Hello,
1. きのうテレビで見ましたけど、サルが百円玉拾って、自 動販売機でジュース買うようになっそうですよ。
Translation given: "Yesterday I was watching TV, and you know, it seems that there's a monkey who's gained the ability to pick up hundred yen coins and buy soft drinks!"
What is ようになっそうです? I'm guessing it may be something to do with ようになる and そうです, but I don't know exactly how it works...
2. あの缶、サルが自動販売課で買ったんだって。
Translation given: "Well, it so happens that she [the monkey] purchased the can from a vending machine."
だって is だ (copula) + って (quoting), yes?
3. In WWWJDIC, the definition of だって is
だって (conj) (1) (col) after all; because; (2) (col) but; (prt) (3) even; (4) too; as well; also; (5) they say; I hear; you mean;
Which of these are considered different usages of what is essentially the same word? Which are considered different words with different etymologies? Which meanings, if any, derive from だって = だ (copula) + って (quoting)?
4. その光景は筆舌に尽くしがたいほど美しかった。
Translation given: "The scenery was beautiful beyond description."
I understand 筆舌に尽くしがたい is a set expression meaning "beyond description", but how does it literally work, word by word?
5. そうだなあ、日本語言えなくたっていいわけだ。
Translation given: "Yeah, you're right - and this means that it's OK to forget how to speak Japanese."
Which たって is this, and what does it literally mean?
6. こんなことしてたら、話せなくなっちゃうんじゃないか と思って、わるいけど君に電話したんだ。
Translation given: "If that's the way things turn out, I began to think, won't I lose the ability to carry on a conversation? I know it's late, but I called you up."
I don't know why I'm having doubts about this, but presumably してたら must be short for していたら, right?
1. きのうテレビで見ましたけど、サルが百円玉拾って、自 動販売機でジュース買うようになっそうですよ。
Translation given: "Yesterday I was watching TV, and you know, it seems that there's a monkey who's gained the ability to pick up hundred yen coins and buy soft drinks!"
What is ようになっそうです? I'm guessing it may be something to do with ようになる and そうです, but I don't know exactly how it works...
2. あの缶、サルが自動販売課で買ったんだって。
Translation given: "Well, it so happens that she [the monkey] purchased the can from a vending machine."
だって is だ (copula) + って (quoting), yes?
3. In WWWJDIC, the definition of だって is
だって (conj) (1) (col) after all; because; (2) (col) but; (prt) (3) even; (4) too; as well; also; (5) they say; I hear; you mean;
Which of these are considered different usages of what is essentially the same word? Which are considered different words with different etymologies? Which meanings, if any, derive from だって = だ (copula) + って (quoting)?
4. その光景は筆舌に尽くしがたいほど美しかった。
Translation given: "The scenery was beautiful beyond description."
I understand 筆舌に尽くしがたい is a set expression meaning "beyond description", but how does it literally work, word by word?
5. そうだなあ、日本語言えなくたっていいわけだ。
Translation given: "Yeah, you're right - and this means that it's OK to forget how to speak Japanese."
Which たって is this, and what does it literally mean?
6. こんなことしてたら、話せなくなっちゃうんじゃないか と思って、わるいけど君に電話したんだ。
Translation given: "If that's the way things turn out, I began to think, won't I lose the ability to carry on a conversation? I know it's late, but I called you up."
I don't know why I'm having doubts about this, but presumably してたら must be short for していたら, right?