of mystery or uncertainty.
-
いそぐ気 (isogu ki):
- いそぐ (isogu) is the verb “to hurry,” and 気 (ki) means “feeling” or “mood.” Together, いそぐ気 means “the feeling to hurry.”
-
おこらない (okoranai):
- This is the negative form of おこる (okoru), meaning “to arise” or “to occur.” It indicates that the feeling to hurry is absent.
Nuances
- The sentence conveys a sense of reluctance or lack of motivation to hurry, with the speaker unsure of why they feel this way.
- It is a natural and conversational way to express this idea in Japanese.
Alternative Phrasing
If you want to make the sentence more casual, you can say:
- なぜか、いそぐ気がしない。
Romaji: Naze ka, isogu ki ga shinai.
English: “For some reason, I don’t feel like hurrying.”
Explanation:
- 気がしない (ki ga shinai) is a more casual way to say “I don’t feel like it.”
Summary
- なぜか、いそぐ気はおこらない。 is grammatically correct and natural.
- It effectively conveys the idea of not feeling like hurrying, with a sense of uncertainty about the reason.
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!For some reason, I don’t feel the urge to rush.
なぜか somehow, for some reason, without knowing why
おこらない to occur, happen
気 (ki) feeling, mind, heart, mood
いそぐ to hurry
き spirit, mind
メリさんは 本をかえて。そのあと、いしょにカフェに行く。
Return the book to Mary. After that we will go to the cafe.
私はでんきを消し(けし)ます。
**
The sentence 「私はでんきをけす。」 is grammatically correct in Japanese, but it is incomplete and sounds unnatural without additional context. Let’s break it down and explain why:
Sentence Breakdown
1. 私 (わたし/watashi): “I” (subject).
2. は (wa): Topic marker.
3. でんき (denki): “Electricity” or “lights.”
4. を (wo): Object marker.
5. けす (kesu): “To turn off” (dictionary form of the verb).
Literal Translation
- 私はでんきをけす。 translates to “I turn off the lights/electricity.”
- While grammatically correct, it sounds abrupt and incomplete because the verb けす (kesu) is in its dictionary form, which is not typically used in standalone sentences.
How to Make It Natural
To make the sentence sound more natural, you need to conjugate the verb けす (kesu) appropriately based on the context. Here are some examples:
1. Present Tense (Habitual Action)
- 私はでんきをけします。
Romaji: Watashi wa denki o keshimasu.
Meaning: “I turn off the lights/electricity.”
Explanation: The polite form けします (keshimasu) is used for habitual actions or general statements.
2. Future Intent (I will turn off the lights)
- 私はでんきをけします。
Romaji: Watashi wa denki o keshimasu.
Meaning: “I will turn off the lights/electricity.”
Explanation: The same sentence can also express future intent, depending on context.
3. Past Tense (I turned off the lights)
- 私はでんきをけしました。
Romaji: Watashi wa denki o keshimashita.
Meaning: “I turned off the lights/electricity.”
Explanation: The past tense けしました (keshimashita) is used to describe a completed action.
4. Command (Turn off the lights)
- でんきをけしてください。
Romaji: Denki o keshite kudasai.
Meaning: “Please turn off the lights/electricity.”
Explanation: The て-form けして (keshite) + ください (kudasai) makes a polite request.
Key Points
- The dictionary form (けす/kesu) is rarely used in standalone sentences. It is more common in dictionaries, casual speech, or when combined with other grammar structures (e.g., けすことができる/kesu koto ga dekiru – “can turn off”).
- To make the sentence natural, conjugate the verb based on the tense, politeness level, and context.
While 「私はでんきをけす。」 is grammatically correct, it is incomplete and unnatural in most contexts. Use conjugated forms like けします (keshimasu) or けしてください (keshite kudasai) to make it sound more natural.
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!I will turn off the lights.
今日は何をしましたかおしえてください
casual: 今日は何をしましたか教えて。
**
今日は何をしたか教えてください。
Romaji: Kyou wa nani o shita ka oshiete kudasai.
Literal: “Please tell me what you did today.”
Breakdown of the Sentence
今日は (Kyou wa): “Today” (topic marker は/wa).
何を (nani o): “What” (object marker を/o).
した (shita): Past tense of する (suru), meaning “did.”
か (ka): Question particle, turning the clause into an indirect question (“what you did”).
教えてください (oshiete kudasai): “Please tell me” (て-form of 教える/oshieru + ください/kudasai).
Alternative Version (More Casual)
If you’re speaking casually, you can say:
今日は何をしたか教えて。
Romaji: Kyou wa nani o shita ka oshiete.Please sit down.
Tell me what you did today
today, something one has done (こと) oshie-te (teach, tell)
たつください。新しいふくをみせる。
Stand up (たつ), please. Show me your new clothes.
