q Sentences are Important
q Example Sentences
q Words to Learn
Sentences are Important
A lot of you have been waiting for this one! You've learned quite a few words,
and quite a few articles of grammar. Now you're wondering how to use them in
your own sentences.
When learning Japanese (or any language), it is very important to read 100's of
example sentences. This is so that you can get a feel for exactly how the words
and bits of grammar are put together. You then get a feel for how to make your
own sentences. Beleive it or not, it IS possible for an English speaker to get a
"feel" for whether or not a Japanese sentence sounds right. Just like English
speakers have an "ear" for good English, you will also acquire an "ear" for
Japanese. It will take a while, but it will happen for sure if you keep moving
toward that goal.
When you begin learning all the grammar, there are always a ton of questions in
the back (or front) of your mind:
"Would I use this word for this sentence?"
"What if I want to say..."
"...does that sound right?"
You won't be able to answer those questions yourself until you become familiar
with Japanese . A lot of this type of knowledge can be acquired by reading tons
of actual Japanese sentences. Seeing the various words and grammar pieces used
together gives you an idea of how they are used. Many sentences have a lot in
common, which you come to realize.
Examples
X wa Y desu.
X is Y.
X wa Y ni iru.
X is in the Y.
X no Y ni wa Z ga aru.
There is a Z in X's Y.
If you replace the X's and Y's with actual nouns (or even names), the sentences
