In this chapter, you will learn how to make connections by relating facts and your thoughts in order to communicate coherently and effectively. You’ll learn to make connections in a number of ways, such as stating what you think, sharing experiences, and using conjunctions.
omoimasuHere you will learn how to use the quotation particle 
to to express what you think. You will also learn how to create ta forms of verbs and adjectives, which you need to use to express past events in this construction.
toAt the end of a statement, you can add that’s what I think by using the verb 
omou (think) along with the particle to. to marks what is being quoted and can be used when the main verb is 
kikimashita (I heard) or 
iimashita (I said) or 
omoimasu (I think). For example:
Ani wa s
gaku wa kantan da to iimashita.
My older brother said that math is easy.
Watashi wa J
ji-san wa Igirisu ni kaetta to kikimashita.
I heard that George returned to England.
Watashi wa kono hon wa yasui to omoimasu.
I think this book is cheap.
For stating a third person’s thinking, use 
omotte imasu instead of 
omoimasu. For example:
Chichi wa watashi wa atama ga yokunai to omotte imasu.
My father thinks that I am not smart.
Before the quotation particle to, the verbs and adjectives need to be in the plain form unless they are a part of a direct quote. The plain past affirmative forms are also called ta forms because they all end in 
ta (or sometimes 
da). The ta form of a verb is very easy to make if you already know a te form: Just change the vowel e at the end of the te form to a. For example, the te form of 
taberu (eat) is 
tabete, and its ta form is 
tabeta. Similarly, the te form of 
nomu (drink) is 
nonde, and its ta form is 
nonda. (See Chapter 5 for how to make the te form.)
The plain forms of verbs and adjectives, both non-past and past, both affirmative and negative, are summarized in the following table. To create a form, check the category or class of the item and follow the pattern of one of the items in this table:
Convert the following verbs and adjectives in the polite form into the plain form.
1. 
ikimasu will go _________________
2. 
nomimashita drank ____________
3. 
tabemasendeshita didn’t eat ____________
4. 
takakatta desu was expensive______________
5. 
kirei deshita was pretty _________________
6. 
sushi ja arimasendeshita wasn’t sushi ___________
Convert the following verbs and adjectives from the polite form into the plain form. These verbs and adjectives are slightly complex because they include auxiliary verbs or suffixes.
1. 
nonde imashita was drinking ______________
2. 
nomemasen is not able to drink __________
3. 
yomi-tai desu want to read _________
4. 
tabe-sugimashita ate too much _________
5. 
kite mimasu will try it on ______________
Translate the following sentences into Japanese.
1. I think Japanese is easy.
2. I think I cannot write kanji. (I don’t think I can write kanji.)
3. I think this sweater is too big.
4. I think the food at that restaurant was delicious.
5. My mother thinks this dress is too expensive.
More than just adjectives can modify nouns in Japanese. You can use a noun to modify a noun with the help of the particle 
no. You can use a verb to modify a noun if it is in the plain form and placed before the noun. You can even modify a noun by using a sentence that ends in a verb in the plain form.
For example, in the following sentence, the noun 
eiga (movie) is modified by a sentence marked by a pair of brackets, which means I watched (the movie) yesterday in the plain form:
[Kin
The movie I watched yesterday was interesting.
This sentence, marked by a pair of brackets, does not actually say the movie. When you use a sentence with a gap like this before a noun with which the gap should be filled, we call it a relative clause. So, it’s very useful to know plain forms even if you are speaking in a polite context.
Reorder the items in each of the following sets to form a grammatical sentence.
1. 
otoko no hito wa the man (topic marker), 
kita came, 
Nihonjin deshita was Japanese, 
kin yesterday
2. 
oishikatta desu was delicious, 
haha ga my mother (subject marker), 
tenpura tempura, 
tsukutta made, 
wa (topic marker)
3. 
