Grammar Notes 3

Vocabulary
Nihongo de Eigo de Nihongo de Eigo de

Suimasu Smoke (a cigarette) Itsumo Always, usually

[tabako o ~]
Tokidoki Sometimes
Mimasu See, look, watch at
Sorekara After that, and then
Kikimasu Hear, listen
Eiga Movie
Yomimasu Read
Shashin Photograph
Kakimasu Write, draw, paint
Niwa Garden
Kaimasu Buy
Shukudai Homework
Torimasu Take [a photograph]
[shashin o ~] [O]hanami Cherry-blossom viewing
Shimasu Do (~o shimasu: go cherry-blossom viewing
Isshoni Together
Aimasu Meet
[tomodachi ni ~] Chotto A little while, a little bit
 GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

1. N o V (transitive)

を (o) is used to indicate the direct object of a transitive verb.

Ex. ジュース o nomimasu. I drink juice.

Note: を and お are pronounced the same. The former is used only in writing the
particle.
 GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

2. N o shimasu

The words used as the objects of the verb します (shimasu) cover a fairly wide range.
Shimasu means that the action denoted by the noun is performed. Some examples are
shown below.

Ex. 1. to “play” sports or games

サッカー o shimasu.
2. to “hold” gatherings
Ashita パーティー o shimasu.
3. to “do” something
Konban shukudai o shimasu.
I play football.
I will give/hold/go to a party tomorrow.
I will do my homework tonight.
 GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

3. Nani o shimasu ka

This is a question to ask what someone does.

Ex. Getsuyoubi nani o shimasu ka? What will you do on Monday?

…Kyouto e ikimasu. …I will go to Kyouto.

Kinou nani o shimashita ka? What did you do yesterday?

…サッカー o shimashita. …I played football.

Note: You can make a word expressing time the topic by adding は (wa).

Ex. Getsuyoubi wa nani o shimasu ka? On Monday, what will you do?
 4. Nan and nani
Both nan and nani mean “what.”
1. Nan is used in the following cases.

(1) When it precedes a word whose first mora is either in the ta, da, or na row.

Ex. Sore wa nan desu ka? What is that?

Nan no hon desu ka? What is the book about?
Neru mae ni nan to iimasu ka? What do you say before going to bed?

(2) When it is followed by a counter suffix or the like

Ex. Teresa chan wa nan sai desu ka? How old is Teresa.

2. Nani is used in all other cases.

Ex. Nani o kaimasu ka? What will you buy?

 5. N (place) de V
When added after a noun denoting a place, “de” indicates the place where an action
occurs.

Ex. Eki de shinbun o kaimasu. I buy the newspaper at the train station.

6. V masen ka
When you want to invite someone to do something, this expression is used.

Ex. Isshoni Kyoto e ikimasen ka. Won’t you come to Kyoto with us?
Ee, ii desu ne. That’s a nice idea
 7. V mashou

This expression is used when a speaker is positively inviting the listener to do

something with the speaker. It is also used when responding positively to an
invitation.

Ex. (1) Chotto yasumimashou. Let’s have a break.

(2) Isshoni hirugohan o tabemasen ka. Won’t you have lunch with me?
Ee, tabemashou. Yes, let’s go eat.
 8. O~

The prefix o is attached to words regarding the listener or the person being referred to, to
show respect (ex. [O]kuni – country)

O is also attached to various other words when the speaker is speaking politely (ex., [o]sake
alcohol, [o]hanami cherry-blossom viewing).

There are some other words that are usually used with o~ without meaning respect or
politeness (ex. Ocha tea, okane money).