Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 28

Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 28

1. V₁ ます-form ながら V₂

This sentence pattern means that one person does two different actions (V₁ and V₂) at the same time. The action denoted by V₂ is the more emphasized of the two actions.

音楽を聞きながら食事します。

I listen to music while eating.

This sentence pattern is also used when the two actions take place over a period of time.

働きながら日本語を勉強しています。

I’m working and studying Japanese.

2. Vて-formいます

An individual’s customary action is expressed by this sentence pattern. A customary action in the past is expressed by using Vて-formいました.

毎朝ジョギングをしています。

I jog every morning.

子どものとき、毎晩８時に寝ていました。

I used to go to bed at eight every evening when I was a child.

3. Plain formし, ～

1) When sentences are stated from a certain viewpoint, they can be linked using this structure. For example, sentences describing the merits of a particular subject are joined into one sentence using this pattern.

ワット先生は熱心だし、まじめだし、経験もあります。

Professor Watt is earnest and diligent and has experience.

2) This structure is also used to state causes or reasons when there is more than one cause or reason. Use of this structure implies the meaning of “furthermore” or “on top of that”.

駅から近いし、車でも来られるし、この店はとても便利です。

This shop is very convenient. It’s near the station, and you can also come here by car.

When the speaker states reasons using this pattern, he/she sometimes does not say his/her conclusion when it’s understood from the context.

息子に英語を教えていただけませんか。

うーん、出張も多いし、もうすぐ日本語の試験もあるし，…。

Could you teach English to my son?

Sorry. I often go on business trip, and I have to take a Japanese exam soon.

There are cases when only one ～し is used in a sentence. Though the reason explicitly stated is only one, the existence of other reasons is implied by the use of ～し. Note this is not true of  ～から.

色もきれいだし、この靴を買います。

Because the color is beautiful (and for some other reasons), I’ll buy this pair of shoes.

As you seen above, the particleも is often used in this sentence pattern. By the use ofも , the speaker implies the existence of other reasons to emphasize his/her viewpoint.

4. それに

それにis used when you add  another similar fact or situation.

どうしてさくら大学を選んだんですか。

さくら大学は、父が出た大学し、いい先生も多いし、それに家から近いですから。

Why did you choose Sakura University?

Because it’s my father’s alma mater, there are many good teachers, and besides, it’s near my house.

5. それで

それでis a conjunction used to show that what was said before it is the reason or cause for the sentence following it.

このレストランは値段も安いし、おいしいんです。

それで、人が多いんですね。

The food is inexpensive and tasty in this restaurant.

And that’s why it’s crowded.

6. に

よくこの喫茶店に来るんですか。

Do you often go to this coffee shop?

In this sentence, the particle に, which indicates one’s destination, is used instead of the particle へ, which shows direction. Verbs like いきます、きます、かえりますandしゅっちょうします are used with either “placeへ” or “placeに”.

Related Post:
Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 29
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 28 Vocabulary