Tanaka-san Mr. Tanaka, 
kin yesterday, 
yfuku o clothing (direct object marker), 
ky mo today also, 
wa (topic marker), 
kite ita (was wearing), 
kite imasu (am wearing)
Translate the following sentences into Japanese.
1. The person who is drinking coffee over there is my friend.
2. The car I bought last year is not good.
3. That dog is the dog I saw in the park last week.
n desu for making connections in conversationWhat you say in conversation is usually related to what was said or what you would like the other person to respond to. Otherwise, your speech will be disconnected from the context and your conversation partner will not fully understand why you are saying things you are saying. It is as if there is a hidden string that connects all utterances made by you and your conversation partner. To make such a tie stronger, the Japanese often end their sentences with 
… n desu in conversation. It may be to show that a statement is a part of the explanation to the previous utterance, implying That’s why, or it may be to elicit the conversation partner’s response, implying What do you think? Any comment?
So, 
n desu is a discourse tool for Japanese. It is actually the reduced form of 
no desu. It cannot be translated into English. It follows verbs and adjectives in the plain form except that the non-past affirmative copular verb 
da must be realized as 
na. For example, to mean that you hate composition, if you say 
Watashi wa sakubun ga kirai na n desu instead of 
Watashi wa sakubun ga kirai desu, you can avoid sounding like a robot or sounding very blunt and harsh, and your conversation partner will naturally feel like responding to you with his/her comments and thoughts. Similarly, consider a scenario where your friend just saw you carrying a suitcase and appeared to be puzzled about it. Even before she asks you, you can say 
Hawai ni iku n desu (I’m going to Hawaii.). Then your friend will know that you are trying to explain rather than abruptly making a statement. Therefore, there is no need to use n desu when you are writing or when you are giving a speech in front of an audience. It is a conversation tool that help conversation participants make connections.
Rephrase the following sentences using n desu.
1. 
Raigetsu kekkon shimasu.
I’ll get married next month.
2. 
O-kane ga arimasen.
I don’t have money.
3. 
Kaisha o yamemashita.
I quit the company.
4. 
Watashi no chichi wa kankoku-jin desu.
My father is a Korean.
Next you will learn how to ask for a reason and how to state a reason. You’ll also learn how to talk about possible reasons for studying Japanese.
dōshiteTo ask for a reason, say 
dshite, state the fact for which you are asking for the reason (in the plain form), and add 
n desu ka at the end. Because you are using 
n desu, discussed in the previous section, make sure to change the non-past affirmative copula da to 
na. For example:
D
Why do you hate Mr. Tanaka?
nande also means why, but it is slightly informal and can also mean by what and so it can be ambiguous. 
naze also means why, but it is most appropriate for written form.
kara desuTo answer a question with 
dshite (why), you can state the reason in the plain form and add 
kara desu at the end. For example:
A: 
Dshite Tanaka-san ga kirai na n desu ka.
Why do you hate Mr. Tanaka?
B: 
Tanaka-san wa usotsuki da kara desu.
Because Mr. Tanaka is a liar.
If you are studying Japanese, you will often be asked why you are doing so. The following are common reasons for studying Japanese:
Following the example, create a question that asks the reason for each statement.
1. 
Hoteru o kyanseru shimashita.
I cancelled the hotel (reservation).
2. 
Kaigi ni demasen.
I will not attend the conference.
3. 
Yamada-san no kuruma o kaimasendeshita.
I did not buy Ms. Yamada’s car.
4. 
Kankokugo o benky shite imasu.
I’m studying Korean.
Following the example, create a sentence that causes the statement given to serve as a reason.
1. 
Kanji ga muzukashii desu.
Kanji are hard.
2. 
O-kane ga arimasen.
I don’t have money.
3. 
Totemo takakatta desu.
It was very expensive.
4. 
Amari kirei ja arimasendeshita.
It was not very pretty.
Answer the following question in Japanese, based on your personal situation.
Dshite Nihongo o benky shite iru n desu ka.
Why are you studying Japanese?
