Unit 11 Grammar Structures

Question 1

Ways of saying ‘if’ in grammar structures:

Answer 1

• たら (Plain form, if or when）
• と (Plain form, if or when the result of the ‘if’ is definite)
• ば (For verbs only)
• なら (Used with any word, ‘if it is the case’)

Question 2

Ways of describing how things seem：

Answer 2

• らしい (It seems like (less sure))
• よう (It looks like (mostly sure))
• みたい (It looks like (mostly sure, conversational))
• でしょう (Apparently, it seems, right?)

Question 3

What is the grammar structure らしい and how do you use it?

Answer 3

らしい is used to describe how things seem
However it is less confident than よう or みたい

Structure:
plain forms + らしい

Question 4

What is the grammar structure of - ‘No matter what’

Answer 4

Question word + て form of verb/adj/noun + も

Example:
どこ行っても - No matter where I go
だれ聞いても - No matter who I ask
どんなにあたまがよくても - No matter how smart

Question 5

What does なら mean and what is its grammar structure?

Answer 5

‘If..’
All word forms plain forms + なら

no ‘な’ or ‘の’

Question 6

What does ほど mean and what is its structure?

Answer 6

“Not as ___ as___”
Noun + ほど ＋ Negative form of noun/adj/verb
Example:
兄は妹ほどたくさんたべませんでした
My older brother DIDN’T eat AS MUCH AS my little sister

Question 7

How do you compare actions (verbs)? - のと
E.g ‘Do you prefer swimming or running?’

Answer 7

のと
(の ＝ nominalises the verb)
(と = ‘or’)

Verb non past plain + のと + Verb non past plain + のと + (どちら／どちらの方が + verb/adj)

Question 8

Embedded Questions

Answer 8

Question in plain form + か + verb
Example:
日本へだれと行くかもうきました？
Have you decided who you are going to Japan with?

Question 9

Saying how you expect things to be or happen
e.g
“Because ______ , this should_____”

Answer 9

はず
Not used when talking about yourself
Example:
あした早く旅館をでるので、生徒はみんなもう荷物つめたはずです。
As the students are leaving the Japanese inn early tomorrow, they should have packed their luggage by now
Structure:
Plain verb and adj forms + はず
Plain noun and なadjective + の／な　+ はず

Question 10

Reporting requests - ように言う
E.g
“Please tell Tomoko to bring her camera”

Answer 10

ように言う
Literally: ‘To achieve/do the state of ___, tell __ to__”
Example:
秋子さんにラジオのおとを小さくするように言ってくれる？
Would you tell Akiko to turn the radio down for me?
Structure:
Verb non-past plain forms + ように + 言う (OR たのみ）