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Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 26
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Plain form + んです
な-adj / N: ～だ → ～な
～んですis an expression used to explain cause, reasons, grounds, etc., strongly . ～んですis used in spoken language, while ～のです is used in written language. ～んですis used in the following ways.
1) ～んですか
This expression is used in the following cases.
- When the speaker guesses the reason or the cause as to what he has seen or heard and then confirms whether he is correct.
渡辺さんは時々大阪弁を使いますね。
大阪に住んでいたんですか。
ええ、１５歳まで大阪に住んでいました。
Ms. Watanabe, you sometimes speak Osaka dialect.
Have you lived in Osaka?
Yes, I lived in Osaka until I was fifteen.
- When the speaker asks for information about what he has seen or heard.
おもしろいデザインの靴です。どこで買ったんですか。
エドヤストアで買いました。
The design of your shoes is interesting. Where did you buy them?
I bought this pair at Edoya Store .
- When the speaker asks the listener to explain the reason or the cause of what he has seen or heard.
どうして遅れたんですか。(*)
Why were you late?
- When asking for an explanation of a situation.
どうしたんですか。(**)
What’s the matter?
[Note] “～んですか” sometimes contains the speaker’s surprise, suspicion, strong curiosity, etc. Inappropriate use, therefore, may offend the listener, so it is necessary to be careful with this expression.2) ～んです
This expression is used in the following cases.
- When stating the reason or cause as an answer to such questions as in (*) and (**) above.
どうして遅れたんですか。
バスが来なかったんです。
Why were you late?
Because the bus didn’t come.
どうしたんですか。
ちょっと気分が悪いんです。
What’s the matter?
I don’t feel well.
- When the speaker adds the reason or the cause to what he’s stated.
毎朝新聞を読みますか。
いいえ。時間がないんです。
Do you read newspaper every morning?
No. I don’t have the time.
3) ～んですが、～
～んですがis used to introduce a topic. It is followed by a request, an invitation or an expression seeking permission. がin this case is used to connect sentences lightly and indicates hesistation and reservation on the speaker’s side.
日本語で手紙を書いたんですが、ちょっと見ていただけませんか。
I’ve written a letter in Japanese. Could you please check it for me?
NHK を見学したいんですが、どうしたらいいですか。
I want to tour NHK. How can I do that?
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Vて-formいただけませんか
Would you please do me a favor of ~ing?
This is a request expression that is politer than ～てください
いい先生を紹介していただけませんか。
Would you please introduce a good teacher to me?
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Interrogative Vた-formらいいですか
What/When/Where/Which/How/Who shall I?
どこでカメラを買ったらいいですか。
Where should I buy a camera?
細かいお金がないんですが、どうしたらいいですか。
I don’t have any small change. What shall I do?
～たらいいですかis used when the speaker asks the listener for some advice or instructions about what to do.
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N (object) は好きです／嫌いです／上手です／下手です／あります
like / dislike / be good at / be poor at / have, etc. N
運動会に参加しますか。
いいえ。スポーツはあまり好きじゃないんです。
Are you going to participate in the athletic meeting?
No. I don’t like sports very much.
You learned in Book I (Lesson 10 and 17) that subjects and also objects indicated by をcan become topics and be highlighted byは . Objects indicated by がcan also be highlighted byは .
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Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 27
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 26 Vocabulary
