11. ta-form (of iru/aru) + no (da/desu)

This form is used when you found something that you've been looking for. That means, from your speech with this form, the listeners get that you've been looking for it. The "no" often changes to "n" in the daily conversation.

(Another teacher E enters there.)
E: aa, deguchi sensei, koko ni ita n desu ka.
(Oh, Miss Deguchi, you're here! (I've been looking for you.))
D: kesa wa, minasan, koko ni iru koto ni natte imasu kedo.
(This morning everyone is supposed to be here just in case.)
E: e? (he noticed Mr. Akiyama.)
(What?)
A: ano, doumo hajimemashite, Akiyama desu...
(Well, nice to meet you, I'm Akiyama...)
E: otto, kore wa shitsurei, ha ha ha. doumo hajimemashite, Eguchi desu. douzo yoroshiku.
(Oops, I'm sorry, ha ha ha. I'm Eguchi, nice to meet you.)


aa, deguchi sensei, koko ni ita n desu ka.
Oh, Miss Deguchi, you're here! (I've been looking for you.)

"The last "ka" works as an exclamation in this case.
Well, if Eguchi doesn't look for her, the sentence would be as follows:

aa, deguchi sensei ga koko ni iru.
Oh, Miss Deguchi is here.

This sentence expresses the speaker's surprise or something like that, but it's not a discovering expression. A discovery can be a surprise at times, but you may be convinced calmly or relieved by the discovery.

a, kasa ga koko ni aru.
Oh, here is an umbrella.

a, kasa wa koko ni atta n da.
Oh, here is the umbrella (that I've been looking for).

In this case, you don't need to say more politely because the listener is the umbrella alone. That's why it's "da", not "desu".

A common ideomatic expression:

(After listening to your friend's confession, you were convinced the reason of the strange behavaior by the friend.)
fuun, sou datta n da.
I see, I got it.

datta - the ta-form of "da"

"sou" means "so", "it's true", "that's right" and so on. But "sou datta n da" is often used when you were convinced. In this case it's used between friends, and you will say "sou datta n desu ka" tosomeone whom you should talk more politely. And, this "da" is often omitted by women when saying to the friend or other closer people.

fuun, sou datta no.
I see, I got it.

Like above, the last "no" doesn't change to "n".
By the way, this sentence can be a question, so you should note the tone.

fuun, sou datta no?
Hmm, was it true?

fuun, sou datta n da.
I see, I got it.

Besides above, this form is often used as
[ noun + datta n da ]
I got it (I didn't know until now)

(Watching a mystery drama on TV)
naruhodo, aitsu ga hannin datta n da!
I see, the guy is the criminal ( I didn't know until now)!

(Talking pleasantly together with your friends)
A, mou yonaka datta n da! hayaku kaeranai to!
Oh, it's already midnight! (I didn't know/notice until now) I must get back in a hurry!

Shizu

12. te-form + ageru

When you do something for someone, normally this form is used. Normally it's used as "I do for (someone)", and it's regarded a positive act for the person or at least the speaker thinks so.

(B noticed an umbrella on the shoes box by the front door.)
B: are, kasa ga aru. wasurete itta no kana?
(Oh, here is an umbrella. He left it here unintentionaly, I wonder?)
(She looked outside from the window.)
uu, furisou da na. yoshi, motte itte ageyou.
(Umm, it looks like rain soon. Okay, I'll take it (for him).)

ame ga furu - rain
(Note: the verb "furu" means "fall", and it's used for rain and snow etc. In this case, you understand it refers to rain unless the season is winter, so "ame (rain)" is omitted.)

furisou - looks like rain (soon // any time)

motte iku - bring, take
itte - the te-form of the verb "iku"
motte itte ageru - I take it (for him)
ageyou - the ou-form (Refer to lesson 5 "ou-form" in this topic.)

(Note: in this case, the inflected verb "iku" is used as a part of the verb phrase "motte iku".)

In this case, she thinks that her husband forgot to take the umbrella to the school despite of the doubtful weather. That means, she is going to do the act for him. If she doesn't use "ageru" here, not only the sentence doesn't express "for him" but also the listener might not understand where she take it to.

yoshi, motte ikou.
Okay, I'll take it (because it seems interesting for me, for example).
or
Okay, I'll take it (somewhere).

In the first interpretation, it expresses that she is going to do not for him but for herself like her curiosity. Perhaps the listener can imagine that she will take it for her husband from the context, but the expression sounds less clear about that.

"ageru" is used as a positive act for the person (or animals like your pets for example), so the listener find if the speaker does the action for the specific person or not, even if the action isn't really for him/her actually. It's an expression of your kind feelings to someone regardless of the result. For example, when a little child looks at a dirty cat, he/she may say to the cat:

kitanai nee. sentakushite ageru yo.
You're dirty! I'll wash you (in a washing machine) (for you).

Obviously the cat gets away soon, but the child doesn't have any intention to be hard on the cat.

But possibly you might do this expression even though you don't want to be kind of the specific person. That means, it's often used as an irony or sarcasm or mean feelings.

