Japanese Conversation for English Speakers 4

You will be able to learn conditional form (1) for actual conditions and constant results.

<Positive  Form> ( A ) S + Dictionary-Form + to ... ( B ) S...
                                   = If A (actual conditions happen), B will happen as a natural consequence 

<Negative Form> ( A ) S + Nai-Form + to ... ( B ) S...
                                   = Unless A (actual conditions don't happen), B will happen as a natural consequence

*S in ( A ) is not the same as S in ( B )  --> ga should be used for S in ( A )

You will be able to learn conditional form (2) for regular if conditions (hypothetical conditions) without any assumption.

<Positive  Form> ( A ) S + Dictionary-Form - u + eba ... ( B ) S...                                  
                                      = If A (hypothesis comes true), B will happen (B should be a good result) 

<Negative Form> ( A ) S + Pre-nai Form + nakereba ... ( B ) S...                                    
                                      = If A (hypothesis doesn't comes true), B will happen

*S in ( A ) is not the same as S in ( B )  --> ga should be used for S in ( A )

*Idiomatic expression
        - Doo + conditional from (2) --> to ask for advice 

        - conditional form (2) + yokatta (desu) --> to show your regret feelings

You will be able to learn conditional form (3) for contextual conditions with assumptions.

<Positive  Form> ( A ) S + Dictionary-Form + nara ... ( B ) S...                                                                          = If A (certain context is given), B will happen (B is the speaker's opinion, volition, request, command or suggestion) 

<Negative Form> ( A ) S + Nai-Form + nara ... ( B ) S...                                                                           = If A (certain context is not satisfied), B will happen (B is the speaker's opinion, volition, request, command or suggestion) 

*S in ( A ) is not the same as S in ( B )  --> ga should be used for S in ( A )

You will be able to learn conditional form (4) which is most common to express conditions. This conditional form can covers both actual and hypothetical conditions. Also this can express one-time or a particular result. 

<Positive  Form> ( A ) S + Te-Form - e + ara ... ( B ) S...                                                                          = If A (actual / hypothetical conditions happen), B will happen. 

<Negative Form> ( A ) S + Pre-nai Form + nakattara ... ( B ) S...                                                                           = Unless A (actual / hypothetical conditions happen), B will happen. 

--> this conditional form (4) can be Interchangeable with conditional form (1) or (2) 
      However, S in ( A ) is the same as S in ( B )  --> you should use conditional form (4) not (2) 

[ Idiomatic Expression - to give suggestions indirectly ]
Conditional form (2) or (4) + doo desu ka? = how about doing...? 

You will be able to learn reverse conditional form.

<Positive  Form> ( A ) S + Te-Form + mo ... ( B ) S...                                                                          = Even If A happens, B will happen. *relation between conditional clause (A) and the main clause (B) is unreasonable.

<Negative Form> ( A ) S + [ Pre-nai Form + nakute ] + mo ... ( B ) S...

You can put 'moshi / tatoe / manga-ichi to emphasize a hypothetical nuance like 'any chance' and 'just in case.' 

[ Question Words + reverse conditional form (Te-Form + mo)... ] = No matter what / whatever...etc.

You will be able to learn which to use particle wa or ga in a subordinate clause* (<--> the main clause).
[ *e.g. causal clause and conditional clause etc. ]  

As a general rule, you should use the particle 'ga' for the subject in the subordinate causes

There are some exceptions:you should use the particle 'wa' 1) when the subordinate clause is a contrast to the main clause 2) when the subject in the subordinate clause is the same as the subject in the main clause 3) the subordinate clause expresses the reason for the main clause. 

