In this lesson, I will introduce how to describe "I want something" in Japanese, and you need to use ほしい.

この　とけい　が　ほしいです。

I want this watch.

この　とけい　は　ほしくないです。

I don't want this watch.

くるま　が　ほしいです。

I want a car.

くるま　は　ほしくないです。

I don't want a car.

いま　なに　が　ほしいです　か。

What do you want now?

あたらしい　じてんしゃ　が　ほしいです。

I want a new bike.

さとうさん　は　とけい　を　ほしがっています。

It seems like Mr. Sato wants a watch.

すずきさん　は　くるま　を　ほしがっています。

It seems like Mr. Suzuki wants a car.

References:

I want to do something

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/I-want-to-do-something-eod5r2

Verb Conjugation

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Verb-Conjugation-emv716

Present Tense Conjugation

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Present-Tense-Conjugation-en0a2r

Adjectives

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Adjectives-en9o8v

X likes Y / X dislikes Y

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/X-likes-Y--X-dislikes-Y-encubj

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

きのう　いちじかん　べんきょう　を　しました。

I studied for an hour yesterday.

* You simply put "じかん" after each number to describe "for ～ hours".

いっしゅうかん　ずっと　あめ　が　ふっています。

It has been raining for a week.

いっかげつ　しごと　を　やすみました。

I took leave from work for a month.

いちねん　とうきょう　で　はたらきました。

I worked in Tokyo for a year.

いちにち　に　さんかい　は　を　みがきます。

I brush my teeth three times a day.

*Period に Frequency

いっしゅうかん　に　いつか　がっこう　に　いきます。

I go to school five days a week.

いちにち　に　なんじかん　はたらきますか。

How many hours do you work a day?

はちじかん　ぐらい　はたらきます。

I work for about eight hours.

Reference:

Numbers in Japanese

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Numbers-in-Japanese-emj500

Particles "wo", "de", "ni", and "he"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Particles-wo--de--ni--and-he-en1dme

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

The functions of なら are "contrast" and "limitation".

さしみ　を　たべたことが　あります　か。

Have you ever eaten sashimi before?

すし　なら　たべたことが　あります。

I have never eaten sashimi, but I have eaten sushi.

にく　は　たべられます　か。

Can you eat meats?

とりにく　なら　たべられます。

I can eat chickens, but I can not eat other kind of meats.

おさけ　は　すきです　か。

Do you like alcohol?

ビール　なら　すきです。

I like beer, but I don't like the other kind of alcohol so much.

References:

How to describe your experience

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-describe-your-experience-eog5ti

Potential Verbs #1

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Potential-Verbs-1-eoqaoi

Potential Verbs #2

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Potential-Verbs-2-eorp21

Introduction of Question Sentences

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Introduction-of-Question-Sentences-emmh81

X likes Y / X dislikes Y

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/X-likes-Y--X-dislikes-Y-encubj

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will introduce you how to express the idea of "trying something" in Japanese.

You use the te-form of a verb plus the helping verb みる.

きのう　はじめて　すし　を　たべてみました。

I tried eating Sushi for the first time yesterday.

*たべて is a te-form of たべる, eat

*みました is past affirmative of the helping verb みる

わたし　も　この　えいが　を　みてみます。

I will also try watching this movie.

*みて is a te-form of みる, watch, look at, see

*みますis present affirmative of the helping verb みる

にほんじん　の　ともだち　に　にほんご　で　はなしてみました。

I tried talking to one of my Japanese friends in Japanese.

*はなして is a te-form of はなす, speak or talk

*みました is past affirmative of the helping verb みる

References:

Te-forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Te-forms-enfaqj

The Expressions of Te-forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/The-Expressions-of-Te-forms-engt2g

Noun A "no" Noun B

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Noun-A-no-Noun-B-emo577

Noun + "mo"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Noun--mo-ems3if

Describing the method using the particle "de"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Describing-the-method-using-the-particle-de-eo9egi

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will introduce you how to describe "it looks like" in Japanese.

You use そうです following adjective bases to guess what something is like based on your impression.

With い-adjectives, you drop the final い and add そうです.

ex) おいしい→おいしそうです　たのしい→たのしそうです　たかい→たかそうです

With な-adjectives, you drop な and add そうです

ex) げんき（な）→げんきそうです　じょうぶ（な）→じょうぶそうです　がんこ（な）→がんこそうです

The exception is an adjective いい, which means good.

