Questions about Pimsleur 2nd vs. 3rd

[bryceowen]

I was using the Pimsleur Quick and Simple Japanese CDs when I ran out of lessons, so I got a copy of the entire Japanese I set. Thing is, this one is evidently the second edition whereas what I was using was the third edition. No big deal, I thought, but the lessons are a bit different (different words taught at different times). I have a couple questions regarding proper use of words in situations. I'm inclined to believe the third edition is correct, but I don't want to discount the second edition completely.

Third edition says:
"I want to eat." = "Tabemasu."
"I don't want to eat." = "Tabemasen."
"I want to drink." = "Nomimasu."
"I don't want to drink." = "Nomimasen."
"I know." (as a reply to "Where is XXXX") = "Wakarimasu."

Second edition says:
"I want to eat." = "Tabetai desu." (Not sure on the spelling. No paperwork was included with the edition I bought from Amazon. Never buy a language course used.)
"I don't want to eat." = "Tabetaka arimasen." (Spelling?)
"I want to drink." = "Nomitai desu." (Again, spelling?)
"I don't want to drink." = Nomitaka arimasen."
"I know." = "Shite desu."

Which edition is right? Which versions of the above statements would I be more likely to encounter? Or, for those with experience with both editions, which should I go with, second or third?

Also, if anyone can correct my romanji spellings above, I'd be grateful. Whenever I learn a new word, I like to look it up to see how it is spelled and it's proper meaning.

 

[nice gaijin]

From what you've written, the third edition is completely wrong; those are just polite present/future tense conjugation (as in "I eat/I will eat" and "I don't eat/I will not eat")

The second part is polite, "I want to/don't want to" (romaji correction in red)

Second edition says:
"I want to eat." = "Tabetai desu."
"I don't want to eat." = "Tabetaku arimasen."
"I want to drink." = "Nomitai desu." (Again, spelling?)
"I don't want to drink." = Nomitaku arimasen."

for this structure, the verb is conjugated as an i-adjective, here's a few examples of how that conjugates, with polite endings in parentheses and examples in green.
I want to: verb stem+tai (desu). tabetai desu
I don't want to: verb stem+takunai (taku arimasen). tabetakunai/tabetaku arimasen
I wanted to: verb stem+takatta (desu). tabetakatta desu
I didn't want to: verb stem+takunakatta (desu). tabetakunakatta desu
~te form: verb stem+takute. tabetakute


wakarimasu is "I understand," shitteimasu is "I know" ("shite desu" is meaningless). My opinion of Pimsleur lowers every time I encounter it.

 

[bryceowen]

First, thank you for such a quick reply. And also for your corrections. As for the mis-spelling of shitteimasu, that would be my bad, because I have a hard time understanding the speakers and with no hard copy of what is being said, I have trouble following along.

So going by what you said, I'd be better off with the second edition rather than trying to find a third, right? Well, what I REALLY gathered from your post was that I'd be better off with a different method altogether. But the second would be better than the third, right?