Lesson 1 GrammarLesson 1 Grammar

TensesTenses

2 (not 3) tenses: 2 (not 3) tenses: (1) Imperfective (1) Imperfective Not finished Not finished(present and future)(present and future)(2) Perfective (2) Perfective Finished Finished(past)(past)

2 types of sentences2 types of sentences(1) Affirmative(1) Affirmative(2) Negative(2) Negative

Conjugation chartConjugation chartAffirmativeAffirmative NegativeNegative

Imperfective Imperfective (not finished)(not finished)

Perfective Perfective

(Finished) (Finished)

3 types of sentences3 types of sentences

Noun sentencesNoun sentences

Verb sentencesVerb sentences

Adjective sentencesAdjective sentences

Note: If a subject is known between Note: If a subject is known between the speaker and the listener, the speaker and the listener, it can it can be omittedbe omitted. .

NounsNouns

No genderNo gender Same form for both Same form for both

singular and pluralsingular and plural

Conjugation chartConjugation chart: Nouns: NounsAffirmativeAffirmative NegativeNegative

Imperfective Imperfective (not finished)(not finished)

Perfective Perfective

(Finished) (Finished)

(Noun) (Noun) desudesu.(.( copula) copula)

Noun sentences: Noun sentences: Imperfective/AffirmativeImperfective/Affirmative

((NounNoun)) desu.desu. [It] is ([It] is (nounnoun). ).

PenPen desu. desu. SakamakiSakamaki desu. desu.

A subject is not necessary when A subject is not necessary when it’s obvious. it’s obvious.

Copula: Copula: ですです ですです (and its conjugated forms) (and its conjugated forms)

comes after a noun and comes after a noun and makesmakes a a polite noun polite noun sentencesentence..

E.g. E.g. て て a handa hand

　てです。 　てです。 (It) is a hand.(It) is a hand. 　　 Copula doesn’t indicate what a Copula doesn’t indicate what a

subject(s) is / are.subject(s) is / are.

Make noun imp/aff sentences. Make noun imp/aff sentences.

1.1. Teacher Teacher

2.2. StudentStudent

3.3. TodayToday

4.4. TomorrowTomorrow

5.5. Number 1Number 1

6.6. High schoolHigh school

7.7. In the morning (a.m.) In the morning (a.m.)

When you acquired new When you acquired new informationinformation

““Aa, soo desu ka.” (Oh, is [that] so?)Aa, soo desu ka.” (Oh, is [that] so?)

Rhetorical question when you Rhetorical question when you learned something new. learned something new.

ParticlesParticles

Small words that come AFTER a noun Small words that come AFTER a noun or a sentence.or a sentence.

2 types of particles 2 types of particles

1. sentence particles1. sentence particles

2. phrase particles2. phrase particles

Sentence particle: kaSentence particle: ka

““ka” after a sentence make it into a ka” after a sentence make it into a question. question.

Pen desu.Pen desu.

(It) is a pen. (It) is a pen.

Pen desu ka.Pen desu ka.

Is (it) a pen?Is (it) a pen?

Make noun imp/aff questions. Make noun imp/aff questions.

1.1. TeacherTeacher

2.2. StudentStudent

3.3. TodayToday

4.4. TomorrowTomorrow

5.5. Number 1Number 1

6.6. High schoolHigh school

7.7. In the morning (a.m.) In the morning (a.m.)

Respond to a noun questionRespond to a noun question

YesYes

Hai, soo desu.Hai, soo desu.

Yes, (it) is so.Yes, (it) is so.

NoNoIie, chigaimasu. Iie, chigaimasu.

No, (it) is different or wrongNo, (it) is different or wrong

Note: Chigaimasu is a verb in Japanese.Note: Chigaimasu is a verb in Japanese.

Particles Particles

Particles indicate the function of the Particles indicate the function of the precedingpreceding word or phrase. word or phrase.

Sensee desu Sensee desu kaka..

Phrase particle: waPhrase particle: wa

~ wa~ wa

““Wa” (written as Wa” (written as は） は） indicates indicates that the preceding word is that the preceding word is the topic the topic of the sentence.of the sentence.

SenseeSensee wa wa nihonjin desu.nihonjin desu.

“Sensee” is the topic of the sentence

As for the teacher, (she) is a Japanese person.

Phrase particle: waPhrase particle: wa

The phrase before “wa” may NOT be The phrase before “wa” may NOT be a subject of the sentence, but the a subject of the sentence, but the topic of the sentence.topic of the sentence.

Sushi Sushi wawa tabemasu. tabemasu. As forAs for sushi (I) eat. sushi (I) eat.

Phrase particle: noPhrase particle: no

~ no ~ no ““No” connects two nouns. The first noun No” connects two nouns. The first noun

explains something about the latter noun. explains something about the latter noun.

Sensee Sensee nono denwa bangoo denwa bangoo

teacher’s phone numberteacher’s phone number

Further restriction

Main idea

Make phrases with Make phrases with nono

1. My teacher 1. My teacher

watashi no senseewatashi no sensee

2. Teacher’s phone number2. Teacher’s phone number

sensee no denwa bangoosensee no denwa bangoo

3. Friend’s name3. Friend’s name

tomodachi no namaetomodachi no namae

4. College in the U.S.4. College in the U.S.

Amerika no daigakuAmerika no daigaku

5. Students in China5. Students in China

Chuugoku no gakuseeChuugoku no gakusee

6. My teacher’s name6. My teacher’s name

watashi no sensee no namaewatashi no sensee no namae

Make these phrases into a noun Make these phrases into a noun sentence (imperfective/affirmative).sentence (imperfective/affirmative).

Make sentences.Make sentences.

My teacher is Ms. Sakamaki.My teacher is Ms. Sakamaki.

Sakamaki san desu.Sakamaki san desu.

Watashi no sensee waWatashi no sensee wa

Mr. Sato’s phone number is 123-4567.Mr. Sato’s phone number is 123-4567.

Satoo san no denwa bangoo wa Satoo san no denwa bangoo wa 123-4567 desu.123-4567 desu.

Mr. Tanaka’s friend is British person.Mr. Tanaka’s friend is British person.

Tanaka san no tomodachi wa Tanaka san no tomodachi wa

igirisu no kata desu.igirisu no kata desu.

BC (bii shii) is college in the U.S. BC (bii shii) is college in the U.S.

BC wa amerika no daigaku desu.BC wa amerika no daigaku desu.