Dialogue 2

Ms. Honda and Mr. Smith are in a store.

Vocabulary

Grammar Notes

1-2-1 Noun + Verb

As seen in Dialogue 1 above, subject, object and other elements are usually not explicitly mentioned in Japanese when they are clear from the context. But when not clear, you can place them before the verb.

Are, tabemasu ka. Do you eat that?

Kore, zenzen wakarimasen. I don’t understand this at all.

Nouns can relate to sentence verbs in a variety of ways.

Subject: Honda-san nomimasu ka. Does Ms. Honda drink?

Object: Kore tsukaimasu ne. We’re going to use this, right?’

More categories will be introduced later.

More than one of these can appear in a sentence. The common word order is:

Time–Subject–Object–Adverb–Verb

Watashi kore ypoku wakarimasu. I understand this well.

However, while the verb needs to appear at the end, noun order is relatively flexible. When sentence elements are not in the common order above, the element moved forward has more focus.

Kore, watashi yoku wakarimasu. This, I understand well.

1-2-2 Ko-so-a-do series

When referring to things in English, a two-way distinction between this (close to the speaker) and that (away from the speaker) is made. In Japanese, a three-way distinction is made:

kore this thing (close to me) or this thing I just mentioned

sore that thing (close to you) or that thing which was just mentioned

are that thing (away from both of us) or that thing we both know about

dore which one

This is the first set of expressions based on the ko-so-a-do distinction. There are more sets that are based on the same distinction. We refer to that group as the Ko-so-a-do series, which includes expressions such as ‘X kind’, ‘X way’, X place’, etc. These will be introduced later.

1-2-3 Clause Particle Kedo

Kedo ‘but’ connects two sentences to make one. The two sentences typically contain contrasting ideas but sometimes the first sentence simply serves as an introduction and prepares the listener for the second sentence.

Kore wa kaimasu kedo, are wa kaimasen. I’ll buy this, but I won’t buy that.

Sumimasen kedo, wakarimasen. I’m sorry but I don’t understand.

Honda desu kedo, shiturei-shimasu. I’m Honda. Excuse me. (entering a room)

The second sentence is often left unexpressed because it is clear from the context or because the speaker hesitates to mention it for some reason. In the dialogue above, Mr. Smith probably wanted to sound less abrupt and is inviting comments from the other speakers.

Kaimasu kedo… I’ll buy it but … (Is it okay with you? / Why did you ask?)

Ga is more formal than kedo and is more common in writing and formal speeches. There are also several variations of kedo such as keredo, kedomo, and keredomo, which are more formal than kedo.

1-2-4 Particle Wa indicating Contrast

Particle wa follows nouns and indicates a contrast between that noun under discussion and other possibilities. The noun can be subject, object, or some other category.

Watashi wa mimasu kedo… I watch it, but…(someone else may not)

Kore wa wakarimasu.I understand this (but not the other one)

Ashita wa kaimasu.Tomorrow, I will buy it (but not today)

When particle wa attaches to a noun with a question intonation, it means ‘how about X?’ as in the dialogue above. In answering this type of question, make sure you do not reply “yes” or “no”, since it’s not a yes-no question.

1-2-5 Particle Mo indicating Addition

The particle mo performs the opposite function of that performed by the particle wa. The particle mo means ‘too’ or ‘also’ with an affirmative verb and ‘(n)either’ with a negative verb. It can attach to a subject, object or time, among others.

Honda-san mo mimasu. Ms. Honda watches it, too (as well as someone else)

Kore mo wakarimasen.I don’t understand this, either (in addition to something else)

Ashita mo kaimasu.Tomorrow, I will buy it, too (as well as some other time)