Inanis_Vault/10-Input/Classes/Japanese Class_2025-12-23.md

Last Weeks Homework

Synopsis from 2025-12-11 Class

This week's lesson covered two main grammar points:

1. ~みたいです (Looks Like):

   • Used to create similes or make observations.
   • Can be used with verbs (plain form), nouns, and adjectives.
   • With nouns, it creates a metaphor ("like a computer").
   • With verbs and adjectives, it's more of an observation ("looks like he is tired").

2. 前に (Before):

   • Indicates that one action happens before another.
   • Used with a verb in its dictionary form or a noun with の.
   • The verb in the 前に clause is always non-past, non-polite.

Random Words

• 上手い -> Smoothly
  • 上手く -> Adverb version of that ^
  • うまくいくと,いいですね -> If things go smoothly, it'll be good
• 出す -> だす -> To put out, to submit
• 懐かしい -> なつかしい -> Nostalgic

Main Point

と after a sentence phrase

You can stick と after a phrase in a sentence to show it is the reason of what coming after. Kind of like if, but more focused on cause and effect.

• うまくいくと, いいですね
  • If things go smoothly, it'll be good
• ご飯を食べると、ねむくなります。
  • If I eat lunch, I'll then become sleepy

Using てから to connect Verbs

You can conjugate a verb into て form, and stick から after it, it means that the following sentence phrase comes AFTER whatever happened in the first phrase. Good for being specific.

• いつご飯うぉたべますか？　シャワーを浴びてから、ご飯を食べます
  • When did you eat? After I took a shower, I ate lunch.
• いつ日本語を勉強し始めましたか？学校に入ってから、日本語を勉強しています。
  • When did start studying Japanese? After I entered school, I started studying Japanese
• 宿題が終わってから、寝ます。
  • After I finish homework, then I sleep
• 家に帰ってもいいですか？いいえ、まずメールを送ってから、帰ってください。
  • Can I go home? No, first send a message, then please go home

To Open

開ける -> あける -> To open But like, you need to open it. Like its an activity you have to do yourself. It involves you doing the action. Its a verb you have a part in.

These are called 他動詞 (たどうし), or Transitive verbs

開く　-> あく -> To Open This is an action where the thing opens itself. Elevator Doors,

Transitive Verbs vs Intransitive Verbs

Understanding Transitive (他動詞) and Intransitive (自動詞) Verbs

In Japanese, verbs are often categorized as either Transitive (他動詞 - tadoushi) or Intransitive (自動詞 - jidoushi). This distinction is fundamental to building correct sentences, as it dictates which particles you use and how you describe an action.

The Core Concept

• Transitive verbs (他動詞) describe an action done by someone or something to an object. There is a subject who performs the action and a direct object that receives the action. Think of it as a "do-er" acting on a "thing."
• Intransitive verbs (自動詞) describe a change of state or an action that happens on its own. There is no direct object receiving the action. The subject is the one undergoing the change or performing the action without acting upon anything else.

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Transitive Verbs (他動詞 - tadoushi)

The word 他動詞 (tadoushi) is made of a telling combination of kanji:

• 他 (ta): "other"
• 動 (dō): "move"
• 詞 (shi): "word"

So, it's an "other-moving word." A transitive verb describes an action that a subject directs at an other thing (the object). This is why transitive verbs almost always require the particle を (o) to mark the direct object that is being acted upon.

Structure: [Subject] が [Object] を [Transitive Verb]

Examples:

• 私が電気をつけます。 (Watashi ga denki o tsukemasu.)
  • I turn on the light. (The subject "I" acts on the object "light.")
• 彼がドアを開けます。 (Kare ga doa o akemasu.)
  • He opens the door. (The subject "he" acts on the object "door.")
• 母が弟を起こします。 (Haha ga otōto o okoshimasu.)
  • My mother wakes up my little brother. (The subject "mother" acts on the object "brother.")

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Intransitive Verbs (自動詞 - jidoushi)

The word 自動詞 (jidoushi) is also revealing:

• 自 (ji): "self"
• 動 (dō): "move"
• 詞 (shi): "word"

This is a "self-moving word." An intransitive verb describes something that happens "by itself" from the subject's perspective. There is no direct object. The subject is marked with the particle が (ga) or は (wa).

Structure: [Subject] が [Intransitive Verb]

Examples:

• 電気がつきます。 (Denki ga tsukimasu.)
  • The light is on. (The light is in a state of being on; no one is actively "turning" it.)
• ドアが開きます。 (Doa ga akimasu.)
  • The door opens. (The door opens by itself, like an automatic door.)
• 弟が起きます。 (Otōto ga okimasu.)
  • My little brother wakes up. (He wakes up on his own.)

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How to Tell Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Apart

1. Particle Usage (The Golden Rule):

   • If a verb uses を (o) to mark an object, it's transitive.
   • If a verb uses が (ga) to describe the thing that is changing or moving, it's intransitive.

2. Common Verb Pairings: Many verbs come in transitive/intransitive pairs. While not every pair follows a perfect rule, there are very common patterns that are useful to memorize. Noticing the ending of a verb can often give you a clue.

   Common Ending Pattern	Transitive (-su)	Intransitive (-ru)
   Example	返す (kaesu - to return something)	返る (kaeru - something returns)
   Example	出す (dasu - to take something out)	出る (deru - to go out)

   Common Ending Pattern	Transitive (-eru)	Intransitive (-u/ru)
   Example	開ける (akeru - to open something)	開く (aku - something opens)
   Example	閉める (shimeru - to close something)	閉まる (shimaru - something closes)
   Example	入れる (ireru - to put something in)	入る (hairu - to enter)
   Example	つける (tsukeru - to turn something on)	つく (tsuku - something turns on)

   Other Common Pairs	Transitive	Intransitive
   To extinguish/turn off	消す (kesu)	消える (kieru)
   To drop	落とす (otosu)	落ちる (ochiru)
   To begin	始める (hajimeru)	始まる (hajimaru)
   To finish	終える (oeru)	終わる (owaru)

Remember, the most reliable way to know is to see which particle is used. When you learn a new verb, try to learn its pair at the same time!