Genki Chapter 7 Grammar

7.1.1 Types of verbs based on semantic characteristics

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Activities (動作動詞 - Dousa Doushi):

Activities verbs describe actions or activities that have a clear starting and ending point. These verbs are used to express actions that can be observed and completed.

• Examples: 食べる (taberu - to eat), 走る (hashiru - to run), 読む (yomu - to read).

Changes (変化動詞 - Henka Doushi):

Change verbs describe actions that result in a change of state or condition. They are used to express changes, transformations, or processes.

• Examples: 変わる (kawaru - to change), 始まる (hajimaru - to begin/start), 増える (fueru - to increase).

Continuous State (継続動詞 - Keizoku Doushi):

Continuous state verbs describe ongoing actions, states, or conditions. They are used to express actions that continue over time without a specific starting or ending point.

• Examples: 住む (sumu - to live/reside), 考える (kangaeru - to think), いる (iru - to be, exist).

7.1.2 Activities verb (動作動詞) + ている = Action in Progress

Usage: “~ている” is a grammatical construction in Japanese used to indicate that an action is in progress or ongoing. It is formed by conjugating verbs into their て-form (te-form) and adding “いる (iru).” This structure is equivalent to the English present continuous tense.

Examples:

• 彼は本を読んでいます。 - He is reading a book (action in progress).
• 私たちは映画を見ています。 - We are watching a movie (action in progress).
• 彼女は寝ている。 - She is sleeping (action in progress).

Note The helping verb ている conjugates as a ru-verb.

7.1.3 ~ています (~teimasu) - Describing What a Person Does (Occupation or Habit)

Usage: “~ています” is a grammatical structure in Japanese used to describe ongoing actions, habits, or professions. It is formed by conjugating verbs into their て-form (te-form) and adding “います (imasu).” This structure can be used to express both an individual’s occupation or what they are habitually doing.

Examples:

• 彼女は毎日日本語を勉強しています。 - She studies Japanese every day (habit).
• 彼女は毎日ジョギングをしています。 - She goes jogging every day (habit).
• 田中さんは教えています。 - Mr. Tanaka is teaching (occupation).
• 私たちはピアノを弾いています。 - We are playing the piano (habit).

7.2 Changes verbs (変化動詞) + ている (Result of a Change)

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Usage: “ている” (teiru) is a grammatical structure in Japanese used to indicate the result or state that remains after a change or action has taken place. It is formed by conjugating verbs into their て-form (te-form) and adding “いる (iru).” This structure emphasizes the ongoing state that resulted from a previous action or change.

Note The helping verb ている conjugates as a ru-verb.

Examples:

• 部屋は綺麗になっています。 (Heya wa kirei ni natteimasu.) - The room has become clean (and remains so).
• 彼は背が高くなっています。 (Kare wa se ga takaku natteimasu.) - He has become tall (and remains tall).

Note that verbs like 行く and 来る belong to the change class. Thus 行っている and 来てい る　indicate the result of prior movements, not movements that are currently in progress.

7.3 [Name]さん は [Body Part] が [Adjective] です

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Usage: This structure is used in Japanese to describe someone’s physical appearance or condition by highlighting a specific body part using the particle “が (ga).” It allows you to convey that a person has a certain physical characteristic or condition related to a particular body part.

Examples:

• 彼女は目が大きいです。 (Kanojo wa me ga ookii desu.) - She has big eyes.
• 田中さんは髪が黒いです。 (Tanaka-san wa kami ga kuroi desu.) - Mr. Tanaka has black hair.
• 子供は歯が白いです。 (Kodomo wa ha ga shiroi desu.) - The child has white teeth.

Idiomatic collocations:

• 背が高い is tall
• 背が低い is short
• 頭がいい is smart

7.4 Adjective/Noun Te-forms for Joining Sentences

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Usage: In Japanese, you can use the te-form of adjectives and nouns to join sentences or describe actions that occur in sequence. This te-form acts as a connector between two sentences or clauses.

Using the Te-form of Adjectives:

• To create the te-form of an i-adjective (adjective ending in -i), you replace the -i with -くて (kute).
  • Example: 早い (hayai) → 早くて (hayakute) - fast → and (fast)

Using the Te-form of Nouns:

• To create the te-form of a noun, you simply add で (de) after the noun.
  • Example: 学校 (gakkou) → 学校で (gakkou de) - school → at (the) school

Examples:

• 彼は元気で、スポーツが好きです。 (Kare wa genki de, supootsu ga suki desu.) - He is energetic and likes sports.
• 日本に行って、富士山を見ました。 (Nihon ni itte, Fujisan o mimashita.) - I went to Japan and saw Mount Fuji.

7.5 Verb Stem + に行く

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Usage: In Japanese, the grammar pattern “Verb Stem + に行く” is used to express the action of going somewhere in order to do the verb’s action. It indicates the purpose or destination of the action.

Construction:

1. Take the verb stem (the part of the verb before the -ます ending).
2. Add に行く (ni iku), which means “to go.”

Examples:

• 食べに行く (tabe ni iku) - To go (in order) to eat.
  • Example: 昼ご飯を食べに行きます。 (Hirugohan o tabe ni ikimasu.) - I’m going to have lunch (I’m going to eat).
• 買い物に行く (kaimono ni iku) - To go (in order) shopping.
  • Example: スーパーに買い物に行きます。 (Suupaa ni kaimono ni ikimasu.) - I’m going to the supermarket (I’m going shopping).
• 勉強に行く (benkyou ni iku) - To go (in order) to study.
  • Example: 図書館に勉強に行きます。 (Toshokan ni benkyou ni ikimasu.) - I’m going to the library (I’m going to study).

7.6 Counting People

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Usage: In Japanese, counting people or specifying the number of people is done using specific counters known as “人 (nin)” for people. Different counters are used depending on the context and the number of people you want to count. Here are some common ways to count people:

Examples:

1. 一人 (ひとり - hitori) - one person

   • Example: これは一人の学生です。 (Kore wa hitori no gakusei desu.) - This is one student.

2. 二人 (ふたり - futari) - two people

   • Example: 私と友達、二人で映画を見ました。 (Watashi to tomodachi, futari de eiga o mimashita.) - My friend and I watched a movie together.

3. 三人 (さんにん - sannin) - three people

   • Example: 会議に三人の社員が出席しました。 (Kaigi ni sannin no shain ga shusseki shimashita.) - Three employees attended the meeting.

4. 四人 (よにん - yonin) - four people

   • Example: 家族は四人です。 (Kazoku wa yonin desu.) - My family consists of four people.

5. 五人 (ごにん - gonin) - five people

   • Example: 五人の友達と旅行に行きます。 (Gonin no tomodachi to ryokou ni ikimasu.) - I’m going on a trip with five friends.

6. 多くの人々 (おおくのひとびと - ookuno hitobito) - many people

   • Example: このイベントには多くの人々が参加しました。 (Kono ibento ni wa ookuno hitobito ga sanka shimashita.) - Many people participated in this event.