(After fighting between the brothers)
YB: oniichan, boku no okashi shiranai?
((to the older brother) Hey, don't you know my snacks?)
OB: shitteru yo. ore ga tabete ageta n da.
(I know. I ate them (for you).)

(A husband to the wife who always complains)
W: aa, nanika omoshiroi mono mitai waa!
(Ah, I want to see something interesting/funny!)
H: jaa, kagami motte kite ageru yo.
(Then, I'll bring a mirror (for you).)

"ageru"is mainly used among closer people like your friends and family members. It's less modest expression, so it can be rude enough to others, especially older people or higher position ones than you. Maybe it's because the nuance "for you" is too emphasized among such less closer people. For example, to your boss, teacher, general people whom you don't know well, you have to use another expression like keigo (respectful or modest language).

(Between a student and his teacher.)
S: sensei, kokuban o kirei ni shite agemashita.
(Sensei, I cleaned the blackboard FOR YOU.)
T: fuun, omae mo eraku natta naa.
(I see, you sound like being a great person (than me)!)

Dewa mata.
Shizu

13. no + desu ka?

"no" has several usages and functions, and one of them is called "no da" ("desu" is the polite form of "da"). Here, it's used when you confirm something as an interogative form. The "no" often changes to "n" in the conversation.

(In the teacher's room at the high school.)
D: sore de, nanika watashi ni youji datta n desu ka?
(Well, did you have something to tell me (I'm pretty sure you did though)?)
E: e? a, sousou, konya touchoku ni narimashita yo.
(What? Oh, that's right. It was decided that you'll be on duty tonight.)
D: ara... demo Sasaki sensei wa?
(Oh... but how about Sasaki sensei?)
E: sakki kaerimashita.
(He got back to home some minutes ago.)
D: (surprised) kaetta n desu ka?
(Did he get back (I want to confirm it just in case) ?)
E: hai. shinseki ni gofukou ga atta sou desu yo.
(Yes. One of his relatives passed away, I hear.)
D: sou desu ka... (watashi datte fukou da wa!)
(I see... (I am unlucky, too!) )

(Note: a na-adjective "fukouna" is used as "unhappy/unlucky", but the idiomatic phrase "fukou ga atta (mostly it's used as the past form) means "died // passed away". Here, Eguchi sensei says "gofukou" which is keigo (polite language).)

Deguchi sensei uses this "no da" form in her two sentences:
sore de, nanika watashi ni youji datta [n desu] ka?
kaetta [n desu] ka?

If she said them as the simple questions, they would be as follows:

nanika watashi ni youji wa arimashita ka?
Did you have anything to tell me?
(Note: in fact, this sentence has another thing about the confirming or something, but at the moment please concentrate on whether it has "no da" or not.)

kaerimashita ka?
Did he get back?

[ verb + no + desu ka? ]
[ adjective + no + desu ka? ]
[ na-adjective + n + desu ka? ]
[ noun + na + no + desu ka? ]

In the last two patterns, you change "na" to "datta" for making the past form. In the casual conversation, "desu ka" is omitted, and "no" doesn't change to "n".

nihongo wa kantan na n desu ka?
Is Japanese language easy?
nihongo wa kantan na no?

nihongo wa kantan datta n desu ka?
Was Japanese language easy?
nihongo wa kantan datta no?

By the way, "no da" question works as confirming, so it can be rude depending on the situation and your tone etc. Even if it's your surprise simply, it may be regarded as your doubt feelings. But of course you use it when having such feelings.

ano hito wa josei na n desu ka?
Is she a woman? (I'm not sure)

nee, watashi no nikki yonda no?
Hey, did you read my diary? (I want to confirm // I'm suspecting you did)

ano resutoran, oishikatta n desu ka?
As for the restaurant, was the food delicious? (I don't expect though).

ano konsaato, omoshirokatta no?
Was the concert fun? (it's unexpectedly for me!)

Verbs "wakaru" and "dekiru" are used about your ability or capability, so it can be quite rude when using this in the question form. But it expresses your big surprise like respectful feelings as well.

nihongo ga wakaru n desu ka?
Do you understand Japanese language? (I'm surprised // I'm impressed // I can't believe)
nihongo ga dekiru n desu ka?

Shizu

14. question word + no desu ka?

In the previous lesson, I described "no da" question works as confirming. In fact, an interogative form including a question word such as why, what, where is used with "no da" normally. Guess why? When you ask such a question, you have the information partly. But you don't know everything, so you will ask one thing as a question word. That means, "no da" sentence has some information. If you don't have any information, you can't confirm anything.

(Mrs. Akiyama arrived at the school, and entered the office.)
B: sumimasen, Akiyama to moushimasu ga.
O: ohayou gozaimasu. eeto, Akiyama san, desu ka?
(Good morning. Well, you said your name is Akiyama...?)
B: hai, eeto, kyou kara shujin ga koko de...
(Yes, umm, from today my husband here...)
O: are? moshikashite, Bunko na no?
(Oh, by any chance, are you Bunko?)
B: e? waa, Sayuri na no?
(What? Wow, you are Sayuri?)
O: waa, Bunko da! demo, nande koko ni iru no?
(Wow, it's you! But, why are you here?)
B: danna no tenkin de.
(Because my husband changed the working place.)


