<Lesson 14> 
  

In this lesson, we will learn more about the particle "wa" and "ga" and idiomatic expressions using these particles.

A,  The function of particle "wa"

The function of particle "wa" and "ga" were explained in lesson-5.  To be brief, "ga" is  strictly and  exclusively , the particle  indicating the subject of the sentence.  Although "wa " often marks the 
subject of a sentence , its main function is to mark the preceding word as the "theme" or " topic" in the whole context. 
So,  "wa" may appear more than once in a sentence.

e.g  私は英 語は話します。watashi wa eigo wa hanashimasu. 　( instead of ) watashi wa eigo o hanashimasu.

This sentence means "I speak English". But,  it implies the meaning of " I speak English ,but no other language" The first "wa " in the sentence  has the function of indicating  subject ( "watashi"is the subject). The second "wa " has referential or topical function which mean "as for English ""as regards English "in the sentence.

*The particle "wa " is not only placed after nouns ,but also after other particles such as "ni ""de" "to ""kara""made"etc.

e.g 私は日本 に行きます。でも、(私は）東京には行きません。 watashi wa nihon ni ikimasu. Demo, (watashi wa )Tokyo ni-wa ikimasen 
　　　
      (　I will go to Japan. But I won't go to Tokyo.)

*The particle "ni" at the first sentence has the function of showing the direction to go ( that is Japan). 
In the second sentence, by connecting "wa" to "ni", you can add the meaning  of "as for (going to) Tokyo". 
This second sentence implies " I won't go to Tokyo. but, I will go to places ｉｎ Japan other than to Tokyo  " 
  
Exercise 1, Please make Japanese sentences, as in example.

  ex, I don't read Japanese, But, I read English 
       => watashi wa  nihongo wa yomimasen. demo(shikashi), eigo wa yomimasu. 
           私は　日本語は読みません。でも（しかし）、英語は読みます。 
  
  1, I don't make Japanese food. But, I make French food. (to make =tsukuru,Japanese food=nihon-ryouri)

  2, I watched movies on T.V yesterday . But, I didn't watch the news ( on T.V)

  3, There are pens on my desk. But, there are no  books ( on my desk). 
  
  4, He doesn't know my name, But, he knows my father's name.

  5, I don't have so much money. But, I have a dream (not+so much= amari+ negative form,  dream=yume)

B, Idiomatic _expression using "wa" and "ga" (1)

In Japanese language, there are some expressions which are used idiomatically with "wa"and"ga" 
Please read the following examples.  ( Please click HERE to listen to these sentences. )

私は犬が好き です。 watashi wa inu ga suki desu. (Literal translation =As for me, the dogs are likable) 
(free translation =I like dogs)   *suki-na =likable (noun adj) 

私は猫が きらいです。watashi wa neko ga kirai desu. ( Literal translation =As for me, the cats are dislikable) 
(free translation= I dislike cats ) *kirai-na=dislikable (noun adj)

< Grammatical notes >  
In English, the verbs of the above sentences ，being transitive verbs, need a direct object. 
( I like A = A is the direct object./I dislike B = B is the direct object ) 
However, in Japanese language, the sentence structure for the idea of "suki/kirai desu"is different. 
Namely, "As for me, dogs are likable";the object (dogs) I like is the subject, followed by the subject 
indicator particle "ga".

So, the Japanese sentences equivalent to these sentences don't use  the particle "o" 
to indicate objects (such as inu, neko) . As you see the above sentences, 
Instead of particle "o", particle "ga" is used in the sentences idiomatically.

< Other idiomatic expressions>

*There are other expressions using this kind of idiomatic usage.  I shall show you other samples.

私はお金が要ります。 watashi wa okane ga irimasu. (As for me, money is needed.) 
*free translation= I need money      *iru= to be needed

私は英語が分かります。watashi wa eigo ga wakarimasu 　 (As for me,English is understandable.) 
*free translation= I understand English.   *wakaru=to understand

私はスキーが出来ます。watashi wa  skii ga dekimasu. 　 ( As for me, ski is capable.) 
*free translation= I can do ski.      *dekiru=to be possible, capable

私は料理が上手です。watashi wa ryouri ga jouzu desu.　 (As for me, cooking is handled well.) 
*free translation= I am good at cooking    *joozu =skillful ( noun adj.)

私はテニスが下手です。watashi wa tenisu ga heta desu. ( As for me, tennis is handled badly.) 
 *free translation= I am poor at tennis.   *heta =clumsy, unskillful

私は新しい家が欲しいです。watashi wa atarashii ie ga hoshii desu. (As for me, a new home is desirable.) 
 *free translation= I want a new home     * hoshii= desirable

< Grammatical notes> 

* "要る(to need) ","わ かる(to understand)""できる(can) " are  intransitive Japanese verbs. 
* "好き（な）""きらい（な）""じょうず（な）"and "へた（な）"are noun adjectives. 
* "ほしい (to want)"is true adjective. 
* "ほしいです"can be used in "I want A"or "Do you want A?" 
   But, it is not proper to use it to express for the third person. 
    You can use another word "ほしがるhoshigaru"to objectify the desire feeling of the third person. 
     私はA がほしいです。 ( correct sentence ) 
     あなたはA がほしいですか。 ( correct sentence) 
     彼は Aがほしいです。 ( wrong sentence) 
     彼は Aをほしがっています。 (correct sentence) 
    < note! here the particle to indicate object  is "o">

<Making question sentences> 
*When making question sentences with the interrogative such as ” な に(what)", "どんな(what kind of) this formula is retained.  

Let's see sample sentences.   (   donna A =what kind of A　)

Q, あなたはどんな服が欲しいですか。Anata wa  donna fuku ga hoshii/desu ka ? 
　　( What kind of clothes do you want ?) 
A, わたしは派手な服が欲しいです。watashi wa hade na fuku ga hoshii desu.
　　( I want colorful clothes.)

Q, あなたはどこの料理（何料理）が好きですか。Anata wa doko no ryouri(nani-ryouri)ga suki desu ka?　
　　( Which country of food do you like ?) 
A, 私はイタリア料理が好きです。 watashi wa itaria-ryouri ga suki desu.
　　( I like Italian foods. )

Exercise 2,  Please translate into Japanese  , as shown in the example.

e.g  What do you like in Japanese food ? ( Answer: sukiyaki ) 
       => あなたは　日本料理で何がすきですか。/　私は　すき焼きがすきです。
 

1,  What  do you dislike among animals ? ( Answer: snake=へび) *animal=動物（どうぶつ） *among A =A　のなかで 
      => 
2,  What language do you understand  ? ( Answer: Japanese and English) * language=言葉（ことば） 
      => 
3,  What kind of sports are you good at ? ( Answer: swimming=すいえい＝水泳) 
      => 
4,  What kind of subjects are you poor at ? ( Answer: music=音楽＝おんがく) *subject=学科（がっか） 
      => 
5,  What kind of meat do you need in this cooking? ( Answer: chicken＝とり肉 ) *meat=肉（にく）  
      => 
6,  What do you like among  flowers ? ( Answer: roses=バラ) * flower=花（はな） 
      => 
7,  What does he want now? ( Answer: a new computer) 
      =>

< With questions requiring "yes " or  "no" as an answer>
 
*When making answer sentences stating "yes" or "no"as an answer, 
there is no need to repeat the idiomatic formula of the question. 
Namely, as I mentioned in the section A,  particle "wa " has a referential function to indicate the topic of the conversation. 
So,you can use particle "wa" instead of "ga"in answers and in subsequent questions that require "yes" or "no" as an answer. 
  
 (Example)

  A, あなたは　動物がすきですか。anata wa  doubutsu ga suki desu ka.  ( Do you like animals?) 
  B, はい、動物はすきです。 hai, doubutsu wa suki desu.  (Yes, I like animals.) 
  A, では、魚はすきです か。） dewa, sakana wa suki desu ka. (So, do you like fish?/ how about fish ? ) 
  B, いいえ、魚はすきではありません。）  iie, sakana wa suki dewaarimasen.   ( No, I don't like fish.)

 Exercise 3, Please translate the following conversation into Japanese.

