Lesson 6 – Grammar Notes
This file contains grammar explanations for Minna no Nihongo Lesson 6, with Japanese examples (with spaces and furigana in parentheses) and English translations.
1. N + を + V (transitive)
(Transitive verb = Subject(optional) + Object + Verb)
- When a verb takes a direct object, the object is marked with the particle を.
Examples:
Note: The particle を is pronounced お.
2. N + を + します
(Do [noun])
- The verb します is used with nouns to express various actions. It has a wide range of uses.
Examples:
to 'play' sports or games:
to 'hold' gatherings:
to 'do' something:
3. 何(なに) + を + しますか
(What do you do?)
- This is used to ask what someone does.
Examples:
What will you do on Monday?
What did you do yesterday?
Note: You can make a word expressing time the topic by adding は.
📝
月曜日(げつようび) は 何(なに) を しますか。
On Monday what will you do?
4. なん and なに
(Two readings of 何)
- Both なん and なに mean "what."
1) なん is used in the following cases:
- (1) When it precedes a word whose first mora is either in the た、だ or な-row. [で、と and の if present]
た-row (た行)
た (ta)
ち (chi)
つ (tsu)
て (te)
と (to)
だ-row (だ行)
だ (da)
ぢ (ji)
づ (zu)
で (de)
ど (do)
な-row (な行)
な (na)
に (ni)
ぬ (nu)
ね (ne)
の (no)
🔑 Rule
なん
If 何 is followed by a word starting with た/だ/な-row
なに
Otherwise
Examples:
• なんですか (です → starts with で = だ-row)
• なんの本 (の → starts with の = な-row)
• なにをしますか (を doesn't belong to those rows)
- (2) When it is followed by a counter suffix or the like.
2) なに is used in all other cases.
Examples:
📝
寝(ね)る 前(まえ) に、何(なん) と 言(い)いますか。
What do you say before going to bed? (L. 21)
5. N(place) + で + V
(Do [verb] at [place])
- The particle で indicates the place where an action occurs when added after a noun denoting a place.
Examples:
📝
駅(えき) で 新聞(しんぶん) を 買(か)います。
I buy the newspaper at the station.
6. V + ませんか
(Won't you [verb]?)
- This expression is used to invite someone to do something.
Examples:
🎯
いっしょに 京都(きょうと) へ 行(い)きませんか。
Won't you come to Kyoto with us?
7. V + ましょう
(Let's [verb])
- This expression is used when a speaker is positively inviting the listener to do something with the speaker, and also when responding positively to an invitation.
Examples:
🎯
いっしょに 昼(ひる) ごはん を 食(た)べませんか。
Won't you have lunch with me?
Note: An invitation using V + ませんか shows more consideration to the listener's will than that using V + ましょう.
8. お～
(Polite prefix)
- The prefix お is attached to words regarding the listener or person being referred to to show respect (e.g., "[お] くに country").
- お is also attached to various other words when the speaker is speaking politely (e.g., "[お] さけ alcohol, [お] はなみ cherry-blossom viewing).
- Some words are usually used with お without meaning respect or politeness (e.g., おちゃ tea, おかね money).
Examples: