Sixth Lesson: Part II: Particles (Examples)

Hi!

I hope you are not getting a hard time with the Particles. OK, Just like I promised here are some examples and then some excercises for you to practice.

The order is: I`ll write a sentence in English and in front of it I`llwrite the sentence in Japenglish which means I`ll use the words in English but the order and the particles of Japanese.

Before I start keep in mind:

1. The verb comes at the end ALWAYS. Sort of like Yoda...
2. In Japanese there is no plural and no gender.

OK Now let`s begin!

• Mary is Colombian. Maria は Colombian is.
• Rose is Colombian too. Rose も Colombian is.
• John`s house. John の house.
• Swimming is good. Swim の good is. NOTE: This is particle is used just like the ing in English, to make a noun out of the verb.
• I eat vegetables only. I は vegetables しか eat.
• My father and I are going to give flowers to my mother. My dad と I は  flowers を my mother に are going to give.

Now let`s make a big sentence with as much particles I can. Probably it won`t make a lot of sense but I`ll explain why I wrote each particle:

SHOPPING GROCERIES

In my house we eat nothing but vegetables and fruits. Usually the fridge is full with apples, squashes, green beans, etc. My mother and I go shopping every friday at a little grocery store. We shop from 8 am till 10 am. Since we don`t eat meat we eat with forks only and never use knives. In the afternoon we leave home and head to the supermarket. In the supermarket we shop what is left. In the market I buy some flowers for my mother.

My house に We は vegetables と fruits しか eat. Usually, the fridge に apples や squashes や green beans や etc が there are (is full). My mother と I は every friday little grocery strore へ go shopping. We は  8 am から 10 am まで shop. We は meat を don`t eat から we は  forks しか  eat and knives で never use. In the Afternoon we は home  をleave and supermarket へ head to. Supermarket で we は what is left を shop. Market で I は some flowers を my mother に buy. 

Now let`s analyse sentence by sentence:

In my house we eat nothing but vegetables and fruits. My house に We は vegetables と fruits しか eat.

• My house に: Why? Because the house is the Place of existence
• We は: Why? Because it is we whom I am going to talk about.
• vegetables と: Why? Because it is vegatables and something else that I am referering to. 
• fruits しか eat. Why? Because it marks the expression NOTHING BUT or ONLY if you prefer

Usually the fridge is full with apples, squashes, green beans, etc. Usually, the fridge に apples や squashes や green beans や etc が there are (is full).

• Usually, the fridge に: Usually doesn't have a particle because it is an expression of time but not specific. The "NI" particle refers to the place of existence.
• apples や squashes や green beans や: Why? Because there are many things, I didn't name them all.
• etc が there are (is full): Why? Remember that sometimes が replaces ? Well with the expression there is が  must be used. Later you will understand this exception better.

My mother and I go shopping every friday at a little grocery store. My mother と I は every friday little grocery strore へ go shopping.

• My mother と: Why? Because the action is being done with the company of my mother.
• I は: In this case the subject will be WE (my mother and I) so the particle is written next to the I.
• every friday little grocery strore へ go shopping: Why? Again, every friday is not a specific expression of time so it doesn't need a particle. The へ denotes the place you are heading to.

We shop from 8 am till 10 am. We は  8 am から 10 am まで shop.

• We は : Why? It denotes the subject of the sentence.
• 8 am から : In this case it translate FROM.
• 10 am まで shop. : In this case means UNTIL.

Since we don`t eat meat we eat with forks only and never use knives. We は meat を don`t eat から we は  forks しか  eat and knives で never use.

• We は: Again, refers to the main subject (who does the action).
• meat を: Why? Because it is the direct complement. Try it this way: in the sentence What do we eat? that's the word which should be accompanied with the を particle!
• don`t eat から: Why? In this case から translates DUE TO, BECAUSE, SINCE but as you can see it is written after the explanation is given. It is like writting: we don't eat meat since...
• forks しか eat : Why? In this case it translate ONLY WITH.
• and knives で never use: It refers to the tool that is being used (or not used), in this case the knives.

In the afternoon we leave home and head to the supermarket.  In the Afternoon we は home  をleave and supermarket へ head to.

• In the Afternoon we は: Again, the afternoon is not a specific time so it doesn't need any particle. The はrefers to the main subject of the sentence.
• home  を: Why? Because it indicates the place where the action started.
• leave and supermarket へ head to: Why? Because it refers to the place we are heading to.

In the supermarket we shop what is left. In the market I buy some flowers for my mother. Supermarket で we は what is left を shop. Market で I は some flowers を my mother に buy.

• Supermarket で : Why? Because the action is done IN the supermarket.
• we は: Again, maks the main subject of the sentence.
• what is left を shop: It refers to the direct complement.
• Market で : Again maks the place where the action is being done.
• I は: This time the main subject changed so it is necessary to mark it again.
• some flowers を: Indicates direct complement. (remember the what in the action.... What did I buy?)
• my mother に buy: Indicates whom is the benefficary of my action, in this case my mother.

OK! That's all. I hope I was clear enough, if you have some questions or doubts, please leave a commentary with them and I'll answer as soon as I can.

Remember: this is the most important part of the Japanese Grammar, so practice a lot.

Bye :)