There are three different types of basic sentence in Japanese; verb, adjective and noun. Verb is an action word, it can make complete sentence by itself. Adjective is a describing word which also can make complete sentence by itself. Lastly, a noun is a word to names a person, place, thing or idea. It must come with a separate verb “to be” but only single noun has to be stated.
A verb- type sentence describe an action.For example:
たのむ!
Tanomu!
Request/ask/beg
“I request”
The Japanese verbs can be divided into three groups which includes group 1, group 2 and group 3. Group 1 is sometimes called as u-verbs because mostly the verbs ended with ; う (u), く (ku), ぐ (gu), す (su), つ (tsu), ぬ (nu), ぶ (bu) and む (mu). Meanwhile, Group 2 verbs are ended with い (i) column, え (e) column in the hiragana chart and る (ru). On the other hand, group 3 verbs or sometimes called as irregular verbs are くる (kuru) and all verbs ended with する (suru). Below are examples of the three different groups.
たのむ!
Tanomu!
Request/ask/beg
“I request”
- Tanomu means ‘make a request/ ask a favor’. When address directly to a person, it literally implies ‘I request this from you’.
The Japanese verbs can be divided into three groups which includes group 1, group 2 and group 3. Group 1 is sometimes called as u-verbs because mostly the verbs ended with ; う (u), く (ku), ぐ (gu), す (su), つ (tsu), ぬ (nu), ぶ (bu) and む (mu). Meanwhile, Group 2 verbs are ended with い (i) column, え (e) column in the hiragana chart and る (ru). On the other hand, group 3 verbs or sometimes called as irregular verbs are くる (kuru) and all verbs ended with する (suru). Below are examples of the three different groups.
Formal
iku=ikimashita |
Informal
|
Formal
okiru = okimashita |
Informal
okiru=okita |
Formal
|
Informal
|
Unlike English, Japanese verbs do not change depending on number (how many people or things do the action) or person (whether the speaker, the listener or someone else does the action). However, the verbs change to express different level of politeness depending on the situation and the social relationship between speaker and listener.
For example:
Mitomemasu
Acknowledge / confirm
“I confirm it”
Mitomemasu is the polite form of the verb mitomeru with a range of meaning (acknowledge/confirm/admit/accept/approve/recognize)
For example:
Mitomemasu
Acknowledge / confirm
“I confirm it”
Mitomemasu is the polite form of the verb mitomeru with a range of meaning (acknowledge/confirm/admit/accept/approve/recognize)
Politeness level 1 (PL1) is rude or condescending form and it is best to avoid. Politeness level 2 (PL2) sentences are quite familiar and they are used for informal situation such as conversation among family and friends/peers or when a person with high status is speaking to someone with much lower status. Politeness level 3 (PL3) is a bit formal and they are best use when speaking to strangers, new/relatively distant acquaintances and elders and superiors.
Noun-type sentences are used to name or identify something. Similar with verb-type sentences, noun-type frequently occur without stating the subject explicitly. However, unlike verb-type, it’s not quite possible to say that noun makes sentences all by itself. In order to make a complete sentence by itself without a stated subject, the noun should come together with desu (is/ are).
For example: 学校 です
Gakko desu
School is
“It’s a school.”/”He’s at school”
-Desu after place name can implies where the subject is
For example: 学校 です
Gakko desu
School is
“It’s a school.”/”He’s at school”
-Desu after place name can implies where the subject is
Desu is the non-past form of a linking verb and it is used to name, define, describe, or restate the subject of sentence. Desu does not change form for number or person or future tense .Thus, it can be equivalent to ‘am”, “is, “are”, or “will be” depending on the context. It has separate forms for past, deshita and for guessing, desho.
Da is informal or plain version for desu. Da sounds quite abrupt or even rough. So, some of its use is limited to male speakers only. Women tend to speak more politely compared to men thus da usage is less in women. The difference between da and desu is only on the level of politeness and not in their meaning or tense.
For example:
Employee: 火事
Kaji da!
Fire is
“It’s fire”
Furiten-kun: 社長 火事 です
Schacho, kaji desu
Company’s president fire is
“Sir, its fire”
For example:
Employee: 火事
Kaji da!
Fire is
“It’s fire”
Furiten-kun: 社長 火事 です
Schacho, kaji desu
Company’s president fire is
“Sir, its fire”
In English, adjectives work in two ways; before a noun and after the verb “to be” to describe the subject of the sentence. However, in Japanese the adjective itself can replace the verb in a sentence. It can stand alone as a complete sentence with an implied subject or it can have its own explicitly stated subject.
For example;
Husband: おそい
osoi
Is late/slow
“She’s late”
For example;
Husband: おそい
osoi
Is late/slow
“She’s late”
The polite form of an adjective is simply by adding desu. The addition of desu only changes the level of politeness without changing the meaning or tense. This desu cannot be replaced with da like in the noun type sentence.
For example;
難しい です
Muzukashii desu
Is difficult (polite)
“it’s difficult”
For example;
難しい です
Muzukashii desu
Is difficult (polite)
“it’s difficult”
REFERENCES
1. P.Lammers, W. (2005). Japanese The manga Way: An Illustrated Guide To Grammar And Structure. United States: Stone Bridge Press.
1. P.Lammers, W. (2005). Japanese The manga Way: An Illustrated Guide To Grammar And Structure. United States: Stone Bridge Press.