Nihongo Nihongo
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 6 Grammar
1. N を V (transitive)
を is used to indicate the direct object of a transitive verb.
ジュースを 飲みます。 I drink juice.
[Note] を and お are pronounced the same. The former is used only in writing the particle.2.N を します
The words used as the objects of the verb します cover a fairly wide range. します means that the action denoted by the noun is performed. Some examples are shown below.
- To “play” sports or games
サッカーを します。 Play football
- To “hold” gatherings
会議を します。 Hold a meeting
- To “do” something
宿題を します。 Do homework
3. 何を しますか
This is a question to ask what someone does.
月曜日 何を しますか。 What will you do on Monday?
… 東京へ いきます。 … I’ll go to Tokyo.
きのう 何を しましたか。 What did you do yesterday?
… サッカーを しました。 … I played football.
[Note] You can make a word expressing time the topic by adding は.月曜日は 何を しますか。 On Monday what will you do?
… 京都へ 行きます。 … I’ll go to Kyoto.
4. なん and なに
Both なん and なに mean “what”.
a) なん is used in the following cases.
* When it precedes a word whose first mora is either in the た, だ, な
それは何ですか。 What is that?
何の本ですか。 What is the book about?
寝るまえに、何と言いますか？
What do you say before going to bed? (L.21)
* When it is followed by a counter suffix or the like.
テレサちゃんは 何歳 (なんさい)ですか。
How old is Teresa?
b) なに is used in all other cases.
何を買いますか。 What will you buy?
5. N (place) で V
When added after a noun denoting a place, で indicates the place where an action occurs.
駅で 新聞を買います。 I buy the newspaper at the station.
6. V ません
When you want to invite someone to do something, this expression is used.
いっしょに 京都へ 行きませんか。
… ええ、いいですね。
Won’t you come to Kyoto with us?
… That’s a nice ideal.
7. V ましょう
This expression is used when a speaker is positively inviting the listener to do something with the speaker. It is also used when responding positively to an invitation.
ちょっと休みましょう。 Let’s have a break.
いっしょに ひるごはんを たべませんか。 Won’t you have lunch with me?
… ええ、食べましょう。 … Yes, let’s go and eat.
[Note] An invitation using V ません shows more consideration to the listener’s will than that using V ましょう.8. お…
You learned in Lesson 3 that the prefix お is attached to words regarding the listener or the person being referred to show respect (e.g., [お] くに country).
お is also attached to various other words when the speaker is speaking politely (eg., [お] さけ alcohol, [お] はなみ cherry-blossom viewing).
There are some words that are usually used with お without meaning respect or politeness (おちゃ tea, おかね money).
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