Sentence formation in Japanese
- Japanese is a SOV language
- English is a SVO language
↳ In SOV languages, verb is at the end of sentences.
What's a Verb?
↳ A verb is a word that in syntax conveys an action, an occurrence or a state of being.
↳ In other words, verbs are action words that describes what the subject is doing.
Eg:
Jimbo eats an apple |
Jimbo wa ringo tabemishita |
| ↳ Subject: Jimbo | ↳ Subject: Jimbo |
| ↳ Verb: Eats | ↳ Object: ringo(Apple) |
| ↳ Object: An apple | ↳ Verb: eats |
Desu - word
↳ desu is a copula. It connects the subject of the sentence with the predicate.
↳ The most basic structure is A is B
↳ Desu is used in the end of a sentence usually.
↳ Desu never comes in the end of sentences that have verbs ending in "masu"
Eg:
Tom wa ocha o nomimasu desu - Incorrect
Tom wa ocha o nomi masu - correct
↳ When speaking about the past, desu becomes deshita
Eg:
Tesuto wa kanta deshita - Exam was easy
Kino wa watashi no tanjobi - Yesterday was my birthday
↳ Levels of politeness in desu
- desu: basic polite form
- da: casual(friends and family)
- dearu: formally written(newspaper)
- de gozaimasu: most formal(Someone superior/important)
Alright. This is it for today.
Byeee!