Lesson 5: I go to Japan

Using verbs that indicate movement:

• Ikimasu: Go (Leaving the current place to go elsewhere).

• Kimasu: Come (Coming to the place where the speaker is).

• Kaerimasu: Return (Returning to a place one belongs to, like home or country).

The particle 「e」 indicates direction.

Used to completely negate direction of movement. When using the particle 「mo」 for absolute negation, the particle 「e」 can be omitted.

The particle 「de」 indicates the means or method of transportation.

Note: In the case of walking, use the phrase 「aruite」 and do not include the particle 「de」.

The particle 「to」 is used to indicate the person (or animal) with whom the action is performed.

Note: If the action is performed alone, use the phrase 「hitori de」.

Used to specify when an action occurs.

• Past: ototoi (day before yesterday), kinou (yesterday), senshuu (last week), sengetsu (last month), kyonen (last year).

• Present: kyou (today), konshuu (this week), kongetsu (this month), kotoshi (this year).

• Future: ashita (tomorrow), asatte (day after tomorrow), raishuu (next week), raigetsu (next month), rainen (next year).

To ask about the month, use 「Nan-gatsu」.

Note special readings for months: April (shi-gatsu), July (shichi-gatsu), September (ku-gatsu).

To ask about the day, use 「Nan-nichi」.

Note special days:

• 1st to 10th: tsuitachi, futsuka, mikka, yokka, itsuka, muika, nanoka, youka, kokonoka, tooka.

• Others: 14th (juu-yokka), 20th (hatsuka), 24th (nijuu-yokka).

Interrogative word to ask about time. When using 「itsu」, we do not use the particle 「ni」 after it.

Used at the end of a sentence to provide new information to the listener or to strongly assert a viewpoint or fact.

Used when the speaker agrees with or expresses sympathy for the other person's opinion.