Lesson 13: Looking for a Part-Time Job Grammar + Expression Notes Flashcards
Potential verb translation:
“Used to say that someone “can,” or “has the ability to,” do something, or that something is “possible.” They conjugate as regular る-verbs.
Potential verb conjugations:
る-verbs: drop the final -る and add られる。
Example: 見る (mi-ru) ー＞ 見られる (mi-rareru)
う-verbs: drop the final -う and add -える。
Examples: 行く ー＞ 行ける；話す ー＞ 話せる；買う ー＞ 買える
Irregular verbs: くる ー＞ こられる；する ー＞ できる
Alternative potential forms:
Drop the ら in られる。 “These ら-less forms are gaining popularity, but are considered slightly substandard.”
Example: 見られる ー＞ 見れる
私は日本語が話せます。
I can speak Japanese.
私は泳げないんです。
(The truth is) I cannot swim.
雨が降ったので、海に行けませんでした。
We could not go to the beach, because it rained.
Which particle do potential forms take in a sentence: を or が?
Verbs with を: can take either を or が when made potential.
するーできる: almost always takes が (“The use of を with できる is considered highly substandard.”)
Verbs that do not follow を: no particle change.
〜し translation:
Is used just like から, but is used to mention two or more reasons for a situation.
(reason1) し、(reason2) し、(situation)。
日本語はおもしろいし、先生はいいし、私は日本語の授業が大好きです。
I really like my Japanese class, because Japanese language is interesting, and our teacher is good.
家族から手紙が来たし、彼と電話で話したし、きのうはとてもいい日でした。
Yesterday was a great day - a letter came in from my family, and I talked with my boyfriend on the phone.
Other uses for し:
You can use just one し clause, implying that it is not the only reason for this situation.
Example: 物価が安いし、この町の生活は楽です。Life in this city is an easygoing one. Things are inexpensive, for one thing.
Sometimes the し clauses follow the description of the situation explained.
Example: 山下先生はいい先生です。教えるのが上手だし、親切だし。Professor Yamashita is a great teacher, He is good at teaching, and he is kind.
し follows the short forms (unless in very polite speech where it can follow long forms). In other words:
い-adjectives: 面白いし
な-adjectives: 好きだし
noun + です: 学生だし
〜そうです translation:
“It looks like (adjective/property)”
〜そうです conjugation:
い-adjectives: drop the final い
EXCEPTION: いい ー＞ よさ
な-adjectives: drop な
このりんごはおいしそうです。
This apple looks delicious.
あしたはtネキがよさそうです。
It looks like the weather will be fine tomorrow.
メアリーさんは元気そうでした。
It looked like Mary was fine.
そうです negative endings + use with verbs:
The negative ending ない is changed to なさ before そう。
Example: ともこさんはテニスが上手じゃなさそうです。It does not look like Tomoko is good at tennis.
Use a verb stem with そうです to describe an imminent event. The negative of the verb stem + そうです will be 〜そうもありません。
Example: 雨が降りそうもありません。It does not look like it will rain.
Adjective + そうな:
Is used before a noun; means “(adjective)-looking (noun). そうis a な-adjectives, so な is added in this combination.
暖かそうなセーターを着ています。
She wears a warm-looking sweater.
Which use of そうです is acceptable: おいしそうです or きれいそうです and why?
We use そうです when we lack conclusive evidence (used on the basis of visual impressions).
おいしそうです is acceptable because the speaker does not actually know if the apple is delicious or not. Once they tasted it, it is おいしい。
きれいそうです is NOT acceptable because one will already have enough visual evidence to know if it is pretty; we already have enough evidence to conclude that it is pretty.
〜てみる translation and conjugation:
Used to express the idea of “doing something tentatively,” or “trying something,” not knowing what the outcome will be.
Use the te-form of a verb + みる。This conjugates as a regular ru-verb.
漢字がわからなかったので、日本人の友だちに聞いてみました。
I did not know the kanji, so I tried asking a Japanese friend of mine.
友だしがあの店のケーキはおいしいと言っていましたから、今度たべてみます。
My friends say that the cake at the shop is good. I will have a piece one of these days (and see if it really lives up to its reputation).
