Sunday, November 30, 2008

I. Formation of the -te form of -i adjective and desu

Changing LINKS
These kinds of the -te forms are different from those which are made with verbs.
They never precede kudasai.

A. -I adjective
The -te form of an -i adjective can be obtained by changing the final -i to -kute. For example, the -te form of atarashii is atarashikute, furui is furukute, etc., but the te form of ii "good" is yokute.

* Table of the -te form of -i adjectives *
Non-polite forms of -i adjective -Te form
muzukashii
yasashii muzukashikute
yasashikute



B. Desu
The -te form of desu is de, and this form occurs when either the base of a –na adjective or a noun precedes desu. For example, the -te form or shizuka desu is shizuka de, and that of gakusee desu is gakusee de, etc.



* Table of the -te form of desu *
Desu with -na adjective and noun -Te form
genki desu
hima desu
hon desu
kaze desu genki de
hima de
hon de
kaze de

III. Set phrase : Sumimasen

Changing LINKS
Sumimasen used to be used as a word of apology, but recently the range of usage of this phrase has become wider and is now used :
l. to attract attention as in the first line of Dialogue 7-1 ; and
2. to thank someone for his help as in the 13th line, Dialogue 7-3.

Example
A : Sumimasen.
"Excuse me."
B : Hai.
"Yes."
A : Kono basu wa Yagoto o toorimasu ka.
"Does this bus go through Yagoto?"
B : Hai, toorimasu.
"Yes, it does."
A : Soo desu ka. Doomo sumimasen deshita.
"I see. Thank you very much."

I. Set phrase : Onegaishimasu

Changing LINKS
A. 0negaishimasu is used to ask someone to do something, without stating clearly what he/she is asked to do, if the action to be taken is clear from the context or the situation.


Examples
1. Sakae made onegaishimasu. (to a taxi driver)
"Please take me to Sakae."
2. Denwabangoo o onegaishimasu. (to a person filling in a form)
"Please write your telephone number."
3. Clerk : lrasshaimase.
"Welcome!"
4. Customer : Onegaishimasu.
(handing the clerk money and a deposit bankbook)
"Please take care of this."

B. 0negaishimasu is also used to attract attention of clerks, cashiers,etc., before asking them to do something.

Example
A : Onegaishimasu.
"Excuse me."
B : Hai.
"Yes."
A : Kore o onegaishimasu.
"I'll take this one."
B : Hai,200 en desu.
"200 yen, please."