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Now compatible with Android phones and laptops. This
page provides links to 66 mp4 animations of various grammatical structures in
Japanese and 12 downloadable appendices. Become a
supporter! If
you are looking for specific patterns, download this
slightly improved index. |
Table
of Contents
Unit 1: Sentence types
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This
unit explains three basic types of sentences in Japanese: those ending in a
noun phrase and the copula, those ending in an adjective (and optionally the
copula), and those ending in a verb. |
Unit
2: Word order
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This
unit explains that the verb must appear last in a Japanese sentence. The
exact word order of noun phrases is not as important, so long as they appear
before the verb and are accompanied by correct particles. |
Unit
3: Simple noun phrases
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This
unit explains how to form simple noun phrases of the types [noun + no
+ head noun] and [adjective + head noun]. |
Unit
4: Spatial relations
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This
unit explains that spatial relations in Japanese are expressed with noun
phrases in the form of [reference point + no + relative position] as
in watashi-no ushiro
“behind me.” |
Unit
5: Adjectives
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This
unit first explains two types of adjectives: i-adjectives
and na-adjectives. In addition, it explains
the properties of adjective-like nouns that are somewhat difficult to
distinguish from na-adjecitves. |
Unit
6: Location particles
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This
unit explains the particles e, ni, de,
kara, and made. In addition, the
so-called “traversal” use of the particle o
is explained. |
Unit
7: Transitivity 1
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This
unit explains the proto-typical distinction between transitive and
intransitive verbs. Apparent exceptions to the principle are also explained. |
Unit
8: Particle wa
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This
unit explains that the main function of the particle wa
is to link related sentences into a coherent passage. |
Unit
9: Particle mo
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This
unit explains that the particle mo adds a
thing to a set of items that meet a certain condition. It also shows that the
function and the distribution of the particle mo
are very similar to those of the particle wa.
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Unit
10: Particles in communication
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This
unit shows that particles in Japanese are very useful in communication on
their own. |
Unit
11: Demonstrative pronouns
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This
unit explains how to use the demonstrative series ko-,
so-, a-, and do- in the concrete as well as abstract
domains. |
Unit
12: Counters
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This
unit contrasts two different methods of using numeral expressions containing
counters such as mai "sheet" and satsu "volume." In one, numeral
expressions are used to count items. In the other, numeral expressions are
used to characterize a specific group in terms of its size. |
Unit
13: Wh questions
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This
unit illustrates that Japanese wh questions
(questions containing counterparts of who, what, why,
etc.) are structured exactly like their answers and that this feature makes
it quite easy to construct and answer complex wh
questions in Japanese even though they may be difficult to translate into
English. |
Unit
14: Expressing change of state
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This
unit explains how to describe change of state. Specifically, the following
two types of patterns, the adjectival type and the nominal type constructions
are illustrated: ku-form of adjective + naru "become"; noun-ni
+ naru. |
Unit
15: Measuring and telling time
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This
unit explains how to use expressions like ichi-jikan
“one hour” and ichi-ji “one o’clock.” |
Unit
16: Verbs and noun phrases 1
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This
unit classifies verbs into categories on the basis of semantic
characteristics of their associated noun phrases. It also shows what
particles can go with what verbs. The verbs in this set are primarily
transitive, or take a target. |
Unit
17: Verbs and noun phrases 2
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This
unit continues with the task of classifying verbs on the basis of their
associated noun phrases. The verbs in this unit are mainly intransitive. |
Unit
18: Adverbs and modifiers of nouns
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This
unit explains that Japanese makes a sharp distinction between elements
modifying verbs and elements modifying nouns. |
Unit
19: Speech styles
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This
unit introduces the distinction between direct-style forms and polite forms.
