Japanese Grammer

  1. Basic Functions が (ga) Marks the subject of the sentence (who/what is doing the action or in focus). Used when introducing new information or when the subject itself is the focus. Often answers the question “Who/What … ?” Example 1: X: だれ が 　来ましたか。(Dare ga kimashita ka?) ( Who came? ) Y: 田中さん が 　来ました。(Tanaka-san ga kimashita.) ( Tanaka came. )  Example 2 : ・テーブルの上に　猫 が います。(Tēburu no ue ni neko ga imasu.) (There is a cat on the table.) ★★★Subject is focused, new information は (wa) Marks the topic of the sentence (what the sentence is “about”). Often contrasts, emphasizes, or gives known/background information. Often states general facts or habits in a general way. Answers the question “As for … ?” / “What about … ?”  Example1: 田中さん は 　来ました。(Tanaka-san wa kimashita.) ( As for Tanaka, he came.)   【Tanaka is the topic, maybe in contrast to others.】 Example 2: 猫 は 　好きです。(Neko wa suki desu.) ( As for cats, I like them. ) 【Cats ...

に(ni) and で(de) are used when they mark places in Japanese. But there are some differences between these. 1. に(ni) as a place marker に(ni) marks the existence or destination of someone/something. It answers the question “Where is something/someone?” or “Where does someone/something go/arrive?” Example: ・猫が いすの上 に いる。(Neko ga isu no ue ni iru.)【Exsistance】 (The cat is on the chair. ) ・机の上 に ペンが ある。(Tsukue no ue ni pen ga aru.)【Exsistance】 (There is a pen on the desk.) ・学校 に 行きます。(Gakkō ni ikimasu.)【Destination】 (I go to school.) ・ちょうど 駅 に 着きました。(Choudo eki ni tsukimashita.)【Destination】 (I jusu arrived at the station.) So, に is used when: ●Something exists somewhere (いる / ある). ●Someone arrives or moves toward a place. 2. で as a place marker で marks the location of an action (where something is done) . It answers the question “Where does an action take place?” Examples: ・学校 で 勉強します。(Gakkou de benkyou shimasu.)【Action happens here】 (I study at school. ) ・レストラン で ピザを食べました。(Resut...

  1. What is 受け身（うけみ） (Passive voice)? The passive form in Japanese is used when the subject of the sentence receives an action, rather than performing it. It’s similar to the English passive voice (“The book was read by me”). 2. How to form P assive  (1) U-verbs (Godan-verbs) Change the final u → a row + れる(reru) Example: 書く(kaku) → 書かれる(kakareru) (to be written) 読む(yomu) → 読まれる(yomareru) (to be read) (2) Ru-verbs (Ichidan-verbs) Drop る(ru) , add られる(rareru) Example: 食べる(taberu) → 食べられる(taberareru) (to be eaten) 見る(miru) → 見られる(mirareru) (to be seen) (3) Irregular verbs する(suru) → される(sareru) 来る(kuru)→ 来られる(korareru) 2. Types of Passive in Japanese Japanese has 2  main uses of passive : (A) Direct Passive Definition The subject of the sentence is directly affected by the action .  Structure :  X が Y に Verb-れる   (X = person affected, Y = actor) Examples 私は 先生に ほめられた。(Watashi wa sensei ni homerareta.) (I was praised by the teacher.)   ...

  How to Make the Te-form (〜テ形)（～テけい） The te-form changes depending on the verb group . 1. U-verbs (Godan verbs) U-verbs have several sound change rules based on the final syllable. Rules: Verbs ending in -u, -tsu, -ru → って(tte) Example: 会う ( au , to meet) → 会って ( atte ) Example: 待つ ( matsu , to wait) → 待って ( matte ) Example: 取る ( toru , to take) → 取って ( totte ) Verbs ending in -mu, -bu, -nu → んで(nde) Example: 飲む ( nomu , to drink) → 飲んで ( nonde ) Example: 遊ぶ ( asobu , to play) → 遊んで ( asonde ) Example: 死ぬ ( shinu , to die) → 死んで ( shinde ) Verbs ending in -ku → いて(ite) Example: 書く ( kaku , to write) → 書いて ( kaite ) ⚠️ Exception: 行く ( iku , to go) → 行って ( itte ) Verbs ending in -gu → いで(ide) Example: 泳ぐ ( oyogu , to swim) → 泳いで ( oyoide ) Verbs ending in -su → して(shite) Example: 話す ( hanasu , to speak) → 話して ( hanashite ) 2. Ru-verbs (Ichidan verbs) Very simple rule: Drop -ru, add -て(te) Example: 食べる ( taberu , to eat) →...

 In Japanese, verbs are divided into three main categories : U-verbs (Godan verbs) Ru-verbs (Ichidan verbs) Irregular verbs Each group conjugates differently, so it’s important to know how to recognize them. 1. U-verbs (Godan verbs) Dictionary forms usually end with -u, -tsu, -ru, -mu, -bu, -nu, -ku, -gu, or -su . T he verb ending shifts across the five vowel sounds a, i, u, e, o when conjugated. Example : 書く（かく/kaku） (to write) 　 Example : 話す（はなす/hanasu）(to speak/to talk) 2. Ru-verbs (Ichidan verbs) Usually end in -eru or -iru in the dictionary form. You only drop -ru and add endings — the stem does not change. ⚠️ Not every -eru/-iru verb is Ru-verb (e.g., hashiru 走る “to run” is a U-verb). Ru-verbs  are not just one uniform group; linguists often divide them into two subtypes: I-type → stem vowel is -i- E-type  → stem vowel is -e- Both conjugate the same way (drop -ru , add the ending), but their stems differ. Example : ♢I-type　見る（みる/miru）(to ...