Private Japanese Lessons, a group of Japanese teachers which I run just began a new animation series. This series is full of helpful Japanese learning tips. Every episode is only 5 minutes long with simple explanations. You may find useful information within, which you won't find in textbooks.
Here is the first episode. If you're interested, please go to our YouTube channel!
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Minako: What did you do this morning? Please tell me in Japanese.
Bruce: OK! Asa 8ji ni okimashita. (I got up at 8 o'clock.) Asagohan o tabemashita. (I ate breakfast.) Kouen o sanpo shimashita. (I walked in the park.)
Minako: Very good. By the way, would you be able to join all three sentences into one sentence?
Bruce: Okay, let me try. 8ji ni okimashita to, asagohan o tabemashita to, kouen o sanpo shimashita. Right?
Minako: Well, “To” is for connecting nouns, but not for connecting verbs. Instead, we connect verbs with the te-form.
Bruce: “Okimasu” becomes “okite”, “tabemasu” becomes “tabete”, “sanpo shimasu” becomes “sanpo shite”. 8-ji ni okitemashita, asagohan o tabetemashita, kouen o sanpo shitemashita. (*still incorrect Japanese in Grammar)
Minako: Very close! You can connect just with the te-form as is, because the te-form actually has no tense.
Bruce: Oh, I see. Let me try again! 8 ji ni okite, asagohan o tabete,
Minako: But, you should express the tense of the sentence with the last verb.
Bruce: Kouen o sanpo shimashita.
Minako: Wow, good job!
Bruce: 8 ji ni okite, asagohan o tabete, kouen o sanpo shimashita.
Minako: Well, what are you doing tomorrow then? In Japanese, please.
Bruce: Ashita Shinjuku e itte, hon o katte, eiga o mimasu. (Tomorrow, I’ll go to Shinjuku, buy books, and see a movie.)
Minako: How awesome! This sentence describes tomorrow's schedule, so the form of the last verb, which is “mimasu” indicates the future tense. What did you do yesterday, by the way?
Bruce: I met Kaori, went to Shibuya and had dinner together.
Minako: In Japanese, please, with the te-form as well.
Bruce: No problem. Kinou Kaori san ni atte, isshoni Shibuya ni itte, bangohan to tabemashita.
Minako: Perfect, Bruce! You did good putting the last verb in the past tense since you’re talking about what happened yesterday.
Bruce: When connecting verbs, I use the te-forms of any verbs in the middle of the sentence.
Minako: Yes.
Bruce: But, I should choose the right form of the last verb which shows the tense of the sentence.
Minako: That’s right. The tense of the sentence is determined by the last verb.
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| Please watch the video! |