You will be able to expressions with pre-mash form (1) to express starting actions and finishing actions,

- Pre-masu Form + hajimeru  = to start (verb-ing)

- Pre-masu Form + oeru = to finish (verb-ing)

You will be able to learn expressions with pre-mash form (3) to express the purpose of going / coming (to places),

- Pre-masu Form + ni iku  = to go in order to do (verb)

- Pre-masu Form + ni kuru = to come in order to do (verb)

You will be able to learn expressions with pre-mash form (4) to express It's easy / difficult (hard) to do something,

- Pre-masu Form + yasu-i desu*  = It's easy to do (verb) [*yasu-i does not mean 'cheap' in this case. ] 

- Pre-masu Form + niku-i desu =It's difficult / hard to do (verb)
*(similar expressions with a different nuance) + zura-i desu / + gata-i desu  

[ advance topic - how to express a small possibility ] - Pre-masu Form + kaneru / + eru  

You will be able to learn expressions with Te-form (7) to express completed actions.

- Te-Form + shimasu = do (verb) something completely / have something done (verb) 

This form can express unintentional or regrettable actions.

<colloquial expression>  Te-Form - te + chau / - de + jau

You will be able to learn expressions with Te-form (8) for resultant states.

- something + ga + Te-Form + aru = something has been done by someone else (not the speaker)

- something + o + Te-Form + aru = something has been done by the speaker
  --> this implies a nuance of preparation for something else 

<negative form> - something + wa + Te-Form + imasen (<-- the same as the progressive form in negative form)

[ advance topic - what is the difference between 'Te-Form + aru' and 'Te-Form + iru'? ] 

You will be able to learn expressions with Te-form (9) as preparation for the future.

 - something + o + Te-Form + oku = to have done something in advance of the future (<--the speaker's action) 

<comparison> - something + o + Te-Form + oku vs something + o + Te-Form + aru 

 This form can express 'to do something and leave it for a while'. 

You will be able to learn expressions with Te-form (10), (11) and (12) to give / receive a favour of doing (verb).

 - someone + ni + something + o + Te-Form + ageru = I give a favour of doing (verb) something for someone

 - someone + wa + something + o + Te-Form + kureru = Someone gives (me) a favour of doing (verb) something

 - someone + ni + something + o + Te-Form + morau = I receive someone's favour of doing (verb) something 

<comparison> - Te-Form + ageru vs  Te-Form + kureru vs Te-Form + morau

You will be able to learn expressions with Te-form (13) for your desire / requests. 

 - someone + ni + something + o + Te-Form + hoshi-i desu = I want someone to do (verb) something 

--> politer form: Te-Form + morai-tai desu <--this form can be used as a request as well.

 <advance topic - other request forms with kureru / moraeru >

You will be able to learn causative expressions.

- how to make causative verbs (G1/G2/ Irr) 

- basic form: S + wa + someone + ni + something + o + causative verb = (S) to make / let someone do (verb) something

[ advance topic - passive causative expressions: to be forced to do (verb) ] 

You will be able to learn plain form of verbs (in present tense) and some expressions.

- Plain Form of verbs ( G1 / G2 / Irr + exception ) in present tense for a causal conversation 

- Plain Form (present tense) + yotei desu / yotei da

- Plain Form (present tense) + tsumori desu / tsumori da 

You will be able to learn plain form of verbs (in past tense) and particles..

- Plain Form of verbs ( G1 / G2 / Irr + exception ) in past tense for a causal conversation 

- Particle 'no' as a question maker 

- Omission of particle 'o' 'ni' and 'e' in a casual conversation

You will be able to learn expressions with past plain form of verbs.

- Plain Form (past tense) + koto ga aru  <-- expression for experience 

- Plain Form (past tense) + hoo ga i-i (desu)  <-- expression for comparison or suggestion 

- Plain Form (past tense) + hoo ga yokatta (desu)  <-- expression for actions which you didn't take with regrettable feeling

<Extra>
- Plain Form (*present tense) + yori + Plain Form (past tense) + hoo ga i-i (desu)

- Plain Form (past tense) + hoo ga i-i (desu) vs Plain Form (present) + hoo ga i-i (desu)

You will learn time clause expressions with plain form of verbs.

- Plain Form + toki / toki ni = When + S + verb...(+ the main clause)

- Plain Form + ato /ato ni = After + S + verb...(+ the main clause) *ato de can be used instead of ato ni 

<Extra - other expressions for sequence of actions> Te-Form / Te-Form + kara + the main clause 

You will learn time clause expressions with plain form of verbs.

