{"id":268,"date":"2017-10-16T14:15:04","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T18:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=268"},"modified":"2017-10-17T14:07:42","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T18:07:42","slug":"generic-nouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/grammar\/genericnouns","title":{"rendered":"Special Expressions with Generic Nouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve already learned how to use generic nouns in order to modify nouns. Now we will go over some special expression used with generic nouns.<\/p>\n

Using \u300c\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u300d to say whether something has happened<\/h2>\n

Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \u3053\u3068 – event, matter<\/li>\n
  2. \u3042\u308b (u-verb) – to exist (inanimate)<\/li>\n
  3. \u5fb9\u591c \u3010\u3066\u3064\u30fb\u3084\u3011 – staying up all night<\/li>\n
  4. \u5bbf\u984c \u3010\u3057\u3085\u304f\u30fb\u3060\u3044\u3011 – homework<\/li>\n
  5. \u3059\u308b (exception) – to do<\/li>\n
  6. \u4e00\u4eba \u3010\u3072\u3068\u308a\u3011 – 1 person; alone<\/li>\n
  7. \u884c\u304f \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to go<\/li>\n
  8. \u30d1\u30ea – Paris<\/li>\n
  9. \u304a\u5bff\u53f8 \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u3059\u30fb\u3057\u3011- sushi<\/li>\n
  10. \u98df\u3079\u308b \u3010\u305f\u3079\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to eat<\/li>\n
  11. \u65e5\u672c \u3010\u306b\u30fb\u307b\u3093\u3011 – Japan<\/li>\n
  12. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
  13. \u89b3\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to watch<\/li>\n
  14. \u30e8\u30fc\u30ed\u30c3\u30d1 – Europe<\/li>\n
  15. \u3044\u3044 (i-adj) – good<\/li>\n
  16. \u305d\u3046 – (things are) that way<\/li>\n
  17. \u8a00\u3046 \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to say<\/li>\n
  18. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n
  19. \uff5e\u5ea6 \u3010\uff5e\u3069\u3011 – counter for number of times<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When you combine \u300c\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u300d, the generic word for an event with \u300c\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u300d, you can talk about whether an event exists or not.<\/p>\n

    Examples<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \u5fb9\u591c<\/span>\u3057\u3066<\/span>\u3001\u5bbf\u984c<\/span>\u3059\u308b<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u306f\u3042\u308b<\/span><\/em>\u3002
      \nThere are times when I do homework while staying up all night.\n<\/li>\n
    2. \u4e00\u4eba<\/span>\u3067\u884c\u304f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span><\/em>\u3002
      \nI never go by myself.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Using the past tense of the verb with \u300c\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u300d, you can talk about whether an event has ever taken place. This is essentially the only way you can say “have done” in Japanese so this is a very useful expression. You need to use this grammar any time you want to talk about whether someone has ever done something.\n<\/p>\n

      Examples<\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. \u30d1\u30ea<\/span>\u306b\u884c\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/em>\u304b\u3002
        \nHave you ever gone to Paris?\n<\/li>\n
      2. \u304a\u5bff\u53f8<\/span>\u3092\u98df\u3079\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u304c\u3042\u308b<\/span><\/em>\u3002
        \nI’ve had sushi before.\n<\/li>\n
      3. \u65e5\u672c<\/span>\u306e\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u3092\u89b3\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span>\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u306e\uff1f
        \nYou’ve never seen a Japanese movie?\n<\/li>\n
      4. \u30e8\u30fc\u30ed\u30c3\u30d1<\/span>\u306b\u884c\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u304c\u3042\u3063\u305f\u3089<\/span><\/em>\u3044\u3044<\/span>\u306a\u3002
        \nIt would be nice if I ever go to Europe.\n<\/li>\n
      5. \u305d\u3046\u3044\u3046<\/span>\u306e\u3092\u898b\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u304c\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u3002
        \nI had never seen anything like that.\n<\/li>\n
      6. \u4e00\u5ea6<\/span>\u884c\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3053\u3068<\/span><\/em>\u3082\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/em>\u3093\u3067\u3059\u3002
        \nI’ve never gone, not even once.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Using \u300c\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span>\u300d as an abstract place<\/h2>\n

        Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. \u6240 \u3010\u3068\u3053\u308d\u3011 – place<\/li>\n
        2. \u65e9\u3044 \u3010\u306f\u3084\u30fb\u3044\u3011 (i-adj) – fast; early<\/li>\n
        3. \u6765\u308b \u3010\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (exception) – to come<\/li>\n
        4. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
        5. \u4eca \u3010\u3044\u307e\u3011 – now<\/li>\n
        6. \u3061\u3087\u3046\u3069 – just right; exactly<\/li>\n
        7. \u3044\u3044 – good<\/li>\n
        8. \u5f7c \u3010\u304b\u308c\u3011 – he; boyfriend<\/li>\n
        9. \u512a\u3057\u3044 \u3010\u3084\u3055\u30fb\u3057\u3044\u3011 (i-adj) – gentle; kind<\/li>\n
        10. \u3042\u308b (u-verb) – to exist (inanimate)<\/li>\n
        11. \u6388\u696d \u3010\u3058\u3085\u30fb\u304e\u3087\u3046\u3011 – class<\/li>\n
        12. \u7d42\u308f\u308b \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u308f\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to end<\/li>\n
        13. \u3053\u308c – this<\/li>\n
        14. \u884c\u304f \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to go<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \u300c\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span>\u300d\uff08\u6240<\/span>\uff09 is usually used to indicate a generic physical location. However, it can also hold a much broader meaning ranging from a characteristic to a place in time.<\/p>\n

          Examples<\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. \u65e9\u304f<\/span>\u304d\u3066<\/span>\u3002\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u306f\u4eca<\/span>\u3061\u3087\u3046\u3069<\/span>\u3044\u3044<\/span>\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span><\/em>\u3060\u3088\u3002
            \nCome quickly. We’re at the good part of the movie.\n<\/li>\n
          2. \u5f7c<\/span>\u306f\u512a\u3057\u3044<\/span>\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span><\/em>\u3082\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u3088\u3002
            \nHis personality has some gentle parts too.\n<\/li>\n
          3. \u4eca<\/span>\u306f\u6388\u696d<\/span>\u304c\u7d42\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span><\/em>\u3067\u3059\u3002
            \nClass has ended just now.\n<\/li>\n
          4. \u3053\u308c\u304b\u3089<\/span>\u884c\u304f<\/span>\u3068\u3053\u308d<\/span><\/em>\u3067\u3057\u305f\u3002
            \nI was just about to go from now.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Using \u300c\u3082\u306e<\/span>\u300d as a casual feminine way to emphasize<\/h2>\n

            Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
              \n
            1. \u7269 \u3010\u3082\u306e\u3011 – object<\/li>\n
            2. \u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066 – why<\/li>\n
            3. \u6765\u308b \u3010\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (exception) – to come<\/li>\n
            4. \u6388\u696d \u3010\u3058\u3085\u30fb\u304e\u3087\u3046\u3011 – class<\/li>\n
            5. \u3042\u308b (u-verb) – to exist (inanimate)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              The generic object noun \u300c\u3082\u306e<\/span>\u300d can be used as a casual and feminine way of emphasizing something. This is identical to the explanatory feminine emphasis expressed by the \u300c\u306e\u300d particle. Just like the explanatory \u300c\u306e\u300d particle, the \u300c\u306e\u300d is often changed into \u300c\u3093\u300d resulting in \u300c\u3082\u3093\u300d. Using \u300c\u3082\u3093\u300d sounds very feminine and a little cheeky (in a cute way).<\/p>\n

              Examples<\/h3>\n