Here are some tricky Japanese grammar questions, complete with detailed answers.
Question # 1: “Kore vs. Koko”
Michi (the way). Calligraphy by Noriko Lake
Riding on the shinkansen, you arrive in a new city. Turning to the person next to you, you want to say “This is Osaka.”
Which of the following 2 Japanese sentences is correct?
- これは大阪です。 (kore wa oosaka desu)
- ここは大阪です。 (koko wa oosaka desu)
Question # 2: “Ookii vs. Hiroi”
You are impressed with the size of your friend’s apartment. You want to say “the apartment is big, huh.”
Which of the following 2 Japanese sentences is correct?
- アパートが広いですね。(apaato ga hiroi desu ne)
- アパートが大きいですね。(apaato ga ookii desu ne)
Question # 3: “Ga vs. No vs. Ja”
A lot of younger people in Japan don’t have cars. Referring to them, you want to say “people without cars always ride the train.”
Which of the following 3 Japanese sentences is correct?
- 車がない人はいつも電車に乗ります。 (kuruma ga nai hito wa itsumo densha ni norimasu)
- 車じゃないひとはいつも電車に乗ります。 (kuruma ja nai hito wa itsumo densha ni norimasu)
- 車のない人は(いつも電車に乗ります。 (kuruma no nai hito wa itsumo densha ni norimasu)
Question # 4: “Omoimasu vs. Omotte imasu”
Kaze (wind). Calligraphy by Noriko Lake
Referring to your mother, who is visiting you in Japan but is absent at the moment, you want to say “Mother thinks Japanese prices are high.”
Which of the following 2 Japanese sentences is correct?
- 母は日本の物価が高いと思います。 (haha wa nihon no bukka ga takai to omoimasu)
- 母は日本の物価が高いと思っています。 (haha wa nihon no bukka ga takai to omotte imasu)
Question # 5: “Imasu vs. Arimasu when using Transitive and Intransitive Verbs”
You’re feeling a little warm. You notice that the window is closed and suspect that your friend closed it. You want to say, “The window is closed (by someone).”
Which of the following 4 Japanese sentences is correct in this situation?
- 窓が閉めてあります (mado ga shimete arimasu)
- 窓が閉めています (mado ga shimete imasu)
- 窓が閉まっています (mado ga shimatte imasu)
- 窓が閉まってあります(mado ga shimatte arimasu)