みせる/見みせる to show, to display
Ichidan
いっしょにしゅくだいをやりましょう
やろう ending more casual
**
The sentence 「いっしょ に しゅくだい を やろ」 is almost correct but has a small issue with the verb ending. Let’s break it down and explain:
Sentence Breakdown
1. いっしょに (issho ni): “Together.”
2. しゅくだいを (shukudai o): “Homework” (object marker を/o).
3. やろ (yaro): A casual form of the verb やる (yaru), meaning “to do.”
Issue
- やろ (yaro) is an informal and masculine way to say “let’s do.” While it is grammatically acceptable in casual speech, it may sound too rough or impolite depending on the context.
- To make the sentence more neutral or polite, you should use the volitional form やろう (yarou) or the polite form やりましょう (yarimashou).
Corrected Sentences
1. Casual but Neutral (Let’s do homework together)
- いっしょにしゅくだいをやろう。
Romaji: Issho ni shukudai o yarou.
Explanation:
- やろう (yarou) is the volitional form of やる (yaru), meaning “let’s do.”
- This is casual but not overly masculine.
2. Polite (Let’s do homework together)
- いっしょにしゅくだいをやりましょう。
Romaji: Issho ni shukudai o yarimashou.
Explanation:
- やりましょう (yarimashou) is the polite volitional form of やる (yaru), meaning “let’s do.”
- This is appropriate for formal or polite situations.
Summary
- いっしょにしゅくだいをやろ is grammatically acceptable in very casual speech, but it sounds rough and masculine.
- For a more neutral or polite tone, use やろう (yarou) or やりましょう (yarimashou).
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!やる to do something physical, even homework considered physical
different from する generally to do, to carry out, perform
じょうし が いっぱい のむ と いった
The sentence 「じょうし が いっぱい のもう と いった」 is almost correct but has a small issue with the verb form. Let’s break it down and explain:
Sentence Breakdown
1. じょうし (joshi):
- Meaning: “Boss” or “superior.”
- Role: Subject of the sentence (marked by が/ga).
-
いっぱい (ippai):
- Meaning: “A lot” or “plenty.”
- Role: Adverb modifying the verb のもう (nomou).
-
のもう (nomou):
- Meaning: “Let’s drink” (volitional form of のむ/nomu).
- Role: Verb expressing an invitation or suggestion.
-
と (to):
- Meaning: Quotation particle, indicating what was said.
- Role: Introduces the quoted speech.
-
いった (itta):
- Meaning: “Said” (past tense of いう/iu).
- Role: Main verb of the sentence.
Issue
- The verb のもう (nomou) is the volitional form of のむ (nomu), meaning “to drink.” While it is grammatically correct, it sounds slightly unnatural in this context because the volitional form is typically used for suggestions or invitations directed at the listener, not for reporting what someone else said.
Corrected Sentence
To make the sentence more natural, you can use the dictionary form of the verb instead:
じょうし が いっぱい のむ と いった。
Romaji: Joshi ga ippai nomu to itta.
English: “The boss said, ‘Let’s drink a lot.’” or “The boss said to drink a lot.”
Explanation of Corrections
1. のむ (nomu):
- The dictionary form is more natural when reporting someone else’s speech.
- It can also imply a command or suggestion, depending on context.
-
と (to):
- The quotation particle remains the same, as it correctly introduces the boss’s words.
-
いった (itta):
- The past tense of いう (iu) is used to report what the boss said.
Alternative Phrasing
If you want to emphasize the boss’s suggestion more clearly, you can say:
じょうし が いっぱい のもう と いった。
Romaji: Joshi ga ippai nomou to itta.
English: “The boss said, ‘Let’s drink a lot.’”
- This version is acceptable but slightly less natural than using the dictionary form.
Summary
- The original sentence is almost correct but sounds slightly unnatural due to the use of the volitional form のもう (nomou).
- The corrected version, じょうし が いっぱい のむ と いった, is more natural and grammatically accurate.
が marks subject
いっぱい one cup, a drink
もう now, soon, shortly
いった said
と like setting off previous in quotation marks
よやくしましょうか?
**
Yes, the sentence 「よやくしましょうか?」 is grammatically correct and natural in Japanese. It is a polite way to offer to make a reservation or suggest making one. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Sentence Breakdown
よやく (yoyaku): “Reservation.”
する (suru): The verb “to do.”
しましょう (shimashou): The volitional form of する (suru), meaning “let’s do” or “shall I do.”
か (ka): Question particle, turning the sentence into a polite suggestion or offer.
Literal Translation
よやくしましょうか? translates to “Shall I make a reservation?” or “Shall we make a reservation?”
It is a polite and common way to offer to make a reservation in Japanese.
Usage Context
This phrase is often used in situations like:
At a restaurant:
よやくしましょうか? (Yoyaku shimashou ka?) – “Shall I make a reservation?”