いい changes to よさそうです.

この　たべもの　は　おいしいです。

This food is tasty.

この　たべもの　は　おいしそうです。

This food looks tasty.

この　たべもの　は　おいしくなさそうです。

This food does not look tasty.

この　とけい　は　たかくないです。

This watch is not expensive.

この　とけい　は　たかそうです。

This watch looks expensive.

この　とけい　は　たかくなさそうです。

This watch does not look expensive.

あの　ひと　は　げんきではないです。

That person is not fine.

あの　ひと　は　げんきそうです。

That person looks fine.

あの　ひと　は　げんきではなさそうです。

That person does not look fine.

この　いす　は　じょうぶではないです。

This chair is not durable.

この　いす　は　じょうぶそうです。

This chair looks durable.

この　いす　は　じょうぶではなさそうです。

This chair does not look durable.

この　とけい　のほうが　あの　とけい　より　よさそうです。

It looks like, this watch is better that that one.

これ　は　たのしそうな　えいが　です　ね。

It looks like, this is the interesting movie.

あの　ひと　は　おいしそうな　たべもの　を　たべていまｓ。

That person is eating some food which look tasty.

これ　たべる。

Do you eat this?

いや　まずそうだから　いいや。

No, I don't. It looks like, tastes bad.

References:

Adjectives

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Adjectives-en9o8v

Noun Modification Using Adjectives

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Noun-Modification-Using-Adjectives-enb76j

Comparison between Two Items

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Comparison-between-Two-Items-eo3tpc

How do you say "this thing" and "that one"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-do-you-say-this-thing-and-that-one-empojo

Progressive Form

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Progressive-Form-enjvbc

Sentence-ending particle "ne" and "yo"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Sentence-ending-particle-ne-and-yo-emureo

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

When you want to mention not only one reason but also two or more reasons, you can use the word し.

マクドナルド　の　ハンバーガー　は　やすいし　おいしいし　さいこうです。

Hamburgers at McDonald's are so good because they are cheap and tasty.

マクドナルド　の　ハンバーガー　は　やすいですし　おいしいですし　とても　すきです。

I like hamburgers at McDonald's so much because they are cheap and tasty.

この　まち　は　きれいだし　しずかだし　だいすきです。

I really like this town because it's beautiful and quiet.

この　まち　は　きれいですし　しずかですし　だいすきです。

I really like this town because it's beautiful and quiet.

あの　みせ　は　もう　いかない　な。

I wouldn't go to that restaurant again.

たかいし　まずいし　さいあくだった　から　ね。

Because it was expensive and bad taste, totally bad.

References:

Introduction to Plain Forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Introduction-to-Plain-Forms-enp0g3

Adjectives

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Adjectives-en9o8v

Sentence-ending particle "ne" and "yo"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Sentence-ending-particle-ne-and-yo-emureo

X likes Y / X dislikes Y

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/X-likes-Y--X-dislikes-Y-encubj

How to Explain the Reason by Using the Word "から"

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-Explain-the-Reason-by-Using-the-Word-enibdg

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will introduce you the way of describing ability or possibility using  verb dictionary form + ことができる.

わたし　は　にほんご　を　はなす　ことができます。

I can speak Japanese.

この　バナナ　は　くさっているので　たべる　ことができません。

Because this banana is rotten, it is not edible.

きのう　は　ねつ　が　あったので　がっこう　に　いく　ことができませんでした。

Because I had a fever yesterday, I wasn't able to go to school.

References:

Potential Verbs #1

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Potential-Verbs-1-eoqaoi

Potential Verbs #2

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Potential-Verbs-2-eorp21

How to explain the reason using ので

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-explain-the-reason-using-eons27

Result of a Change

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Result-of-a-Change-enlf3o

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will explain more about potential verbs.

Potential verbs themselves conjugate as regular Ru-verbs.