The primary factor for this distinction is the nature of the audience. |
Unit
20: Verbal conjugations
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This
unit explains how to derive various conjugational forms of so-called one-step
verbs, five-step verbs, and irregular verbs. |
Unit
21: Cause and effect
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This
unit explains how to express cause-effect relationships. It clarifies that
the cause always precedes the effect in Japanese. |
Unit
22: Connecting sentences
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This
unit focuses on te-forms as a means of
connecting very closely related events. |
Unit
23: Continuative 1
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This
unit explains the basic use of the continuative construction [te-form + iru] in
the sense of progressive aspect. |
Unit
24: Directional verbs
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This
unit focuses on the use of kuru “come” and iku “go” as auxiliary verbs. |
Unit
25: Continuative 2
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This
unit explains the other meaning of the te
iru construction introduced in Unit 9, namely
the continuation of a resultant state. |
Unit
26: Describing clothing
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This
unit examines an application of the concept explained in Unit 10. It shows
how the resultant continuative construction is used to describe how a person
is dressed. |
Unit
27: Comparison of objects
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This
unit explains the pattern used for comparison. |
Unit
28: Combining particles
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This
unit explains how the particles wa, mo, and no are combined with other
particles. |
Unit
29: Expressions of desire
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This
unit compares the pattern for expressing one's desire for one's own action
and the pattern for expressing one's desire for other people's action. |
Unit
30: Probability
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This
unit explains sentence-final elements deshĂ´
“it is probably the case”
and kamo shirenai
“there is the possibility”
which mark the likelihood of an event. |
Unit
31: Temporal clauses with nagara
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This
unit explains how to use nagara. The
differences between nagara and its closest
English equivalent while are pointed out. |
Unit
32: Purpose phrases 1
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This
unit describes the purpose construction [location + ni/e
+ verbal stem + ni + verb of movement],
which is used in sentences such as umi-ni
oyogi-ni iku “I go to the beach for a swim.”
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Unit
33: Listing options
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This
unit explains how to give examples of things, actions, or events. The
expressions involved are ka, ya, toka, and tari. |
Unit
34: Elements appearing with negative endings
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This
unit explains constructions such as daremo
… nai “no one” and shika … nai “nothing but.” |
Unit
35: More on wh
expressions
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This
unit continues with the topic of the construction [wh
element + mo] and expands into the
construction [wh element + ka]. |
Unit
36: Tentative forms
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This
unit describes the constructions mashĂ´
and yĂ´, which roughly correspond to let's
in English. |
Unit
37: Complex noun phrases
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This
unit explains how to form and use Japanese counterparts of complex noun
phrases such as the cake that Mr. Kimura made and a woman who was
waiting for a bus. |
Unit
38: Nominalization 1
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This
unit explains how to form and use Japanese counterparts of constructions like
the bracketed parts below: |
Unit
39: N-desu
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This
unit explains the so-called “extended predicate” construction, n-desu
and its variations, which is used when making explanatory comments on
personal circumstances. |
Unit
40: Quoting statements and assertions
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This
unit explains how to quote statements or beliefs. |
Unit
41: Source of information 1
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In
Japanese, the “source of information”
is typically marked at the end of a sentence by a noun-like element.
Representative of this type of construction are: yĂ´
“evidence,” hazu “common understanding,” tsumori
“intention, belief,”
and sô “hearsay.”
This unit explains the first of these. |
Unit
42: Source of information 2
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This
unit continues with the topic of marking the source of information and
explains how to use hazu “common
understanding,” tsumori “intention, belief,” and sô
“hearsay.” |
Unit
43: Purpose phrases 2
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This
unit describes two more purpose constructions, [direct sentense
+ no-ni] and [direct sentence + tame-ni]. Differences between these constructions and the
other purpose construction studied in Unit 32 are also pointed out. |
Unit
44: SĂ´ vs. yĂ´
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This
unit contrasts two markers of source of information, sĂ´
and yĂ´, as seen in taka-sĂ´-da and takai yĂ´-da. It points out that sĂ´,
which takes a stem form, marks the judgment as more intuitive and immediate
than yĂ´, which takes a direct-style
sentence and marks the judgment as more objective and detached. |
Unit
45: Quoting requests
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This
unit explains that quoting requests indirectly requires a different pattern
from that for quoting statements. |
Unit
46: Comparison of events
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This
unit explains how to compare two events using yori
“than” and hô
“option.” The pattern is essentially the same
as the pattern described in Unit 27 for comparing two things, except that direct-style
sentences are used. |
Unit
47: Patterns of uncertainty
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This
unit contrasts the embedding of a question with ka
and the tara-conditional pattern, both of
which can be translated into English with if.
