My grammar questions

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

I looked at some of my reference books about し. It says it is used for lists and emphasizes the list.

僕は今日朝ごはんを作ったし、家事をしたし、図書館に行った。 I made breakfast, did house work, and went to the library.

昨日僕は店でリンゴし、パスタし、そばを買いました。 I bought apples, pasta, and soba at the store.

It also says it can list two conflicting items or situations.

僕は遊びたいし、勉強するのが必要だ。 I want to play, but study is necessary. If this is correct what is the difference if I had used けど?

So する気がない is mostly used? It still has the meaning of "not having the will to do X.". right?

 

[Mike Cash]

I would suggest thinking of 気 in the usages you are asking about more asking the lines of "feel" than "will".

 

[Toritoribe]

僕は今日朝ごはんを作ったし、家事をしたし、図書館に行った。 I made breakfast, did house work, and went to the library.

し is often used in the clause for the reason/cause. The -te form is more appropriate just for listing verbs/clauses.
cf.
朝ごはんを作って、家事をして、図書館に行った。
朝ごはんも作ったし、家事もしたし、図書館にも行った。(connoting overworking, for instance)
朝ごはんも作ったし、家事もしたし（＝したから）、ちょっと休憩しよう。

昨日僕は店でリンゴし、パスタし、そばを買いました。 I bought apples, pasta, and soba at the store.

し is used only for listing verbs or clauses, and not for nouns.

It also says it can list two conflicting items or situations.

僕は遊びたいし、勉強するのが必要だ。 I want to play, but study is necessary. If this is correct what is the difference if I had used けど?

Is there any example sentence about that usage in your book? It's something like 遊びに行きたし傘はなし, maybe? If so, this usage indeed exists, but the structure ～のに…から is far more common and important, especially if you are not an advanced learner.
e.g.
お腹は空いたしお金はないし（で）、困ってしまった。（＝ お腹が空いたのにお金がないから、困ってしまった。）

So する気がない is mostly used? It still has the meaning of "not having the will to do X.". right?

する気はある is used often in the context ～する気はある（が、実際はやらない） "to have a will to do, but actually not to do". (Note that this する is a pro-verb to represent all verbs just like "do" in English.)

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

So for し it is used to list verbs and clauses, it acts like から but with a slight nuance of "among other things." , and I do not need to worry about the from like のに at the moment?

外は暗いし、外で遊ばない。 Because it is dark outside, among other things, I will not play outside. This should work because it is used just like から ,right?

僕は朝ごはんも作ったし、家事もしたし、図書館にも行ったし、だるい。 I think this is right, because I am listing clauses and there is a main clause at the end.
勉強するし、読むし、書くし、頭が痛い。 I will studying, read, and write, among other things, and my head already hurts. I am listing verbs...so is this right? I also do not know what to put to mean "already."

I forgot to mention that し can also list adjectives.

彼は優しいし、高しいし、面白いし。 He is nice, funny, and kind, among other things.


勉強する気はする。 To feel like studying, but to not do it.
料理する気がする。 To feel like cooking.

Thanks .

 

[Mike Cash]

する気はある is used often in the context ～する気はある（が、実際はやらない） "to have a will to do, but actually not to do". (Note that this する is a pro-verb to represent all verbs just like "do" in English.)

勉強する気はする。 To feel like studying, but to not do it.
料理する気がする。 To feel like cooking.

Look carefully

 

[Zuba]

Oh. I missed the other half. :facepalm:Thanks.

So it should be, 勉強する気はあるけど、しない。

 

[Toritoribe]

し is often used in the clause to indicate cause/reason, as I wrote, but it's not the only one usage of it. 朝ごはんも作ったし、家事もしたし、図書館にも行ったから疲れた is far more common for "reason/cause". The same goes to the sentence end or adjectives. 彼は優しいし、面白い。 is the most common. (What do you mean by 高しい, by the way?)

気がする has different meaning "to think/feel"; 彼は明日休む気がする I think he will be absent tomorrow.

