Use of shiru

letslearn

先輩

11 Sep 2013

890

14

• 1 Apr 2014

• #1

こんにちはみんなさん、
If I wanted to say, "do you know the city of Manchester ?" Would "Manchesterの市を知っていますか" be ok?

よろしくお願いします

 

Jake Sams

後輩

5 Mar 2014

15

0

• 1 Apr 2014

• #2

Hi,

Yes that's correct.
Except it should be Manchester市 without の

This is how I first thought to translate it:
Could someone explain to me why this would be wrong?

- Manchester市が知りますか？

 

Last edited: 1 Apr 2014

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 1 Apr 2014

• #3

が indicates the subject (except when used with some specific verbs/adjectives).
知る is a punctual verb (瞬間動詞), so ～ている form expresses the current state that results from prior movements (got knowledge about the city in the past, and as a result know it now).
知りますか is future tense.
In conclusion, マンチェスター市が知りますか？ means "Will the city of Manchester know it?".

FYI, マンチェスターの市を知っていますか is usually interpreted as マンチェスターの市[いち], thus, this sentence means "Do you know a market in the city of Manchester?"

 

Jake Sams

後輩

5 Mar 2014

15

0

• 1 Apr 2014

• #4

Thanks a lot!

 

letslearn

先輩

11 Sep 2013

890

14

• 2 Apr 2014

• Thread starter
• #5

Thanks for your explanations.