Unit5 - Subjective Questions

「あ り ま す か」 (arimasu ka) is the interrogative form of the verb 「あ り ま す」 (arimasu), which means "to exist" or "to have" for inanimate objects. It is commonly used to ask:

• "Do you have...?" (referring to an item)
• "Is there...?" (referring to the existence of an inanimate object or a place)

Example Sentence:

• Q: 「お 金 が あ り ま す か。」 (okane ga arimasu ka.)
  • Translation: "Do you have money?" or "Is there money?"
• A: 「はい、あ り ま す。」 (Hai, arimasu.)
  • Translation: "Yes, there is." / "Yes, I have."

Both 「す こ し」 (sukoshi) and 「た く さ ん」 (takusan) are adverbs that indicate quantity or amount, but they express opposite ends of the spectrum.

• 「す こ し」 (sukoshi): Means "a little," "a few," or "a small amount." It suggests a limited or modest quantity.

  • Example: 「水 が す こ し あ り ま す。」 (Mizu ga sukoshi arimasu.)
    • Translation: "There is a little water."

• 「た く さ ん」 (takusan): Means "many," "a lot," or "a large amount." It suggests an abundant or significant quantity.

  • Example: 「本 が た く さ ん あ り ま す。」 (Hon ga takusan arimasu.)
    • Translation: "There are many books."

「あ ま り」 (amari) is an adverb that means "not much," "not very," or "not often." It is almost exclusively used with negative verb forms or negative adjective forms.

• Grammatical Structure: 「あ ま り」 + [Negative Verb/Adjective]
• Conveyance: It softens a negative statement, indicating that something is not done much, not very, or not to a great extent.

Example Sentences:

• 「私 は あ ま り テ ニ ス を し ま せ ん。」 (Watashi wa amari tenisu o shimasen.)
  • Translation: "I don't play tennis much."
• 「こ の 本 は あ ま り 面 白 く な い で す。」 (Kono hon wa amari omoshirokunai desu.)
  • Translation: "This book is not very interesting."

「ぜ ん ぜ ん」 (zenzen) is an adverb meaning "not at all," "completely not," or "never." Like 「あ ま り」, it is almost always used with negative verb forms or negative adjective forms.

Difference from 「あ ま り」:

• 「あ ま り」 indicates partial negativity or not to a great extent (e.g., "not much," "not very").
• 「ぜ ん ぜ ん」 indicates absolute or complete negativity (e.g., "not at all," "completely not"). It is much stronger and more definitive than 「あ ま り」.

Example Sentences:

• 「私 は ぜ ん ぜ ん 泳 ぎ ま せ ん。」 (Watashi wa zenzen oyogimasen.)
  • Translation: "I don't swim at all." (Implies never swimming)
• 「こ の パ ソ コ ン は ぜ ん ぜ ん 動 き ま せ ん。」 (Kono pasokon wa zenzen ugokimasen.)
  • Translation: "This computer doesn't work at all."

「よ く」 (yoku) is a versatile adverb in Japanese derived from the adjective 「い い」 (ii, good). It has several common meanings:

1. "Often" / "Frequently": When referring to frequency of actions.
2. "Well" / "Skillfully": When referring to how an action is performed.
3. "Clearly" / "Thoroughly": When referring to understanding or doing something completely.

Example Sentence (Frequency):

• 「私 は よ く 映 画 を 見 ま す。」 (Watashi wa yoku eiga o mimasu.)
  • Translation: "I often watch movies."

Example Sentence (Skill/Manner):

• 「彼 は 日 本 語 を よ く 話 し ま す。」 (Kare wa Nihongo o yoku hanashimasu.)
  • Translation: "He speaks Japanese well."

The particle 「か ら」 (kara) is a crucial particle with two main functions:

1. "From" (indicating origin or starting point): This can refer to a starting point in time, place, or the source of something.

   • Example (Place): 「大 阪 か ら 来 ま し た。」 (Ōsaka kara kimashita.)
     • Translation: "I came from Osaka."
   • Example (Time): 「９ 時 か ら 会 議 が あ り ま す。」 (Kuji kara kaigi ga arimasu.)
     • Translation: "There is a meeting from 9 o'clock."

2. "Because" / "Since" (indicating reason or cause): When placed after a clause, it explains the reason or cause for the preceding statement.

   • Example (Reason): 「雨 が 降 っ て い る か ら、外 へ 行 き ま せ ん。」 (Ame ga futte iru kara, soto e ikimasen.)
     • Translation: "Because it's raining, I won't go outside."

Both 「〜 や〜」 and 「と」 are used to connect nouns in a list, but they imply different things about the completeness of the list.

• 「と」 (to):

  • Meaning: "and," "with"
  • Usage: Used to create an exhaustive list, meaning all items being discussed are explicitly mentioned. It indicates that only the listed items are relevant.
  • Example: 「私 は り ん ご と バ ナ ナ を 買 い ま し た。」 (Watashi wa ringo to banana o kaimashita.)
    • Translation: "I bought apples and bananas." (Implies only apples and bananas were bought.)