  1,  A, Are you good at table tennis ? 　*table tennis=卓球（たっきゅう) 
      B,  No, I am poor at table tennis. 
           But, I am good at tennis

  2,  A,  Do you like Chinese food ? 
      B,  Yes, I like it. 
      A,  How about  Italian food ? 
      B,  Yes, I like it, too.  ( you can use particle "mo" instead of "wa " to mean  inclusion  )

  3,  A,  Do you understand Japanese ? 
      B,  Yes, I understand  a little Japanese 
      A,   How about German language ? 
      B,   No, I don't understand German language.

  4,  A, Can you dance ?        *dance=ダンス 
      B,  Yes, I can dance very well. 
           But, My husband can't dance  * husband=夫（おっと）

  5,  A, Do you need my bag ? 
      B, No, I don't need your bag. 
      A, So, what do you need ? 
      B,  I don't need anything . ( please use "nani-mo + negative form of sentence)

C. Nominalized form of verbs (pre-masu form of verb / Infinitive + koto)

    When you want to say "I like to do A "instead of " I like A ", you need to nominalize the verb "do" 
    to form the sentence. I shall show you  the two ways of changing  verbs into nouns (nominalization).

1, Pre-masu form of verb

  You can make nouns by dropping the "masu"ending of the verb's  masu-form. 
  But please note that this mode of nominalisation is not applicable to all of verbs

e.g  yomu->yomi-masu->yomi (reading) , 
　　　kaku->kaki-masu->kaki (writing) 
  
Exercise 4,  Please change the following verbs to nouns with the pre-masu form

*e.g  行く＝＞行き

1, 買う(to buy) =>           
2, 座る(to sit) =>            
3, 入る(to enter) =>           
4, 売る(to sell) => 
5, 帰る( to return)=> 
6, 走る(to run)=>         
7, 遊ぶ (to play)=>           
8, 泊る(to stay)=> 
 

2, Infinitive of verb  +koto

You can make nouns with the infinitive (dictionary form) followed by  "koto " 
This method of nominalization is applicable to all of verbs. 
Also, this form  is readily used with such words as "dekiru""wakaru""joozu/heta desu""suki/kirai desu", 
but not with "iru" and "hoshii desu"

Examples

* To speak =hanasu koto   * To speak Japanese =nihongo o hanasu koto 
* To do =suru koto          * To study Japanese =nihongo o benkyoo suru koto 
*  I like to speak Japanese = watashi wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga suki desu.

Exercise 5,  Please  translate the following sentences into Japanese, as in the example.

  e.g.  to eat cake = ケーキを食べること 
         I like to eat cake = 私は　ケーキを食べることがすきです。

1,  To drink wine => 
      I like to drink wine =>

2,  To buy inexpensive clothes => 
      I am good at buying inexpensive clothes=>

3,  To draw pictures *to draw =描く) => 
      I am poor at drawing pictures.=>

4,  To make Japanese food => 
      I can make Japanese food =>

5,  To swim in the sea *sea=海（うみ)=> 
      I don't like to swim  in the sea=>

*Actually, the meaning of "koto" is "matter""affair"or"fact"as well as "thing " 
   ( In contrast, ,the word "mono" means the  visible existing object ) 
  Using "koto", phrases like "what I say" "what you write" " what I like "can be translated  into Japanese  as follows.

   *what I say =  watashi no iu koto 
  *what you write = anata no kaku koto 
   *what I like = watashi no suki-na koto ( "suki"is noun-adjective )

 Exercise 6, Please translate the following sentences into Japanese, as in the example.

   e.g   what you say = あなたの言うこと 
          I don't understand what you say=あなたの言うことがわかりません。

   e.g   what I like = わたしのすきなこと 
          Do you know what I like?= 私のすきなことを知っていますか。

1, what he says => 
    I don't understand what he says=>

2, what you like=> 
    I don't know what you like=>

3, what she thinks=>(to think=kangaeru) 
    I understand what she thinks=>

4, what I dislike=> 
    Do you know what I dislike?=>

5, what you know=> 
    Please tell me what you know=>