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Unit
48: Two more conditionals
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This
unit explains two more conditional patterns, the reba-conditional,
which is more hypothetical, and the to-conditional, which leads to an
inevitable consequence. |
Unit
49: Verbs of giving
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This
unit first explains the basic difference between two verbs corresponding to give.
Their auxiliary usage is explained next. |
Unit
50: Nominalization 2
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This
unit explains a number of constructions that contain the nominalizer koto. |
Unit
51: Tense
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This
unit explains that the tense (past or non-past) in the subordinate clause in
Japanese is determined relative to the main clause rather than to the point
where the speaker is. |
Unit
52: No and koto
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This
unit contrasts the pronominal and nominalizing functions of no and koto. |
Unit
53: Patterns of consequence
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This
unit summarizes a number of patterns involving te-forms
and those verbs that can be used as auxiliary verbs. Specifically, the verbs
described are ageru, kureru,
iru, kuru, iku, oku, aru, shimau, miru, and miseru.
In combination with a te-form, these verbs
indicate that the event or action has some consequence or impact to a
receiver, a destination, a future point, an observer, etc. |
Unit
54: Temo
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This
unit discusses the use of te-forms followed
by the particle mo. The basic meaning of this construction is that
different conditions lead to an identical consequence. |
Unit
55: Permission and prohibition
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This
unit describes the patterns for permission, exemption, prohibition, and
obligation, which are created by combining a positive or negative te-form with mo
ii (permissive attitude) or wa ikenai (restrictive attitude). |
Unit
56: Honorifics
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This
unit describes the system of honorifics in Japanese, beginning with honorific
kinship terms and ending with honorific verbs. |
Unit
57: Apologies and thanks
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This
unit describes the patterns for apologies and thanks consisting of a te-form and an expression of apology or
appreciation. |
Unit
58: Requests and commands
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This
unit describes various patterns for requests and commands from the more
polite type to the more brusque type. |
Unit
59: Passive
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This
unit first explains the contrast between active and passive sentences in
English. How to form passive sentences in Japanese is explained next. |
Unit
60: Adversity passive
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This
unit explains another type of passive construction known as “adversity” or “affective”
passive. This constuction utilizes the same passive
verb forms studied in Unit 59, but for a different effect. It indicates that
the subject is adversely affected by someone’s
action. |
Unit
61: Patterns of control 1
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This
unit explains the causative constructions in which the subject lets or forces
someone to do something. |
Unit
62: Patterns of control 2
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This
unit explains the te morau
construction, which is similar to that of the let causative. The
subject in this construction is grateful for the action performed by someone.
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Unit
63: Transitivity 2
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This
unit describes how to use pairs of closely related transitive and
intransitive verbs. The effect of using such intransitive verbs with the
resultant continuative construction te iru is also discussed. |
Unit
64: Te aru
and te iru
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This
unit discusses the differences between te
aru and te iru when paired with the type of intransitive verbs
studied in Unit 63. |
Unit
65: Male and female differences
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This
unit describes differences between male and female casual speech patterns
with the focus on the endings. |
Unit
66: Common errors
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This
unit illustrates a number of errors that a student of Japanese should avoid
(although we admit that teachers of Japanese love them). |
Appendices
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Download
the PowerPoint shows by right-clicking on the links. Units for which they may
be helpful are indicated in parentheses.
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