Basic question on neru

Kriffix

Aspiring Manga-ka

6 Jan 2008

47

1

• 4 Jun 2008

• #1

Hey guys, every time i feel like i'm finally getting a little better, i get snagged out on something basic!
Neru= to sleep
Nemasu=to sleep (formal)
when making it deal with plain, negative, ability,(cannot sleep) why does it become "nemurenai" and not "nerarenai"?
(is it irregular or is there just something i'm missing here?)
thanks for any help in advance

 

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

10 Nov 2004

4,354

179

• 4 Jun 2008

• #2

They are both possible.

The difference is:
Neru suggests "lying down" to sleep
Nemuru suggests "falling" to sleep, losing consciousness (no suggestion of lying down, since we can sleep sitting on chairs, etc.)

HTH!

 

Kriffix

Aspiring Manga-ka

6 Jan 2008

47

1

• 4 Jun 2008

• Thread starter
• #3

Ah i see, So "nemurenai" comes from "nemuru"! It all make sense now, Thanks so much, it was really bugging me!