Unit 5 - Notes
Unit 5: ざんねんですが (Zannen desu ga)
This unit focuses on expressing existence, quantity, and frequency, as well as listing items and indicating origins. The title phrase, 「ざんねんですが」, translates to "That's a shame, but..." or "Unfortunately...", and is a polite way to introduce disappointing news.
1. Existence: 〜がありますか (ga arimasu ka)
The verb あります (arimasu) is used to express the existence of inanimate objects (things, plants, ideas). It is the equivalent of "there is/are" or "to have".
Key Patterns:
- Statement (Positive): Noun +
が+ありますおかねがあります。(Okane ga arimasu.) - There is money. / I have money.
- Statement (Negative): Noun +
は/が+ありませんじかんがありません。(Jikan ga arimasen.) - There is no time. / I don't have time.
- Question: Noun +
は+ありますかナンプラーはありますか。(Nanpuraa wa arimasu ka?) - Do you have fish sauce?
Note on Particles が (ga) and は (wa):
が(ga) is used to introduce new information. It marks the subject of existence.「あ、ねこがいます！」(Ah, there's a cat!).は(wa) is used when the noun is the established topic of the sentence. It is most common in questions and negative statements.「ナンプラーはありますか。」(Speaking of fish sauce, do you have any?).
Example Dialogue:
| Role | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 客 (Kyaku) | すみません、しょうゆはありますか。 | Sumimasen, shouyu wa arimasu ka. | Excuse me, do you have soy sauce? |
| 店員 (Ten'in) | はい、あります。あちらです。 | Hai, arimasu. Achira desu. | Yes, we do. It's over there. |
| 客 (Kyaku) | ありがとうございます。 | Arigatou gozaimasu. | Thank you. |
2. Adverbs of Quantity and Frequency
These adverbs are placed before the verb to modify it. Some are used with positive verbs (〜ます), while others are strictly used with negative verbs (〜ません).
Adverbs for Positive Sentences
| Adverb | Reading | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| たくさん | takusan | a lot, many, much | みかんがたくさんあります。 (Mikan ga takusan arimasu.)There are a lot of oranges. |
| すこし | sukoshi | a little, a few | すこしわかります。 (Sukoshi wakarimasu.)I understand a little. |
| よく | yoku | often; well | よくここにきます。 (Yoku koko ni kimasu.)I often come here. |
| だいたい | daitai | mostly, approximately | しゅくだいはだいたいおわりました。 (Shukudai wa daitai owarimashita.)I have mostly finished the homework. |
Adverbs for Negative Sentences
Crucial Point: These adverbs MUST be used with a negative verb form like 〜ません (masen) or 〜ないです (nai desu).
| Adverb | Reading | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| あまり | amari | not much, not many | テレビをあまりみません。 (Terebi o amari mimasen.)I don't watch TV much. |
| ぜんぜん | zenzen | not at all | おかねがぜんぜんありません。 (Okane ga zenzen arimasen.)I don't have any money at all. |
Summary Chart
| Degree of Quantity/Frequency | For Positive Verbs (+) |
For Negative Verbs (-) |
|---|---|---|
| High (A lot / Often) | たくさん (takusan), よく (yoku) | |
| Medium (A little / Somewhat) | すこし (sukoshi), だいたい (daitai) | あまり (amari) |
| None (Not at all) | ぜんぜん (zenzen) |
3. Listing Nouns: Particles や (ya) and と (to)
Both や (ya) and と (to) can be translated as "and," but they have very different implications.
と (to) - The Exhaustive List
Use と when you are listing all the items. It is a complete, closed list.
Formula: Noun A + と + Noun B
- Example:
つくえのうえにペンとほんがあります。- (Tsukue no ue ni pen to hon ga arimasu.)
- There is a pen and a book on the desk.
- Implication: There is only a pen and a book on the desk, and nothing else significant.
や (ya) - The Non-Exhaustive List
Use や when you are giving examples from a larger list of items. It implies "and... among other things." It is often followed by など (nado), which means "and so on" or "etc."
