LSN 26 Grammar

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of using the ～んです form when asking a question?

Answer 1

The primary purpose of using the ～んです form when asking a question is to ask for confirmation, detail, explanation, or reason.

📌 Example:
どうして来なかったんですか？
→ Why didn’t you come?
(Asking for a reason — you want to understand what happened.)

Compare it with:
どうして来ませんでしたか？
→ Also means “Why didn’t you come?”
But this version sounds more formal and less emotionally involved.

Question 2

How does the plain form of a Noun or な-adjective change when used with ～んです?

Answer 2

When used with ～んです, the plain form of a Noun or な-adjective adds な before んです (e.g., 先生 な んです, ハンサム な んです).

Question 3

Provide an example sentence using ～んです to give a reason or explanation.

Answer 3

An example sentence using ～んです to give a reason is: はい。ねなかったんです。 (Yes, I didn’t sleep.)

Question 4

In written Japanese, what form is often used instead of ～んです?

Answer 4

In written Japanese, ～のです is often used instead of ～んです.

Question 5

Explain the nuance added by using the ～んですが、… structure to introduce a topic followed by a request.

Answer 5

The ～んですが、… structure introduces a topic and implies that the request, invitation, or permission-seeking that follows is related to that topic. It sets the stage for what you are about to ask.

📌 Example:
日本語があまり上手じゃないんですが、教えていただけますか？
→ I’m not very good at Japanese, so… could you help me?

Here, the speaker:

Introduces the reason: they’re not good at Japanese

Then softly leads into a request

Question 6

What is the difference in politeness level between 読んで ください and 読んで いただけませんか?

Answer 6

読んで いただけませんか is a much more polite way to ask someone to read compared to the more direct 読んで ください. It expresses a humble request.

Question 7

Briefly explain the literal meaning of the grammar structure Interrogative + Verb た form + ら いいですか.

Answer 7

The literal meaning of Interrogative + Verb た form + ら いいですか is “[Interrogative word] is good if I Verb-ed?” It translates to “Where (etc.) should I Verb?”

📌 Example:
どこで買ったらいいですか？
→ Where should I buy it?
(Lit: If I bought it somewhere, would that be good?)

どこ = where

買った = bought (past plain form)

ら = if

いいですか = is good?

Question 8

How can the grammar point from Chapter 26 be used to turn a Noun/Object into the topic of the sentence?

Answer 8

The grammar point from Chapter 26 allows you to take an object or subject noun and mark it with は to make it the topic of the sentence, emphasizing it.

📌 Example:
田中さんが来ました。
→ Tanaka-san came.
(が marks Tanaka as the subject — new or important info)

🟰 Using the grammar point:

田中さんは来ました。
→ As for Tanaka-san, (he) came.
(は turns Tanaka into the topic — maybe you’re comparing him to others who didn’t come)

Question 9

Provide an example of using Interrogative + Verb た form + ら いいですか to ask for advice on where to go.

Answer 9

An example of using this structure to ask for advice on where to go is: どこ へ 行ったら いいですか。(Where should I go?)

Question 10

Give an example sentence where a “subject” noun is made the topic using the grammar from Chapter 26.

Answer 10

An example sentence where a subject noun is made the topic is: カラオケ は 下手 です。(As for karaoke, I’m not good at it.)