[nande] koko ni iru no?
[Why] are you here?

In this case, Sayuri knows her friend IS HERE (koko ni iru), but she doesn't know the reason. That's why she uses "no da" question.
(Note: in this case "da/desu" is omitted because they are talking in less polite way.)

If Sayuri doesn't have any information like above, namely, she doesn't know whether Bunko is here or not, she would ask to someone as follows:

Bunko wa koko ni imasu ka?
Is Bunko here?

Like above, you don't use "no da" in the question when you don't have any information.
Of course, when you use "no da" question without a question word, it works as confirming anyway.

Bunko wa koko ni iru n desu ka?
(I want to confirm) Is Bunko here?

Besides, when you use "ne" instead of "ka", it sounds stronger to express your confirming impression.

Bunko wa koko ni iru n desu ne?
Bunko is here, right?

Furthermore, "yo ne" works more strongly:
Bunko wa koko ni iru n desu yo ne?
Bunko is here, right? (I know)

Return to the main topic. Here are some examples with question words:

(To your friend who is holding something in his arms.)
[nani] motteru no?
[What] are you holding in your arms?

Note: you know he is holding something, but you don't know what it is and you want to confirm it.

(To your boss who is going to leave the office.)
[doko] ni iku n desu ka?
[Where] are you going to go?

Note: you know he is going to go somewhere (or at least he looks like that), but you don't know the place. If the boss is sitting on the chair, you won't ask such a question.

(To a your friend who bought two tickets of a concert.)
[dare] to iku no?
[Who]m are you going to go (to the concert) together with?

Note: you know your friend go to the concert, but you don't know another person for the another ticket and you're curious.

(To your mother who is baking cakes.)
[itsu] taberu no?
[When] are we going to eat it?

Note: you know you (including your family) can eat it (or at least you expect), and you want to know when.

(After eating so delicious cakes.)
[dou yatte] tsukutta no?
[How] did you make it?

Note: you know the cakes were made by the person, and you want to know the recipe.

Shizu

15. te-form + oku/aru

The expression "te-form + oku" indicates that things or state are prepared for something. With "te-form + oku", you realize that the preparing action is by someone, but "aru" doesn't mention about the person who does the action. So, the latter one is used when describing about the state which seems to have been continued.

The two female friends are still talking.)
O: minna genkina no? Chie toka.
(How is everyone? Chie, for example?)
B: genki genki. yoku denwa de hanashiteru yo.
(Very fine. We often talk on the phone.)
O: sore de, kyou wa danna san ni ai ni kita no?
(Then, did you come here to meet your husband today?)
B: haha, masaka. kasa, motte kita no.
(Haha, no way. I brought an umbrella.
O: aa, sono kuroi kasa?
(Oh, the black umbrella (that you have)?)
B: un. getabako no ue ni oite atta no.
(Yeah. It was on the shoes box.)

In this case, she doesn't know since when the umbrella was there. But at least it has been there before she found it, and she thought that her husband put it there. If she kknows that he did, she would say to the friend:

uchi no danna ga getabako no ue ni (sore o) oita no.
My husband put it on the shoes box.

But she doesn't know the truth, so she just says about the state that she found.

By the way, "oite" is the te-form of the verb "oku (put)", and some phrases like "oite oku" and "oite oite" may confuse you. So I'll use another verb and continue explaining.

kaku ^- write
kaite - the te-form

(1) kokuban ni nanika kaite aru.
Something is written on the blackboard.
(The something written has been already here when the speaker found it.)

(2) sensei ga kokuban ni bun o kaita.
The teacher wrote a sentence.
(A simple past action by the teacher.)

(3) sensei ga kokuban ni bun o kaite oita.
The teacher wrote a sentence on the blackboard (as a preparation for something).

In this case, it's used as "te-form + oita", and that means, the teacher wrote the sentence as a preparation for something like small exams or help explanations etc. If he didn't have any purpose like that, you don't need to use this expression: you just say like (2).

When you want to tell what the action is done for, you add "(purpose) + no tame ni":

sensei ga, bunpou no setsumei o suru tame ni bun okaite oita.
The teacher wrote a sentence in order to explain of the grammar.

Besides, if the person who does the preparing action is "I", the sentence implies "for you":
wakariyasui you ni, reibun o kaite okimashita.
I wrote some examples (for you) so that you can understand easily.

gohan, tsukutte oita yo.
I cooked/prepared meal (for you).

This usage is similar to "te-form + ageru" (refer to lesson 12), and "te-form + oite + ageru" is often used for more clearing up "for you":

gohan, tsukutte oite ageta yo.
I cooked/prepared meal for you.

But "ageru" is used between closer people, otherwise it can be quite rude or funny as if you emphasize your kindness by yourself.

Shizu