Formula: Noun A + や + Noun B + (など)
- Example:
かばんのなかにほんやノートなどがあります。- (Kaban no naka ni hon ya nooto nado ga arimasu.)
- There are things like books and notebooks in the bag.
- Implication: There are books, notebooks, and probably other things too (like pens, a wallet, etc.).
Comparison
| Particle | Usage | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| と (to) | A complete, exhaustive list. "A and B." | These are the only items. |
| や (ya) | An incomplete, example list. "A and B, etc." | There are other items not mentioned. |
4. Particle から (kara) - "From"
から (kara) is a particle that marks a starting point or origin. This can be a point in time, a place, or a source.
1. Starting Point in Time
Indicates when an action or state begins.
-
かいぎは９じからです。 -
(Kaigi wa ku-ji kara desu.)
-
The meeting is from 9 o'clock.
-
がっこうはげつようびからきんようびまでです。 -
(Gakkou wa getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made desu.)
-
School is from Monday to Friday.
2. Origin of Place
Indicates where something or someone comes from.
-
わたしはアメリカからきました。 -
(Watashi wa Amerika kara kimashita.)
-
I came from America.
-
このてがみはちちからです。 -
(Kono tegami wa chichi kara desu.)
-
This letter is from my father.
3. Source of Material
Indicates the raw material something is made from.
ビールはむぎからつくります。- (Biiru wa mugi kara tsukurimasu.)
- Beer is made from barley.
Unit Vocabulary List
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ざんねん | zannen | unfortunate, a shame |
| ナンプラー | nanpuraa | fish sauce (nam pla) |
| あります | arimasu | to exist, to have (inanimate) |
| ありません | arimasen | negative form of arimasu |
| たくさん | takusan | a lot, many |
| すこし | sukoshi | a little, a few |
| あまり | amari | not much/many (+ negative) |
| ぜんぜん | zenzen | not at all (+ negative) |
| だいたい | daitai | mostly, approximately |
| よく | yoku | often, well |
| 〜や〜 | ~ya~ | and, etc. (incomplete list) |
| 〜と〜 | ~to~ | and (complete list) |
| 〜から | ~kara | from |
| しょうゆ | shouyu | soy sauce |
| おかね | okane | money |
| じかん | jikan | time |
| しゅくだい | shukudai | homework |
| みかん | mikan | mandarin orange |
| つくえ | tsukue | desk |
| かばん | kaban | bag |
| かいぎ | kaigi | meeting |
| てがみ | tegami | letter |
Integrated Practice Dialogue
AさんとBさんがスーパーで話をしています。(Mr./Ms. A and Mr./Ms. B are talking at a supermarket.)
Aさん: 「すみません、このスーパーには、パンやぎゅうにゅうなどがありますか。」
(Sumimasen, kono suupaa ni wa, pan ya gyuunyuu nado ga arimasu ka.)
"Excuse me, does this supermarket have things like bread and milk?"
Bさん: 「はい、たくさんあります。あちらです。」
(Hai, takusan arimasu. Achira desu.)
"Yes, we have a lot. It's over there."
Aさん: 「ありがとうございます。あのう、ワインもありますか。」
(Arigatou gozaimasu. Anou, wain mo arimasu ka.)
"Thank you. Um, do you also have wine?"
Bさん: 「ワインですか。すみません、ワインはあまりありません。すこしだけです。」
(Wain desu ka. Sumimasen, wain wa amari arimasen. Sukoshi dake desu.)
"Wine? I'm sorry, we don't have much wine. There is only a little."
Aさん: 「そうですか。にほんしゅは？」
(Sou desu ka. Nihonshu wa?)
"I see. What about sake?"
Bさん: 「ああ、にほんしゅはぜんぜんありません。ざんねんですが…」
(Aa, nihonshu wa zenzen arimasen. Zannen desu ga...)
"Ah, we don't have any sake at all. It's a shame, but..."