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

Alright. I am buying the Genki text book right now! There are all these nuances and rules that my reasources just do not tell me. I am starting from scratch.

Thanks for all the help. It has really shown me that need to really study my grammar more and buy a proper text book.

I will probably be posting again, but about really basic stuff and work up from there. I have a basic understanding of most of the grammar I think I know so I should be able to re-learn it quickly.

I truly thank all of you for opening my eyes to this. :notworthy:

 

[Zuba]

こんにちは、皆さん。元気ですか。僕は元気です。

I am happy to report that I now have the Genki 1 text book as well as the workbook for it. My friend had it and he was not using it so he gave it to me.

I already think I know most of this grammar, but for the sake of doing it right, I will ask anyway. So first up is XはYです。 Noun X is Noun Y.

僕は給仕です。 I am a server.
先生は日本人です。 The teacher is Japanese.

Next is の. It connects nouns and basically attributes the noun it comes after to the one before it. Like the English ('s) to a certain extent.

これは僕のペンです。This is my pen.
僕の父の鞄は重いです。 My Dad's bag is heavy.

You just attach か to the end of a sentence to make it a question.

あの車はお母さんの車ですか。Is that car your Mom's car?

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, all correct. You can also say あれはお母さんの車ですか。 Is that your mom's car? or あの車はおかあさんのですか。 Is that car your mom's? for the last one since you don't need to say 車 twice. The second の in the second sentence is a pronoun, not the possession particle.

 

[Zuba]

ありがとうございます。

おはようございます、皆さん。元気ですか。僕は元気です。

Next up is も. It replaces the は and means "also". As in "Noun A is this. Noun B is also this."

僕は給仕です。僕の友達も給仕です。 I am a server. My friend is also a server.
この魚は美味しいです。あの魚も美味しいです。 This fish is delicious. That fish is also delicious.

Next is じゃありません ではありません. Both are the negative polite form of the copula. じゃありません is used in spoken Japanese while ではありません is more common in written Japanese.

これは僕のじゃありません。This is not mine.
あの建物は図書館ではありません。 That building is not a library. (Written form)

Next is よ and ね. ね Seeks the listener's confirmation about what is being said. Like the English "right?". よ adds force to a statement making it more authoritative.

その時計は僕のじゃありませんよ。
寿司は魚ですね。 Sushi is fish, right?

Now is verbs. The present form has the meaning of a action is done regularly or that the action will be done in the future. From what I gather how you tell apart the two meanings is based on context.

私は朝ごはんを食べます。I often eat breakfast or I will eat breakfast.
サムさんは明日英語の本を勉強します。 Sam will study the English book tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help! I am really liking the Genki textbook.

 

[Toritoribe]

All correct.
じゃありません is more likely colloquial, and ではありません is also used as spoken language in formal situations or polite conversations.

 

[Mike Cash]

I am really liking the Genki textbook.

You have no idea how refreshing it is to encounter someone who actually took the advice to use a proper textbook instead of digging their heels in and telling us what crap textbooks are and how textbooks don't work for them because they're such special snowflakes. (When really they're just too cheap to buy one and too undisciplined to use one).

I really admire your attitude and action on this.

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

こんにちは、皆さん。元気ですか。僕は元気です。

Thanks for the encouragement. Means a lot. :joyful:

I already know how to conjugate verbs to their polite negative form, but do they still share the same attributes as their present form cousins?

僕は勉強しません。 I will not study. Does it also have the meaning or "I do not study on a regular basis."?
私はあまり紅茶を飲みません。I do not drink black tea often.

Next is the particle を which just marks the direct object of a transitive noun.

サムさんは寿司をたべます。 Sam will eat sushi. Or Sam eats sushi or a regular basis.

Now comes に which marks the goal of movement verbs and marks the time a action occurs. One thing is that when に is used with time it is not used with words that are relevant to today, like tomorrow. It also is not used with regular interval words like "everyday."