When planning an event:
ホテルをよやくしましょうか? (Hoteru o yoyaku shimashou ka?) – “Shall I make a hotel reservation?”
Politeness Level
よやくしましょうか? is polite and appropriate for most formal or semi-formal situations.
If you want to make it even more polite, you can use:
よやくいたしましょうか? (Yoyaku itashimashou ka?) – “Shall I make a reservation?” (more humble and formal).
Summary
よやくしましょうか? is grammatically correct and natural.
It is a polite way to offer to make a reservation or suggest making one.
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!
New chatShould I (we) make reservations(appointment)?
どこからしゅっしんですか?
**
- えいがかん (eigakan)
Meaning: “Movie theater.”
Correct Usage: This is a noun and can be used as the location in a sentence.
- で (de)
Meaning: Particle indicating the location where an action takes place.
Correct Usage: で is correctly used here to indicate “at the movie theater.”
- おかし (okashi)
Meaning: “Snacks” or “sweets.”
Correct Usage: This is a noun and can be the object of the sentence.
- Missing Verb
Issue: The sentence lacks a verb, making it incomplete. Without a verb, it is unclear what action is being performed with the snacks at the movie theater.
Corrected Sentence
To make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful, you need to add a verb. Here are some possible corrections:
Option 1: Eating Snacks at the Movie Theater
えいがかんでおかしをたべます。
Romaji: Eigakan de okashi o tabemasu.
English: “I eat snacks at the movie theater.”
Explanation:
を (o): Object marker.
たべます (tabemasu): “Eat” (polite form).
Option 2: Buying Snacks at the Movie Theater
えいがかんでおかしをかいます。
Romaji: Eigakan de okashi o kaimasu.
English: “I buy snacks at the movie theater.”
Explanation:
かいます (kaimasu): “Buy” (polite form).
Option 3: Bringing Snacks to the Movie Theater
えいがかんにおかしをもっていきます。
Romaji: Eigakan ni okashi o motte ikimasu.
English: “I will bring snacks to the movie theater.”
Explanation:
に (ni): Direction particle (“to”).
もっていきます (motte ikimasu): “Bring” (literally, “carry and go”).
Key Points
The original sentence is incomplete because it lacks a verb.
Adding a verb (e.g., たべます/tabemasu, かいます/kaimasu, もっていきます/motte ikimasu) makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
Summary
えいがかんでおかしで is incorrect because it is incomplete.
A correct version would be something like えいがかんでおかしをたべます (Eigakan de okashi o tabemasu) – “I eat snacks at the movie theater.”
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!
New chat
でーmeans at place of action
are you going to snacks at the theater
えいがかんのおかし means the movie theater’s popcorn
どのコーヒーがおいしいですか
どのコーヒーが美味しい more casual
**
Yes, the sentence 「どのコーヒーがおいしいですか」 is grammatically correct and natural in Japanese. It translates to “Which coffee is delicious?” or “Which coffee tastes good?” Let’s break it down and analyze it:
Sentence Breakdown
1. どの (dono):
- Meaning: “Which.”
- Role: Question word used to ask about a specific item among multiple options.
-
コーヒー (koohii):
- Meaning: “Coffee.”
- Role: Subject of the sentence.
-
が (ga):
- Meaning: Subject marker.
- Role: Indicates that コーヒー (coffee) is the subject being described.
-
おいしい (oishii):
- Meaning: “Delicious” or “tasty.”
- Role: Adjective describing the coffee.
-
ですか (desu ka):
- Meaning: Polite sentence-ending phrase used to ask a question.
Literal Translation
- どのコーヒーがおいしいですか。
Romaji: Dono koohii ga oishii desu ka?
English: “Which coffee is delicious?”
Explanation of Grammar
1. どの (dono):
- This is used to ask about a specific item from a group of options. For example, if there are multiple types of coffee, どの asks “which one.”
-
コーヒーが (koohii ga):
- コーヒー (coffee) is the subject, and が (ga) marks it as the focus of the question.
-
おいしい (oishii):
- This is an adjective meaning “delicious” or “tasty.” It describes the quality of the coffee.
-
ですか (desu ka):
- This is the polite way to form a question in Japanese.
Nuances
- This sentence is polite and appropriate for asking about the taste of coffee in a formal or everyday situation.
- It is commonly used when choosing between different types of coffee, such as in a café or store.
Alternative Phrasing
If you want to make the sentence more casual, you can say:
- どのコーヒーがおいしい?
Romaji: Dono koohii ga oishii?
English: “Which coffee is delicious?” (casual).
Summary
- どのコーヒーがおいしいですか is grammatically correct and natural.
- It is a polite and common way to ask which coffee tastes good.
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or additional examples!が marks subject
いろいろなウインもあります。
They also have various wines.
いっしょ に しゅくだい を やろう
Let’s do our homework together.
やろっ volitional form of やる to do, Godan verb