• 「〜 や〜」 (ya~ya~):

  • Meaning: "and so on," "among other things," "such as"
  • Usage: Used to create a non-exhaustive list or to provide a few examples from a larger group. It implies there are other items that could be listed but are not being mentioned.
  • Example: 「私 は り ん ご や バ ナ ナ な ど を 買 い ま し た。」 (Watashi wa ringo ya banana nado o kaimashita.)
    • Translation: "I bought apples, bananas, and so on." (Implies other fruits or items might have been bought, but these are just examples.)

Key Difference: 「と」 lists everything, while 「〜 や〜」 lists some examples.

Noun phrases (ナ ン プ ラ ー) in this context refer to a noun combined with a particle to describe its role in the sentence. For existence, the particle 「が」 (ga) is commonly used with the object.

• Sentence for Inanimate Object (using 「あ り ま す」):

  • 「机 の 上 に 本 が あ り ま す。」 (Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.)
  • Translation: "There is a book on the desk."
  • Explanation: 「本 が」 is the noun phrase indicating the existing inanimate object.

• Sentence for Animate Object (using 「い ま す」 - for comparison/completeness):

  • 「部 屋 に 猫 が い ま す。」 (Heya ni neko ga imasu.)
  • Translation: "There is a cat in the room."
  • Explanation: 「猫 が」 is the noun phrase indicating the existing animate object.

Here are two sentences that demonstrate the contrasting implications of 「す こ し」 and 「あ ま り」:

• Using 「す こ し」 (a little/a few):

  • 「私 は お 金 が す こ し あ り ま す。」 (Watashi wa okane ga sukoshi arimasu.)
  • Translation: "I have a little money."
  • Implication: There is some money, but not a lot.

• Using 「あ ま り」 (not much/not very - with negative):

  • 「私 は お 金 が あ ま り あ り ま せ ん。」 (Watashi wa okane ga amari arimasen.)
  • Translation: "I don't have much money."
  • Implication: There is very little money, or perhaps not enough.

Here is a dialogue illustrating the usage:

• Person A: 「ペ ン が あ り ま す か。」 (Pen ga arimasu ka.)
  • Translation: "Do you have a pen?"
• Person B: 「はい、ペ ン は た く さ ん あ り ま す よ。」 (Hai, pen wa takusan arimasu yo.)
  • Translation: "Yes, I have a lot of pens."
• Person B: 「で も、鉛 筆 は ぜ ん ぜ ん あ り ま せ ん。」 (Demo, enpitsu wa zenzen arimasen.)
  • Translation: "But, I don't have pencils at all."

「だ い た い」 (daitai) is an adverb that means "mostly," "generally," "approximately," or "about."

• Usage: It is used to express a general approximation rather than a precise quantity or frequency. It can be used for:
  • General frequency: What one usually or mostly does.
  • Approximate quantity: About how much or how many.
  • General truth/statement: What is generally true.

Example Sentences:

• General Frequency: 「私 は だ い た い 毎 日、コ ー ヒ ー を 飲 み ま す。」 (Watashi wa daitai mainichi, kōhī o nomimasu.)
  • Translation: "I generally drink coffee every day."
• Approximate Quantity: 「学 生 は だ い た い ５０ 人 い ま す。」 (Gakusei wa daitai gojū-nin imasu.)
  • Translation: "There are about 50 students."

「よ く」 is a versatile adverb. Here are examples demonstrating its dual meanings:

1. Meaning: "Often" (Frequency):

   • 「彼 は よ く 図 書 館 へ 行 き ま す。」 (Kare wa yoku toshokan e ikimasu.)
   • Translation: "He often goes to the library."
   • Explanation: Here, 「よ く」 modifies the verb 「行 き ま す」 (ikimasu - to go) to indicate the high frequency of the action.

2. Meaning: "Well" (Manner/Skill):

   • 「私 は 英 語 を よ く 話 せ ま す。」 (Watashi wa Eigo o yoku hanasemasu.)
   • Translation: "I can speak English well."
   • Explanation: In this sentence, 「よ く」 modifies the verb 「話 せ ま す」 (hanasemasu - can speak) to describe the proficiency or manner of speaking.

Example paragraph:

「私 は だ い た い 朝 ７ 時 に 起 き ま す。そ し て、よ く 新 聞 を 読 み ま す。で も、朝 ご 飯 は あ ま り 食 べ ま せ ん。」
(Watashi wa daitai asa shichi-ji ni okimasu. Soshite, yoku shinbun o yomimasu. Demo, asagohan wa amari tabemasen.)

Translation:
"I generally wake up at 7 AM. And, I often read the newspaper. However, I don't eat breakfast much."

In Japanese, a simple noun phrase (ナ ン プ ラ ー) is typically formed by a noun followed by a particle that indicates its grammatical function in the sentence. The particle connects the noun to the verb or other elements.

