How do you know whether it is I or you or he?

[orphanwolf]

I wonder how do you understand in a sentence the subject is I or you or he?
this is a sentence from an online lesson:
とつぜん りんご お たべた きえた。
they translated it as: All the sudden, he ate the apple, and disappeared.
what i understand is: suddenly * ate the apple and went away.
how come the subject is he and not I or you?

 

[Mike Cash]

There are at least two errors in that sentence. I suggest you find a different source for online lessons.

 

[JimmySeal]

While you may very well be right in your suggestion, the error is in orphanwolph's transcription

 

[orphanwolf]

Thanks to Mr. Jimmyseal. I am really sorry that I am not used to kana characters which still troubles me a bit. I would use romaji till I get them. I wrote tabeta instead of tabete .

Still, I understand the sentence as : eating(tabete) the apple(ringo) * disappeared (kieta). Is it must be he and not I or you?

 

[Amigo]

It depends on the context orphanwolf San,

I like to travel, like to play soccer, like to eat Ramen, like to drink coffee...

Who likes to drink coffe? Me as well.

That's all.

 

[becki_kanou]

You don't know just from reading one sentence. Japanese is a very context-reliant language, and you can often leave out the bits that can be assumed from a conversation. However outside the bounds of that conversation, the meaning can become very opaque.

 

[Toritoribe]

I also recommend a different site for learning Japanese. Actually, some example sentences/translations in the page the OP quoted from are obviously grammatically incorrect.

 

[orphanwolf]

I think I got the idea. isn't it like when we say "thank you" or "gotcha(got you)" keeping the "I" invisible? anyway, i shall take Mr. Toritoribe's advice.

 

[Mike Cash]

Oh, God. It's worse than I thought. It's that horrible crap from the old maktos.com

Please do yourself a huge favor and find some other site....almost any other site....to learn Japanese from.

 

[Glenn]

Hah! Oh, that old maktos site sure does bring back memories!

 

[Mike Cash]

The "lessons" are some evil beast that just won't die.