- Plain Form + mae / mae ni = Before + S + verb...(+ the main clause)

<Extra>  1) ato de / mae ni can be used as adverbs 2) with noun + particle no   

- Plain Form + aida /aida ni = While + S + verb...(+ the main clause) 

<Extra> similar expression - Plain Form + uchi ni 

You will be able to learn Plain Form for suggestions.

- Plain Form for suggestions ( G1 / G2 / Irr ) 

- Informal expression - yes and no

- Other suggestion form (2) and (3)

You will be able to learn volitional expressions.
 [ When you make a resolution or decision and talk to yourself, volitional expressions can be used. ] 

- Volitional Form of Verbs = Plain Form for suggestions

- comparison - Volitional Form vs Plain Form + tsumori desu (da)

< Extra > Volitional Form + to omou / to suru 

You will be able to learn Plain Form of adjectives and nouns.

- Plain Form of I-adjectives (present / past tense) 

- Plain Form of Na-adjectives (present / past tense) 

- Plain Form of Nouns (present / past tense) 

You will be able to learn parallel makers.

- parallel maker: ya (=...and...) There should be something unlisted. <----> to (= ... and ...) 

- parallel maker: ka (=...or...) 

- parallel maker: toka (= things like...and...) There should be something unlisted.

- parallel maker: ri  --> Past Plain Form + ri + Past Plain Form + ri + suru There remains something unlisted.

- parallel maker: shi  --> Plain Form + shi ...  There is a nuance that 'Not A but also B.'
  This form can list multiple reasons as well.

You will be able to learn how to make relative clauses (modifying the following noun by verbs or adjectives).

- Relative Clause : S + ga + ( *I-O + ni ) + Plain Form + Noun  *Indirect Object 

<Review>  Adjective + Noun  / Noun + no + Noun  

- Past Plain Form of Adjectives / Noun + Noun

You will be able to learn expressions with generic quotations.

- Quotation* + to + Verb <-- related to speech (e.g. iu, hanasu ) *You can use any forms (polite, plain, adjectives, ending particles, etc.)

- Quotation* + to + Verb <-- related to thought (e.g. omou ) *You can use only plain form.

- Quotation* + yooni + Verb <-- 1) related to thought  *You can use only plain form. 2) related to requests or commands (e.g. iu, tanomu ) *You should use Te-Form +  kureru or moraeru for requests.

You will be able to learn expressions for unspecified things.

- Question words + ka - e.g. nani-ka (=something), dare-ka (=someone) 

- Omission of Particle 'ga' and 'o'

<Advance topic> how to add descriptions : Question words + ka + Noun / Noun phrase  

You will be able to learn other expressions with Question words + Particle 'mo' and 'demo.'

 - Question words + mo (in negative form) - e.g. nani-mo (=not anything, nothing), dare-mo (=not anybody, nobody) 

 - Question words + demo - e.g. nani-demo (=anything, everything), dare-demo (=anybody, everybody) 

- Omission of Particle 'ga' and 'o'

- Other Particles (e.g. ni, e, to )

You will be able to learn reverse conjunction with different formality.

- [ formal ] keredomo --> keredo --> kedo [ casual ]  = but / although / though (like conjunction 'ga')

- Other function: to make preliminary remarks
             [ Preliminary remark (....+ reverse conjunction) ] + Question / Request

You will be able to learn expressions with Particle 'noni.' 

- Plain Form / (Na-adjective or Noun + na) + noni ... <-- implies complaint or surprise  

- Other function : to express aim of use 
  Verb + noni + word indicating use (e.g. tsukau, yakudatsu, benri )

You will be able to learn expression with Particle 'tame ni.'

- S + Plain Form + tame ni (Noun + no + tame ni)... -->  1) express aims (= in order to (do)...)  

- Noun + no + tame ni... --> 2) express benefits (= for, for sake of (noun)...) 

- S + Past Plain Form + tame ni...  -->  3) express causation (= because...)  <----> kara is interchangeable.

You can review what you have learned in the section 4 through their casual conversation!

*Only Japanese is displayed.