Japanese Jungle

  21.  Describing Existence: "(Place) ni N ga Imasu" This structure pattern is used to indicate the existence of animate objects such as people and animals. "Imasu ( います )" is used when the animate object can move by itself. 屋根の上 に 鳥 がいます 。 Yane no ue ni tori ga imasu . There is a bird on the roof.   教室 に 学生 がいます 。 Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga imasu . There are students in the classroom. To ask about the existence of a person, we use the interrogative "dare （だれ） " (who), and for animals, we use "nani （なに） " (what). A: 教室に 誰 がいますか。 Kyōshitsu ni dare ga imasuka?   Who is in the classroom? B:  ( 教室に ) リーさんがいます。 (Kyōshitsu ni) Rī-san ga imasu. It's Lee in the classroom. A: あそこに 何 がいますか。 asoko ni nani ga imasuka? What is there? B: いぬがいます。 inu ga imasu. It's a dog. When talking about the existence of objects, there are two Japanese verbs equivalent to the English verb "be": "arimasu （あります） " and "imasu （います） ."...

  20.  Listing Items: "N1 ya N2 nado"  This structure pattern is used to list multiple items, including more than two. "Nado" is used at the end of the list to indicate that additional items are included. テーブルの上にカメラ や スマホ など があります。 Tēburu no ue ni kamera ya sumaho nado ga arimasu. There are a camera, a smartphone, et cetera, on the table. 私の家の前にスーパー や 銀行 など があります。 Uchi no mae ni sūpā ya ginkō nado ga arimasu. There are a supermarket, a bank, et cetera, in front of my house. In this context, "sumaho" is the abbreviation of "sumātohon," which is a loanword from English meaning "smartphone." In Japanese, "ya" is used similarly to "and" in English to connect the listed items. You can list more than three items using this structure pattern. 机の上にカメラ や スマホ や 腕時計 など があります。 Tsukue no ue ni kamera ya sumaho ya udedokē nado ga arimasu. There are items like a camera, a smartphone, a watch, and so on, on the desk.

  19. Describing Objects in Places: "(Place) ni N ga Arimasu"   This structure pattern is used to indicate the existence of a certain object at a specific place. The object is marked with " が (ga)," while the place is indicated with " に (ni)." Basic expressions to indicate place include " うえ (ue)on/ した (shita) under," " なか (naka)inside/ そと (soto) outside," " そば (soba) near," " まえ (mae)in front of/ うしろ (ushiro) behind," and " となりに (tonari) next to." テーブルの上 に コーヒー があります 。 (tēburu no ue ni kōhī ga arimasu .)  There is a cup of coffee on the table. A: かばんの中 に 本 がありますか 。 (kaban no naka ni hon ga arimasuka ? ) Is there a book in the bag? B: はい、 ( かばんの中に本が ) あります。 (hai, (kaban no naka ni hon ga) arimasu.)  Yes, there is a book in the bag. In case of a negative answer, " は (wa)" is used instead of  " が (ga)." A: 教室に新聞がありますか。 (kyōshitsu ni shinbun ga arimasuka ? ) Is there a newspaper in...

  18. koko/soko/asoko wa nan desuka?  This structure pattern is used to ask about the name or purpose of a place. A: ここは何ですか。 koko wa nan desuka ?  What is this place? B: ( ここは ) 自習室です。 (koko wa) jishūshitsu desu.  This is a study room. A: そこは何ですか 。 soko wa nan desuka ?  What is that place? B: ( そこは ) 図書館です。 (soko wa) toshokan desu.  This is a library. A: あそこは何ですか。 asoko wa nan desuka ?  What is that place over there? B:  ( あそこは ) 教室です。 (asoko wa) kyōshitsu desu.  That place (over there) is a classroom. " ここ (koko)/ そこ (soko)/ あそこ (asoko)" refers to the same place as " これ (kore)/ それ (sore)/are( あれ )." " ここ (koko)" indicates a place that is close to the speaker. " そこ (soko)" indicates a place close to the listener. " あそこ (asoko)" indicates a place far from both the speaker and listener. Instead of "koko/soko/asoko wa nan desu ka?", you can also say " この (kono)/ その (sono)/ あの (ano)+ Noun(place) wa nan desu ka?" t...

  17.  Including both N1 and N2 with "N1 も (mo) N2 も (mo)" The "N1 も N2 も " structure is used to talk about two people or things together. N1 and N2 must belong to the same category. オレンジ も リンゴ も 果物です。 orenji mo ringo mo kudamono desu.  Both oranges and apples are fruits. 中国 も 韓国 も アジアの国です。 chūgoku mo kankoku mo ajia no kuni desu.  Both China and Korea are Asian counties. This structure is also used to answer that neither of them is correct. Negative expressions are used at the end of the sentence. A: リンさんもウォンさんもタイの学生ですか？ Rin-san mo Ō-san mo tai no gakusē desuka?  Are both Ling and Wong Thai students? B: いいえ、リンさん も ウォンさん も タイの学生ではありません。 īe, Rin-san mo Ō-san mo tai no gakusē dewa arimasen. No, neither Ling nor Wong are Thai students. However, this structure cannot be used to answer that only one of them is correct. In that case, you need to change " も (mo)" into " は (wa)." A: リンさんもアナンさんもタイの学生ですか？ Rin-san mo Anan-san mo tai no gak...

  16.  Connecting Nouns with "N1 to N2" The " と (to)" particle in this structure pattern is used to link two words, N1 and N2, that are related in some way. リンさん と ウォンさんは中国語の学生です。 Rin-san to Ō-san wa chūgokugo no gakusē desu.  Ling and Wong are Chinese students. 日本語の本はこれ と これです。 Nihongo no hon wa kore to kore desu.  Japanese books are this one and this one. このクラスの先生は田中先生 と 木村先生 と 山田先生です。 Konokurasunosensē wa Tanaka-sensē to Kimura-sensē to Yamada-sensē desu. The teachers of this class are Ms Tanaka, Mr Kimura and Ms Yamada. Please note that the particle "to" in this structure pattern is not exactly the same as "and" in English. In Japanese, "to" is not used to connect two adjectives, verbs, or sentences. [Incorrect] メアリーさんはきれいとやさしいです。 Mearī-san wa kirei to yasashī desu.  Mary is beautiful and kind. 先週、（わたしは）東京へ行きましたとお寺を見物しました。 Senshū, (watashi wa) Tōkyō he ikimashita, to otera o kenbutsu shimashita. Last week, I went to...