Verbs of receiving

[Sumiyoshi炭吉]

One of my Japanese reference books states that the verb もらう cannot be used when the giver is the first person ("I"). It also states that いただく is the humble expression of もらう and is used when someone receives something from a superior.

I checked another grammar book, and it states, "when the recipient is superior to the giver, use もらう."

So now I'm confused. How would I say "Did you receive the book that I sent?" (where "you" is superior to me). I think it's 私の出した本をもらいましたか,
but after reading the above, I'm not so sure.

 

[Mike Cash]

In the case of your example, the verbs of giving/receiving aren't quite appropriate. You need to use 届く （とどく） instead.

If it's any comfort to you.....grasping the use and social distinctions between all the giving/receiving verbs is one of the harder parts of Japanese. Yours isn't the first head that has banged against this wall.

 

[Sumiyoshi炭吉]

Thanks Mikecash. My dictionary says that 届く is an intransitive verb, so I'm guessing the my sentence should be something like 「（私の）出した本は届きましたか。」

こう正しいんですか。

 

[Mike Cash]

I'm guessing it probably should be "ga" instead of "ha" there, but I have no real confidence in my guess.

But basically that's it. The Japanese version asks about the books arriving, rather than about a person getting the books.

 

[Sumiyoshi炭吉]

I originally thought it would be が also, but I looked up 届く at Jim Breen's WWWJDC, and the example sentences showed が being used for most statements, and は for most questions.

Maybe が would be used in the question if I had sent many items, and I wanted to know specifically if it was the book that she received?

How's my reasoning on this?

 

[Mike Cash]

Trust me; I am the last person on the planet you want to ask about the difference between は and が.

 

[Elizabeth]

So now I'm confused. How would I say "Did you receive the book that I sent?" (where "you" is superior to me). I think it's 私の出した本をもらいましたか,
but after reading the above, I'm not so sure. :?

Are you looking for the verb arrive (届く), or received ?

Did you receive the book I sent is most clearly :

(出した)送った本を（は）受け取りましたか？(もらいました？)

 

[Elizabeth]

I originally thought it would be が also, but I looked up 届く at Jim Breen's WWWJDC, and the example sentences showed が being used for most statements, and は for most questions.

Maybe が would be used in the question if I had sent many items, and I wanted to know specifically if it was the book that she received?

How's my reasoning on this?

I've seen both が and は used for statements, the main difference being that が was used to set up a further discussion on the item and は was a simple acknowledgement (or typo?) that it had been received. I'll try to rack up a few more examples, although I think for sure が is a lot more common。
そのときによって使い方は、変わりますが。。。。

Of course, if you're really ambivalent, you can always just go with not making a choice at all.
(eg : チェック、今日届きました, 今日チェックをいただきました.)

And back to the original intent, a nice apology when something doesn't make it.... もし届いてなかったらごめんなさい。

 

[GaijinPunch]

Trust me; I am the last person on the planet you want to ask about the difference between は and が.

Sounds like a challenge, grasshopper.

 

[Mike Cash]

Are you looking for the verb arrive (届く), or received ?

Did you receive the book I sent is most clearly :

(出した)送った本を（は）受け取りましたか？(もらいました？)

Clear, perhaps. But not what is most common in actual usage.

 

[Elizabeth]

Clear, perhaps. But not what is most common in actual usage.

Certainly in English as well at least small packages are normally inquired about in verbs of 'delivered' and 'arrived,' not 'received' per se unless you're talking about email or something. But should the subject line or example of this thread be changed?

 

[Mike Cash]

Nah, the subject line shouldn't be changed. It would be better to get the thread back on the track of the giving and receiving verbs and off the tangent I started from his example sentence.