5.9 KiB
Random Words
合格発表 -> ごうかく はっぴょう -> Pass Exam Announcement 出来る -> できる -> To be able to, but remember its also the possible of する 将来 -> しょうらい -> Future, but in the immediate future. 未来 is more of wayyy for off, centuries in the future. お金持ち -> Rich person 給料-> きゅうりょう -> Salary 昇進する -> しょうしん する-> To be promoted 出世する -> しゅっせ する -> To be promoted 実現 -> じつげん -> Achieve 公開講演 -> こうかいこうえん -> Public Talk 緊張 -> きんちょう -> Nervous
Main Points
I hope - といいですね (For Others)
To say "I hope..." for you/them, you can add "といいですね" or "といいね" after either a regular base form verb (る form), or い or な Adjectives.
Examples
早くよくなるといいですね I hope you get better soon
楽しいといいですね I hope it's fun
合格するといいですね I hope you pass the exam
いい会社に入社出来るといいですね I hope your able to enter into a good company
I hope -といいんですが (For myself)
Same rules as the other I hope, but this one only applies if your saying you hope something for yourself. You add "といいんですが" or "といいんだけど"/"といいな” after either a regular base form verb (る form), or い or な Adjectives.
Examples
すてきな人と結婚できるといいんですが I hope I'm able to a wonderful person.
将来はお金持ちになれるといいんですが In the near future, I hope to become a rich person
いつかN1に合格できるといいんですが One day, I hope to pass the N1 exam.
給料は上がるといいんですが I hope my salary rises
雪になるといいんですが I hope the weather becomes snow Note: Even though its not directed to self, and to the weather instead, its still in the persons mind applied to themselves. I think
昇進できるといいなあ I hope I get promoted
僕の公開講演は上手になるといいんですが I hope my public talk gets better
When -> とき
To say when you did an activity, usually as a reference in time, you add -とき at the end of the verb for that sentence. If it happend in the past, it has to be the past tense verb its attached to. If it happened just now, present tense is fine. It has to be regular form, not polite.
Note on past tense vs present tense on the first sentence: If something happens while your actively doing the activity, like walking to work and something happens, you'd use the present tense verb. If something happens after you've arrived, then you'd use past tense.
Examples
パリに行った時にこのかばんを買いました That Time I was in paris, I bought this bag.
会社に行く時に友達を会いました. I met my friend on the way to work
会社に行った時に社長を会いました After I had arrived at work, I met my boss
ご飯を食べる時に“いただきます”と言います When you eat, you say "いただきます"
ご飯を食べった時に”ごち勝差までしゅた”といいます。 After you eat, you say Gochusousamadeshita (or close to that)
Potential Verbs
The potential form in Japanese is used to express ability or possibility (e.g., "can do," "is able to"). Once a verb is in its potential form, it functions grammatically as a Group 2 (Ichidan) verb.
1. How to Form Potential Verbs (Conjugation)
| Verb Group | Base Form (Dictionary) | Conjugation Rule | Potential Form (Plain) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Godan/U-verbs) | Ends in a U-row kana | Change the final U-sound to the equivalent E-sound and add る (U \rightarrow E + る) |
E-る verb |
話す (hanasu - to speak) \rightarrow 話せる (hanaseru - can speak) |
| Group 2 (Ichidan/Ru-verbs) | Ends in る (preceded by E or I sound) | Replace る with られる (る \rightarrow られる) |
られる verb |
食べる (taberu - to eat) \rightarrow 食べられる (taberareru - can eat) |
| Irregular (する) | する (suru - to do) | Special exception | できる (dekiru - can do) | |
| Irregular (来る) | 来る (kuru - to come) | Special exception | 来られる (korareru - can come) |
📝 Note: The ら-Drop (ら抜き言葉)
In casual speech, especially for Group 2 verbs, the ら (ra) is often dropped.
- Standard: 食べられる (taberareru)
- Colloquial (Non-Standard): 食べれる (tabereru)
2. Key Grammatical Usage: Particle Change
The most important grammatical rule for potential verbs is the change in the direct object particle.
Particle Change: を (o) \rightarrow が (ga)
When a transitive verb is put into the potential form, the direct object particle usually changes from を (o) to が (ga).
| Verb Form | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Potential | 私は日本語を話します。 | I speak Japanese. |
| Potential | 私は日本語が話せます。 | I can speak Japanese. |
Tip: While が is grammatically correct and preferred in formal writing, you may frequently hear を used with potential verbs in casual conversation.
3. Alternative Expression of Potential
You can express potential without conjugating the verb into its unique form by using the phrase ～ことができる (koto ga dekiru), which means "the thing/action of [verb] can be done."
- Formula: Plain Form of Verb + ことができる
| Method | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Potential Verb | 日本語が 話せます。 | I can speak Japanese. |
| Alternative Form | 日本語を 話す ことができます。 | I can speak Japanese. |