私は午前十時にその鞄を買います。 I will buy that bag at 10 am.
毎日私はよく日本語を勉強します。 I study Japanese everyday.
母はスーパーに行きます。 My Mom will go to the supermarket. Or my Mom goes to the supermarket on a regular basis.

へ is next. It seems to function just like に for movement verbs.

さきさんは五時に学校へ来ます。 Saki is will come to school at five. One quick thing about くる is that it shows movement toward the speaker.

And finally we have で which shows the location where a action occurs.

私は公園で雑誌を読みません。 I will not read a magazine in the park.
家でゲームを遊びます。I play games at home. The "I" is inferred in this one.

Thanks for all the help! :notworthy: じゃ、また。

 

[Toritoribe]

I already know how to conjugate verbs to their polite negative form, but do they still share the same attributes as their present form cousins?

Yes, it's future or a present habitual action, as same as the present positive form.

家でゲームを遊びます。I play games at home.

"To play a game/games" is ゲームをする. Unlike "to play" in English, 遊ぶ is intransitive in Japanese, and the particle で is used for the verb 遊ぶ (i.e. ゲームで遊ぶ), not を. This で indicates the means or tool (e.g. 電車で通う, 鉛筆で書く). You will see this usage of で later in a chapter in the textbook.

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

おはようございます、皆さん。元気ですか。僕は元気です。

Next is ませんか which is used to extend a invitation to do X.

このゲームをしませんか。 Would you like to play this game?
今日スーパーで買いませんか。 Would you like to shop at the supermarket today?

Next is あります which can show the location a non-living things exists, to say you have a non-living thing, and to state certain events will take place.

ここに車があります。 There is a car here.
私は鉛筆がありました。 I had a pencil.
明日試験がありません。 Tomorrow there is not a test.

Now います. It shows the location living things exits.

図書館の中にゲンジさんがいます。 Genji is inside the library.

Now to show duration of a action you can use 時間 to say how long you did X. It comes right before the verb.

今日私は日本語を二時間勉強しました。 Today I studied Japanese for two hours.
昨日サムさんは六時間寝ませんでした。 Yesterday Sam did not sleep for six hours.

Now up is と. It can list nouns and shows with whom a actin is done.

この雑誌とその雑誌を買います。 I will buy this magazine and that one.
ごはんと刺身を食べました。 I ate the sashimi and the rice.
私はハンゾと本屋に行きます。Me and Hanzo will go to the book shop.

Next is も. It can also show that a second person also did X. It replaces は、が、を.
All other particles it seems to come after.

私はコンビニに行きます。I will go to the convience store.
ルさんもコンビニに行きます。 Ru will go to the convience store, too.
Can I combine this two senctences together to make it shorter?
私はルさんもコンビニに行きます。I will go the the convience store and so is Ru.
私はよく駅に行きます。I go to the station often.
かれはよく駅にも行きます。He goes to the station often, too.

じゃ、また。

 

[Toritoribe]

今日スーパーで買いませんか。 Would you like to shop at the supermarket today?

The object is necessary for 買う (e.g. 今日スーパーでリンゴを買いませんか。). 買い物（を）する is used for "to do shopping" instead.

私は鉛筆がありました。 I had a pencil.

ある is usually not used for things you have in your hands. It's more likely for properties, characteristics, thoughts or abilities.
e.g.
彼女には家がありません。
彼は影響力があります。
私にいい考えがあります。

私（に）は鉛筆がありました。 can be valid only in a specific context, for instance, comparing two or more people's possessions.
e.g.
彼にはペンがあって、私には鉛筆がありました。

図書館の中にゲンジさんがいます。 Genji is inside the library.

Isn't the name ケンジ Kenji ?

昨日サムさんは六時間寝ませんでした。 Yesterday Sam did not sleep for six hours.

It can have two different meanings; he slept but the length of the sleeping period was less than 6 hours or he was awake for 6 hours before going to bed .

私はハンゾと本屋に行きます。Me and Hanzo will go to the book shop.