Here you will learn how to talk about experiences. You’ll learn the form you need to use as well as some words and phrases that will help you talk about your experiences.
koto ga arimasuIn order to express what experience you have, don’t use a simple past sentence, but instead use 
koto ga arimasu. Arimasu (to exist, to have) is in the non-past tense because you have the experience now. 
koto is an abstract noun that means thing, occasion, matter, etc. So, what you are literally saying is I have the occasion of completing such and such. Importantly, the verb before koto must be in the ta form (the plain past tense). For example:
Watashi wa natt o tabeta koto ga arimasu. Demo, umeboshi o tabeta koto wa arimasen.
I have had fermented soybeans. However, I have never had pickled plum.
The following are the words for some experiences you might want to talk about:
kai (… times)To say once, twice, three times, etc., use the counter 
kai. For example:
Nihon ni wa san-kai itta koto ga arimasu.
I’ve been to Japan three times.
The following table shows how to read this counter with numerals:
Translate the following sentences into Japanese.
1. Have you ever been to Japan?
2. Have you ever lost your credit card before?
3. Have you ever been in a helicopter?
4. Have you watched Hayao Miyazaki’s anime?
Answer the questions from Exercise 8-10 in Japanese.
1. __________________________
2. __________________________
3. __________________________
4. __________________________
Read the following dialog between Justin and Mike and translate the underlined parts.
Next you will learn how to express probability. You will also learn words related to weather and how to talk about weather forecasting.
deshōWhen you think something is probably the case, make a statement in the plain form and add 
desh at the end. Remember to drop the non-past affirmative copula da. For example:
Ashita wa yuki desh.
It will probably snow a lot tomorrow.
The following words and phrases will help you talk about weather:
Translate the following sentences into English.
1. 
Ky wa ichinichi kumori desh.
2. 
Ashita no gogo wa ame ga furu desh.
3. 
Ashita no ban wa yuki ga furu desh.
4. 
Shmatsu wa hareru desh.
Here you will learn how to talk about possibilities. You will also learn vocabulary words related to sickness and how to talk about symptoms and diagnoses.
kamoshiremasenWhen you think something is possibly the case, make a statement in the plain form and add 
kamoshiremasen (It is possible that …) at the end. Just remember to drop the non-past affirmative copula da. For example:
Kaze kamoshiremasen.
It may be a cold.
Netsu ga aru kamoshiremasen.
I may have a fever.
Shigoto ni ikenai kamoshiremasen.
I may not be able to go to work.
In case you need to go see a doctor in Japan, learn the following words and phrases:
The following are words for common illnesses and injuries:
Complete each of the following sentences with the appropriate word.
1. 
Hanamizu ga ___________ masu.
I have a runny nose.
2. 
Netsu ga ______________ masu.
I have a fever.
3. ______________ 
________ ga demasu.
I cough.
4. 
Atama ga ___________ desu.
I have a headache.
Read the following dialog between a patient and a doctor and answer the questions that follow.
1. Does the patient have a fever? _______________
2. Does he have a cough? _____________________
3. Does he have a sore throat? __________________
4. What is the doctor’s conclusion? _______________
You can list actions and states in one sentence by using the te form. The te form does not bear tense, so it cannot complete a sentence, but includes the meaning and, so it has to be followed by another instance of a verb or an adjective, which might bear tense. The last verb or adjective in the sentence should not be in the te form but should appear in the regular form, bearing a tense. Depending on the context, te forms can list temporally ordered actions, additional properties, and cause-effect relationships.
To form a te form of an adjective, add 
kute to the stem of an i adjectives or 
de to the stem of a na adjective. The te form of the adjective 
ii is 
yokute. To form the negative te forms, just replace kute or de in their affirmative te forms with 
ku nakute or 
ja nakute.
Chapter 5 explains how to form a te form of a verb. The representative forms of all of the te forms are listed in the following table:
Verbs have two kinds of negative te forms: … 
nakute and … 
naide. Use … nakute only if it creates a cause-effect relationship.
