Lesson 2: Useful Expressions

Read this page briefly and spend most of your time on drill exercise.

Basic Rules

The following rules are very simplified. Please note that there are some exceptions.

Word Order

Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.

Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.

I / Japanese / understand

The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be clearly known from the context.

(Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka?

Do (you) understand English?

Particles (joshi)

Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of that word.

For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and "ga" indicates that "Nihongo (Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu (understand)".

Particles
Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.	I understand Japanese.

Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular verbs.

When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like "Watashi, Nihongo, Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is correct.

Sentence Forms

You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays the same.

Affirmative

Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".

You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And the sentences with other verbs end with "masu".

Genki desu.	I am well.
Wakari masu.	I understand.

Negative

Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used more often in daily conversation.

Change "masu" into "masen".

Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.	I am not well.
Wakari masen.	I don't understand.

Question (Interrogative)

To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.

This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.

(O) Genki desuka?	Are you well?
Genki dewa (ja) arimasenka?	Aren't you well?
Wakari masuka?	Do you understand?
Wakari masenka?	Don't you understand?