Some more help needed

akai ken · 5 Mar 2007

I'm having some trouble with this.

If I wanted to say "My friend Mr. Tanaka is a teacher" i would say:

ともだちのたなかさんはせんせいです。

Am I correct?

But what if I want to say "Mr. Tanaka's friend is a teacher"?

Would it be OK to say it like this:

たなかさんのともだちはせんせいです。

If not, what would that mean? (If anything)

The7thSamurai · 5 Mar 2007

They're both correct. However, I think it might be better to say わたしのともだちのたなかさん for the first sentence. The only reason I say this is because all the example sentences that I've found using "tomodachi + no + friend's name" have had わたし or あなた before it. Someone else maybe be able to confirm whether or not this is needed though.

私の友達のボブを覚えてる？
watashi no tomodachi no Bobu wo oboeteru?
Do you remember my friend Bob?

僕の友達のロバートはいいやつなんだ
boku no tomodachi no Robaato ha ii yatsu nan da
My friend Robert is a good guy

Damicci · 6 Mar 2007

Couldn't you also leave the の particle out?

僕の友達田中さんは先生です。

For the second sentence I think ther eis only one way to say it.

ゆうださんのお父さんはいしゃです。
Mr Yuuda's father is a doctor.

gibbousmoon · 9 Mar 2007

Bucko said:
They're both correct. However, I think it might be better to say わたしのともだちのたなかさん for the first sentence. The only reason I say this is because all the example sentences that I've found using "tomodachi + no + friend's name" have had わたし or あなた before it. Someone else maybe be able to confirm whether or not this is needed though.

私の友達のボブを覚えてる？
watashi no tomodachi no Bobu wo oboeteru?
Do you remember my friend Bob?

僕の友達のロバートはいいやつなんだ
boku no tomodachi no Robaato ha ii yatsu nan da
My friend Robert is a good guy

It really depends on context. These sentences, coming out of the blue, need a topic attached to them. But if it is already understood that you are talking about "your friend Robert," it is perfectly acceptable merely to say, "ii yatsu nan da."

Some more help needed

akai ken

先輩

The7thSamurai

Master of the Universe

Damicci

先輩

gibbousmoon

先輩

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