Ex) よめる(Potential verb of よむ, read)

Polite Forms:

-Present affirmative: よめます

-Present negative: よめません

-Past affirmative: よめました

-Past negative: よめませんでした

Plain Forms:

-Present affirmative: よめる

-Present negative: よめない

-Past affirmative: よめた

-Past negative: よめなかった

Te-forms:よめて

Ex) たべられる(Potential verb of たべる, eat)

Polite Forms:

-Present affirmative: たべられます

-Present negative: たべられません

-Past affirmative: たべられました

-Past negative: たべられませんでした

Plain Forms:

-Present affirmative: たべられる

-Present negative: たべられない

-Past affirmative: たべられた

-Past negative: たべられなかった

Te-forms:たべられて

わたし　は　にほんご　が　はなせます。

I can speak Japanese.

*はなせます is present affirmative in polite forms of はなせる, which is the potential verb of はなす, speak.

わたし　は　かんじ　が　よめません。

I cannot read Kanji.

*よめません is present negative in polite forms of よめる, which is the potential verb of よむ, read.

けが　を　しているので　うごけません。

Because I'm injured, I cannot move.

*うごけません is present negative in polite forms of うごける, which is the potential verb of うごく, move.

References:

Potential Verbs #1

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Potential-Verbs-1-eoqaoi

Verb Conjugation

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Verb-Conjugation-emv716

Introduction to Plain Forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Introduction-to-Plain-Forms-enp0g3

Te-forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Te-forms-enfaqj

How to explain the reason using ので

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-explain-the-reason-using-eons27

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will introduce you how to describe the ability of someone or possibility of something.

You need to know the potential verbs to describe the ability or possibility.

Conjugation patters of potential verbs are categorized by 3 groups of verbs, which are Ru-verbs, U-verbs, and irregular verbs.

Ru-Verbs: 

You need to drop the final る and add られる.

ex) たべる-たべられる/ みる-みられる

* In the spoken language, we often remove ら from られる. This is called ra-less forms and considered grammatically incorrect.

  However, it is getting more acceptable in reality.

ra-less forms: ex) たべる-たべれる/ みる-みれる

U-Verbs: 

You need to drop the last vowel "u" and add "e" "r" "u".

ex) よむ(yomu)-よめる(yomeru)/うごく(ugoku)-うごける(ugokeru)

Irregular Verbs:

くる-こられる/ する-できる

わたし　は　にほんご　が　はなせます。

I can speak Japanese.

わたし　は　かんじ　が　よめません。

I cannot read Kanji.

けが　を　しているので　うごけません。

Because I am injured, I cannot move.

References:

Verb Conjugation

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Verb-Conjugation-emv716

How to explain the reason using ので

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-explain-the-reason-using-eons27

Result of a Change

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Result-of-a-Change-enlf3o

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986

In this lesson, I will introduce you the expression for "You have to do something" or "You must do something" in Japanese.

You use なければいけません or なきゃいけません.

あした　は　はやく　おきなければいけません。

あした　は　はやく　おきなきゃいけません。

I have to get up early tomorrow.

きのう　は　はやく　おきなければいけませんでした。

きのう　は　はやく　おきなきゃいけませんでした。

I had to get up early yesterday.

きょう　は　ねつ　が　あるので　がっこう　を　やすまなければいけません。

きょう　は　ねつ　が　あるので　がっこう　を　やすまなきゃいけません。

Because I have a fever today, I have to be absent from school.

きのう　は　ねつ　が　あったので　がっこう　を　やすまなければいけませんでした。

きのう　は　ねつ　が　あったので　がっこう　を　やすまなきゃいけませんでした。

Because I had a fever yesterday, I had to be absent from school.

らいしゅう　は　かれし　と　デートなので　やせなければいけません。

らいしゅう　は　かれし　と　デートなので　やせなきゃいけません。

Because I have a date with my boyfriend next week, I have to lose some weight.

きょう　べんきょうしなきゃいけない。

きょう　べんきょうしなきゃ。

I have to study today.

きょう　カラオケ　いかない。

How about going to Karaoke today?

ごめん　きょう　は　べんきょうしなきゃ。

Sorry, I have to study today.

References:

Introduction to Plain Forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Introduction-to-Plain-Forms-enp0g3

Actual Conversations Using Plain Forms

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/Actual-Conversations-Using-Plain-Forms-enqrpc

How to explain the reason using ので

https://anchor.fm/yuya-sato/episodes/How-to-explain-the-reason-using-eons27

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yuyaman1986