Probably Hanzo represents Hanzō/Hanzou, i.e., ハンゾウ.

私はハンゾウと本屋に行きます。 means I will go to the book shop with Hanzō/Hanzou. 私とハンゾウは本屋に行きます。 is also valid, but you and he might go there separately in this case.

Can I combine this two senctences together to make it shorter?
私はルさんもコンビニに行きます。I will go the the convience store and so is Ru.

It should be 私もルーさんも.

 

[Zuba]

ありがとうございます。

Ok, so あります is mostly used to state you have non-tangible things.
One things is that in the textbook one example is テレビがありません。Is this correct?

いい考えがあります。 I have a good idea.

For も the things that are similar both must have the も。

私もハンゾウも郵便局ではがきを買いました。 Me and Hanzo both bought postcards at the post office.

For the names, both Hanzo and Genji, are from Overwatch.

 

[Toritoribe]

One things is that in the textbook one example is テレビがありません。Is this correct?

Yes, but it also can be considered to express the existence in home/room.
e.g.
うちには車がありません。
僕の部屋にはテレビがあります。

For も the things that are similar both must have the も。

私もハンゾウも郵便局ではがきを買いました。 Me and Hanzo both bought postcards at the post office.

私とハンゾウも is also valid. This is used in a context that there is another person/people who bought postcards as well.

For the names, both Hanzo and Genji, are from Overwatch.

Those names are taken from well-known (imaginary) historical persons (samurai /ninja or nobles). It's not so appropriate to use them as an example since those are quite rare names in these days.

 

[Zuba]

ありがとうございます。

I really want to dive into the nuances and ask you to explain them to me, but I am sure that my textbook will explain it in time. Also I think I should focus on my foundation of understanding the basic usages of the terms and not focusing on the subtle nuances. Plus I feel it is rude to you and other members to demand you to explain a full grammar write up when there are other members who need your help and time.

I truly thank you for helping me and recommending Genki. It really is great. :notworthy:

 

[Toritoribe]

I think I should focus on my foundation of understanding the basic usages of the terms and not focusing on the subtle nuances.

I, too, think so, but you don't need to hesitate to ask for explanations, especially for grammatical questions. I believe it would be helpful also for other learners who have the similar questions.

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

I just have one question about 私とハンゾウも. Here you said it has the nuance of others would also be involved. Are the "others" marked with は or are they inferred?

Also one random question. What do you think of when you read my name, Zuba? Does it have any meaning in Japanese. I just randomly thought it up.

 

[Toritoribe]

I just have one question about 私とハンゾウも. Here you said it has the nuance of others would also be involved. Are the "others" marked with は or are they inferred?

It's not just a nuance. 私もハンゾウも is talking about just two of them, but 私とハンゾウも clearly implies that the one the speaker talking to already knows that there is another person/people who bought postcards as well.
e.g.
彼女は昨日郵便局ではがきを買いました。私とハンゾウも郵便局ではがきを買いました。

Thus, it means "me and hanzou, as well", not "I bought it, and Hanzou, as well." So, I said "in a context".

Also one random question. What do you think of when you read my name, Zuba? Does it have any meaning in Japanese. I just randomly thought it up.

ズバッ is used as an onomatopoeia to express "unerringly" or "outspokenly", but your user name sounds just a foreign name to me.

 

[Zuba]

どうもありがとうございます。

Oh I get it. The も is adding the meaning of "also" to both Kim and Ru.

サムさんは図書館で勉強しました。キムさんとルーさんも図書館で勉強しました。 Sam studied at the library. Kim and Ru, also, studied at the library together. In this format you state person A does X and then you state that person B with person C also does X.
キムさんもルーさんも図書館で勉強しました。 Kim and Ru both studied at the library.

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, you got it!, but you need to pay attention that キムさんとルーさんも doesn't always mean "together". They might study separately. キムさんもルーさんと means they studied together. This と is "with" rather than "and". It's the same difference between 私とハンゾウは and 私はハンゾウと in this post.