Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 16

Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 16
Let’s study N5-level Japanese grammar, lesson by lesson, following the Minna no Nihongo textbook.

Lesson 16
1. V１て、V2 て…V ます。: Do V1, then do V2,…
• Usage:
– Lists actions in the order they happen; the action mentioned first happens first.
– The tense of the whole sentence is shown by the last verb.

• Examples:
昨日、散歩して、ごはんをたべて、しんぶんをよみました。
Kinō, sanposhite, gohan wo tabete, shinbun o yomimashita。
Yesterday I went for a walk, then ate, then read the newspaper.

あしたレストランでたべて、うちへかえって、べんきょうします。
Ashita resutoran de tabete, uchi e kaette, benkyō shimasu.
Tomorrow I will eat at a restaurant, then go home, then study.

2. V１てから、V2 ます。: After doing V1, do V2
• Usage:
– Expresses actions in sequence, but stresses that the first action finishes before the second begins.
– The tense of the whole sentence is decided at the end.

• Examples:
うちへかえってから、ごはんをつくります。
Uchi e kaette kara, gohan wo tsukurimasu.
After getting home, I cook.

勉強してから、映画をみました。
Benkyōshite kara, eiga wo mimashita.
After studying, I watched a film.

3. N1 は N2 が Adj です。
• Usage: Used to describe a particular part or feature of a thing or person
• Examples:
彼はあたまがいいです。
Kare wa atama ga īdesu.
He is clever.

リンさんはかみがみじかいです。
Rinsan wa kami ga mijikaidesu.
Linh has short hair.

4. How to link 2 or more adjectives, or 2 or more nouns
• Usage:
– When linking 2 or more adjectives about the same subject; with nouns it can join 2 clauses with different subjects
– Aい(drop い) + くて, ~
– Na + で, ~
– N + で, ~
– This linking means “and”, so it is not used to join 2 clauses with opposite meanings.
– The tense of the whole sentence is shown in the final clause.

• Examples:
田中さんは元気で、親切です。
Tanakasan wa genkide, shinsetsudesu.
Mr Tanaka is healthy and kind.

彼女はあたまがよくて、わかいです、
Kanojo wa a tama ga yokute, wakaidesu.
She is clever and young.

山田さんは２５歳で、独身です。
Yamadasan wa 25 sai de, dokushindesu.
Mr Yamada is 25 and single.

5. どうやって：How?
• Usage:
– The question word for how something is done, meaning “how”
– It is usually answered with the pattern: V１て、V2 て…V ます。

• Examples:
大学までどうやっていきますか。
Daigaku made dō yatte ikimasu ka.
How do you get to university?

…バス乗り場まで 5分ぐらいあるいて、２０番のバスに乗って、大学前でおります。
Basu noriba made 5pun gurai aruite, 20 ban no basu ni notte, daigaku mae de orimasu.
…I walk about 5 minutes to the bus stop, take bus number 16 and get off in front of the university.

6. どの N: Which ~?
この、その、あの + ~ N
• Usage:
– どの is the question word matching この、その、あの
– The answer usually describes that thing or person in detail.

• Examples:
マイさんはどの人ですか。
Maisan wa dono hito desuka.
Which one is Mai?

あの髪が短くて、背がたかい人です。
Ano kami ga mijikakute, se ga takai hitodesu. …
She is the tall one with short hair.