• Structure: Noun + Particle
• Purpose: To clarify the role of the noun (e.g., subject, object, location).

Example:

• Noun: 「本」 (hon - book)

• Particle: 「が」 (ga - subject marker, often used with existence verbs)

• Noun Phrase: 「本 が」 (hon ga)

  • Sentence: 「私 は 本 が あ り ま す。」 (Watashi wa hon ga arimasu.)
  • Translation: "I have a book." (Literally: "As for me, a book exists.")

Here, 「本 が」 forms the noun phrase indicating what exists.

Here's how to form the question and response:

• To ask "Is there a lot of coffee?":

  • 「コ ー ヒ ー が た く さ ん あ り ま す か。」 (Kōhī ga takusan arimasu ka.)
  • Explanation: 「コ ー ヒ ー」 (kōhī) is coffee, 「た く さ ん」 (takusan) means 'a lot,' and 「あ り ま す か」 (arimasu ka) is the question for existence of inanimate objects.

• To respond "No, only a little":

  • 「い い え、す こ し だ け あ り ま す。」 (Iie, sukoshi dake arimasu.)
  • Explanation: 「い い え」 (iie) means 'no,' 「す こ し」 (sukoshi) means 'a little,' and 「だ け」 (dake) means 'only' or 'just,' emphasizing the small quantity.

A scenario where 「ぜ ん ぜ ん」 (zenzen) is appropriate is when you want to express a complete lack or absolute absence of something or an action.

Scenario: You are trying to use an old television, but it simply won't turn on or show any picture.

Japanese Sentence:
「こ の テ レ ビ は ぜ ん ぜ ん 動 き ま せ ん。」 (Kono terebi wa zenzen ugokimasen.)

Translation: "This TV doesn't work at all."

• Explanation: This sentence strongly conveys that the TV is completely non-functional, emphasizing the total lack of operation.

Here's how you might describe the contents of your pencil case using both particles:

Using 「〜 や〜」 (examples):
「私 の 筆 箱 に は ペ ン や 消 し ゴ ム な ど が あ り ま す。」 (Watashi no fudebako ni wa pen ya keshigomu nado ga arimasu.)

• Translation: "In my pencil case, there are pens, erasers, and so on."
• Explanation: This implies there might be other items like rulers or highlighters, but pens and erasers are given as examples.

Using 「と」 (exhaustive list):
「私 の 筆 箱 に は 鉛 筆 と 定 規 が あ り ま す。」 (Watashi no fudebako ni wa enpitsu to jōgi ga arimasu.)

• Translation: "In my pencil case, there are pencils and a ruler."
• Explanation: This suggests that only pencils and a ruler are in the pencil case, implying a complete list.

Here are two sentences demonstrating the different uses of 「か ら」:

1. 「か ら」 indicating Reason/Cause:

   • 「頭 が 痛 い か ら、学 校 を 休 み ま す。」 (Atama ga itai kara, gakkō o yasumimasu.)
   • Translation: "Because my head hurts, I will take a day off from school."
   • Explanation: 「頭 が 痛 い か ら」 (atama ga itai kara) provides the reason for taking a day off.

2. 「か ら」 indicating Starting Point (Time):

   • 「宿 題 は 明 日 か ら 始 ま り ま す。」 (Shukudai wa ashita kara hajimarimasu.)
   • Translation: "Homework will start from tomorrow."
   • Explanation: 「明 日 か ら」 (ashita kara) indicates that tomorrow is the starting point for the homework.

Here's an example paragraph:

「私 は 毎 週 末、だ い た い 家 で 休 み ま す。よ く 本 を 読 ん だ り、映 画 を 見 た り し ま す。そ し て、す こ し 散 歩 に 行 き ま す。」
(Watashi wa maishūmatsu, daitai ie de yasumimasu. Yoku hon o yondari, eiga o mitari shimasu. Soshite, sukoshi sanpo ni ikimasu.)

Translation:
"Every weekend, I generally rest at home. I often read books or watch movies. And, I go for a little walk."

The adverbs 「あ ま り」 (amari) and 「ぜ ん ぜ ん」 (zenzen), when used with negative forms, fit well with the sentiment of 「ざ ん ね ん で す が」 (Unfortunately...) because they often express a lack or an unsatisfactory condition.

• Usage: They can describe situations where a desired quantity or quality is low or non-existent, leading to regret or disappointment.

Example Sentence:
「ざ ん ね ん で す が、チ ケ ッ ト が あ ま り あ り ま せ ん。」 (Zannen desu ga, chiketto ga amari arimasen.)

• Translation: "Unfortunately, there aren't many tickets."
• Explanation: This sentence uses 「あ ま り あ り ま せ ん」 (amari arimasen) to express that the number of tickets is insufficient or low, which is an undesirable situation, hence the use of 「ざ ん ね ん で す が」.