Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 18

Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 18

1. Verb dictionary form

This form is the basic form of a verb. Verbs are given in this form in the dictionary, hence the name. How to make the dictionary form is given below.

Group I	In the verbs of this group, the last sound of ます-form is always in the い-line. Replace it with the sound in the う-line to make the dictionary form.
Group II	Attach るto the ます-form.
Group III	しますbecomes するand きますbecomes くる.

 

2．

N V dictionary formこと

ができます

can …

 

できますis the verb which expresses ability or possibility. A noun and V dictionary form ことbefore がindicates the content of ability or possibility.

1) Noun

Nouns placed before がare mostly nouns which express actions such as driving a car, shopping, skiing, dancing, etc. Nouns such as にほんご, which is associated with the action はなす, or ピアノ, which is associated with the actionひく, can also be used here.

ミラーさんは日本語ができます。

Mr. Miller can speak Japanese.

雪がたくさん降りましたから、ことしはスキーができます。

It’s snowed a lot, so we can ski this year.

2) Verb

When a verb is used to describe ability or possibility, ことshould be attached to the dictionary form of the verb to make it a nominalized phrase and then ができますis put after that.

ミラーさんは漢字を読むことができます。

Mr. Miller can read Kanji.

カードで払うことができます。

You can pay by credit card.

わたしの趣味は

N V dictionary formこと

です

My hobby is …

 

As shown in the sentences below, V dictionary form ことcan express the content of hobbies more concretely than the noun alone can do.

わたしの趣味は音楽です。

My hobby is music.

わたしの趣味は音楽を聞くことです。

My hobby is listening to the music.

V1 dictionary form Nの Quantifier (period)

まえに、V2

…, before …

 

1) Verb

This sentence pattern indicates that the action of V₂ occurs before the action of V₁ takes place. Even when the tense V₂ is in the past tense or the future tense, V₁ is always in the dictionary form.

日本へ来るまえに、日本語を勉強しました。

I studied Japanese before I came to Japan.

寝るまえに、本を読みます。

I read a book before I go to bed.

2) Noun

When まえにcomes after a noun, the particleの is put between the noun and まえに. Nouns before まえにare nouns which express actions or nouns which imply actions.

食事のまえに、手を洗います。

I wash my hands before eating.

3) Quantifier (period)

Whenまえに comes after a quantifier (period), the particleの is not necessary.

田中さんは1時間まえに、出かけました。

Mr. Tanaka left an hour ago.

5. なかなか

Whenなかなか is accompanied by a negative expression, it means “not easily” or “not as expected”.

日本ではなかなか馬を見ることができません。

In Japan we can rarely see horses.

[Note] はof にほんではis attached to でto emphasize the location or area under discussion.

6. ぜひ

ぜひis used with expressions of hope and request such as ほしいです, Vます-form たいですand Vて-form くださいand emphasizes the meaning of the expressions.

ぜひ北海道へ行きたいです。

I want to go to Hokkaido very much.

ぜひ遊びに来てください。

Please come to my place.

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Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 19
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 18 Vocabulary