Kodomo ga gohan o tabenakute komatte imasu.
My child does not eat meals and (so) I’m troubled.
Asa-gohan o tabenai de kurasu ni ikimashita.
I did not eat breakfast, and then I went to class. (I went to class without eating breakfast.)
Connect the words in each set by using the te form.
1. 
kin yesterday, 
terebi o miru to watch TV, 
shukudai o suru to do homework, 
neru to sleep
2. 
ashita tomorrow, 
sji o suru to clean, 
kaimono o suru to go shopping, 
ryri o suru to cook
3. 
Maiku-san Mike, 
atama ga ii to be smart, 
yasashii to be kind, 
kakko ii to be good-looking
4. 
Mear
-san Mary, 
kirei da to be pretty, 
atama ga ii to be smart
5. 
kono resutoran no sushi this restaurant’s sushi, 
takaku nai not to be expensive, 
oishii to be delicious
For each of the following, choose the correct answer from the options in parentheses.
1. 
Amari kirei (ja nakute, ku nakute) yoku arimasen.
It’s not pretty, and it’s not good.
2. 
Shaw
o (abinai de, abinakute) gakk ni ikimashita.
I went to school without taking a shower.
3. 
Tanaka-san ga (konai de, konakute) komarimashita.
Mr. Tanaka did not come, so I was in trouble.
4. 
Koko de tabako o (suwanai de, suwanakute) kudasai.
Please do not smoke here.
5. 
Kin wa hayaku (okirarenakute, okirarenai de), kurasu ni okuremashita.
I could not wake up early and was late for class.
(… 
ni okureru means to be late for …)
Translate the following sentences into Japanese using te forms.
1. Please ask me and then buy (it).
(
watashi ni kiku means to ask me)
2. Don’t eat without washing your hands.
3. I took medicine because I had a headache.
(
kusuri o nomu means to take medicine)
ga and 
karaHere you’ll learn about two conjunctions: 
ga and 
kara.
gaTo express two contrasting or conflicting events or states in the same sentence, use the conjunction particle ga. For example:
Takai desu ga kaimasu.
It’s expensive, but I’ll buy it.
Kore wa takai desu ga are wa yasui desu.
This one is expensive, but that one is cheap.
Interestingly, ga can also simply connect two sentences when there is a logical transition, even if there is no conflict or contrast. For example:
Sat
My name is Sato. Could I see the president of your company?
Kore wa Nihon de katta n desu ga totemo benri desu yo.
I bought this in Japan and it is very convenient!
Kore wa owarimashita ga tsugi wa nani o shimash
I finished this one. What shall I do next?
When you use ga, make sure to use the same form for the predicate in the ga clause and the predicate in the main clause: both plain forms or both polite forms.
karaThe clause conjunction particle kara can create a reason clause, as shown here:
Takai desu kara uremasen.
It’s expensive, so it does not sell well.
Takai desu kara kawanai de kudasai.
Because it is expensive, please do not buy it.
It is better to use the same form for the predicate in the kara clause and the predicate in the main clause: both plain forms or both polite forms.
Combine each pair of sentences into a single sentence.
1. 
Oishiku arimasendeshita. Demo tabemashita.
It was not delicious. However, I ate it.
2. 
Mika-san wa kirei desu. Demo ijiwaru desu.
Mika is pretty. However, she is mean.
3. 
Nihongo no shiken o uke-tai n desu. D omoimasu ka.
I want to take a Japanese exam. What do you think?
4. 3 
San-ky wa muzukashii desu. Desu kara yon-ky o ukeru tsumori desu.
Level 3 is hard. Therefore, I plan to take Level 4.
5. 
Ashita uchi ni Tanaka-san ga kimasu. Yamada-san mo kimasen ka.
Mr. Tanaka will come to my house tomorrow. Would you like to come, too, Ms. Yamada?
