Tense and Aspect

Japanese Grammar

Utilization of the Te-form: てしまう, てある, ておく, and てみる

Resultant State with てある

Last time, you learned how to express the beginning, the middle, and the end of actions: 料りょう理りを 作つくり始はじめた・作つくっているところだ・作つくり終おわった. You have almost completed Japanese tense and aspect. In this lesson, we will pick up the rest of them. And don’t worry, all of them can be expressed by using the single form: te-form. Explanation for How […]

Japanese Grammar

Japanese Aspect: the Beginning, Middle, & End of Actions

ところ: Just

Last time, you learned how to express experiences like “前まえに日に本ほん語ごを勉べん強きょうしたことがある (I have studied Japanese before)” and “前まえに日に本ほん語ごを勉べん強きょうしている (I studied Japanese before).” Now, you can express things in the future, the present, and the past. In this lesson, we would like to focus on what aspects verbs may have. Explanation for How Japanese Aspect Works Table […]

Japanese Grammar

How to Express Experience in Japanese ことがある and ている

Present Perfect Tense: Experience

Last time, you learned how to express discovery and recall by using the ta-form, e.g. “図と書しょ館かんがあった (There is the library),” and “図と書しょ館かんがあるんだった (I’ve recalled there is the library).” The various functions of the ta-form must be useful. However, you still need to learn some sentence patterns to express other tense and aspect. For example, if […]

Japanese Grammar

Another Function of the Ta-form: Discovery and Recall

Ta-form: Discovery

Last time, you learned how the ta-form can be utilized, e.g. “着き物ものを着きた人ひと: person who wears a kimono” and “医い者しゃだった井上いのうえさん: Inoue-san who was a doctor.” The ta-form can express not only past tense and present perfect tense, but also modify nouns as well. Here is another important function of the ta-form, which expresses discovery and recall. You […]

Japanese Grammar

How to Modify Nouns with the Ta-form

The Ta-form as Adjective

Last time, you learned how to express past tense and perfect present tense like “昨日きのうケーキを食たべました (I ate cake yesterday)” and “さっきケーキを食たべました (I have eaten cake just now).” In this lesson, we would like to focus on one of the special functions of the ta-form: to be treated as an adjective. Explanation for How to Let […]

Japanese Grammar

Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense with the Ta-form

Past Tense

Last time, you learned how to express existence and possession like “駅えきに田た中なかさんがいる (Tanaka-san is in the station),” and “田た中なかさんには大おおきな夢ゆめがある (Tanaka-san has a big dream).” Then, if you would like to say “Tanaka-san was in the station,” what should you do? In this lesson, you will learn how to express past tense and present perfect tense. […]

Japanese Grammar

Existence and Possession: ある and いる

Possession

Last time, you learned present progressive tense: “ごはんを食たべている (I’m eating a meal),” and resultant states: “かばんを持もっている (I have a bag).” As you notice, the concept of Japanese tense and aspect are different from English. In this lesson, we would like to focus on how to express existence and possession. How ある and いる Work When […]

Japanese Grammar

Present Progressive Tense & Resultant States with Te-form

Te-form

Last time, you learned what the plain form can express, which are the two usages of present tense: constant states like “歯はを磨みがくことは大切たいせつです (Brushing teeth is important),” and customary actions like “毎朝まいあさ歯はを磨みがきます (I brush my teeth every morning),” and future tense: “今いまから歯はを磨みがきます (I will brush my teeth from now).” Then, if you want to say, “I’m […]

Japanese Grammar

Present and Future Tense with Temporal Nouns

Japanese Future Tense

You will start learning Japanese tenses and aspects. In the previous sections, we didn’t mention them, and generally used future tense. By understanding the usages of tenses and aspects, you will be able to communicate with people more accurately. Here, you will learn both present and future tense. Plain Forms Express Constant States, Customary Actions […]