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~nakereba narimasen – It’s not right not to do something (have to do)
~nakute mo ii desu – It’s fine not to do something (do not have to do)

To use these, you have to change the the verbs to negative (ie. (tomeru)tomenai, kaku(kakanai), miru(minai))

You have to stop the car – Kuruma o tomenakereba narimasen
You don’t have to stop the car – Kuruma o tomenakute mo ii desu

Other Example
Q : Bōshi o (kaburu)kaburanakereba narimasen ka?
A : Hai, bōshi o kaburanakereba narimasen (Positive Answer)
A : Iie, bōshi o kaburanakute mo ii desu (Negative Answer)
Meaning : Bōshi (Cap), Kaburu (Wear/Put On)

Q : Kimono o (kiru)kinakute mo ii desu ka?
A : Hai, Kimono o kinakute mo ii desu (Positive Answer)
A : Iie, Kimono o kinakereba narimasen (Negative Answer)
Meaning : Kimono (Japanese Tradisional Wear), Kiru (Wear)

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“mo ii desu” (can do something) and “wa ikemasen” (cannot or not allow to do something). You have to use ~te form for the verbs just before the above sentences. Rules : Verbs (~te form) + “mo ii desu” or “wa ikemasen”

Q : Can I smoke cigarrette? – Tabako o (suu)sutte mo ii desu ka?
A : Yes, you can smoke cigarette – Hai, Tabako o sutte mo ii desu (Positive)
A : No, you cannot smoke cigarette – Iie, Tabako o sutte wa ikemasen
Meaning : Tabako (Cigarrette), Suu (Smoke)

You can stop your car – Kuruma o (tomeru)tomete mo ii desu
Can I go back now – Ima, (kaeru)kaete mo ii desu ka

Form a sentence in English and try to use the above sentences.

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Conversation 1
Q : Already received your birthday present? – Mō tanjōbi no purezento o moraimashita ka?
A : Yes. I got a cassette tape from Tony – Hai. Toni san ni wa kasettote-pu to sara no setto o moraimashita.

Q : Any other? – Hoka ni wa?
A : I got flowers from the teacher – Sensei ga, hana o kudasaimashita.
Meaning : Mō (Already), Tanjōbi (Birthday), Purezento (Present / Gift), Kasettote-pu (Cassette Tape), Hana (Flower)

Conversation 2
Q : Still haven’t water the flowers – Mada hana ni mizu o (yaru)yatteinai no
A : No, already done this morning – Uun, kesa wa mō yatta yo
Meaning : Mada (Still), Mizu (Water), Yaru (Do), Kesa (This Morning)

Conversation 3
Q : Very soon will be dad and mom’s wedding aniversary. Last year what dad gave to mom? – Mō sugu otōsan to okaasan no kekkon kinenbi ne. Otōsan wa kyonen, okaasan ni nani o ageta no?
A : A diamond ring – Daiyamondo no yubiwa da yo
Q : Wow, amazing – Waa-, sugoi.
Meaning : Sugu (Soon), Kekkon (Marriage / Wedding), Kinenbi (Aniversary), Kyonen (Last Year),Daiyomondo (Diamond), Yubiwa (Ring), Sugoi (Amazing / Wonderful)

Conversation 4
Q : What are you going to give to dad during christmas – Otōsan ni kurisumasu no purezento, nani ageru?
A : Oh ya. How about a tie? – Sō da na. Nekutai wa dō?

Q : That was given a year before last year – Sore wa ototoshi ageta wa
A : So, how about a wallet – Jaa, saifu wa?
Q : Hmm, let’s go for wallet. I will go and buy tomorrow – Sō ne, saifu ni shimashō. Watashi ga ashita katte kuru wa
Meaning : Kurisumasu (Christmas), Nekutai (Neck Tie), Ototoshi (A year before last year), Saifu (Wallet)

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Agemasu (Give) & Moraimasu (Take / Receive)

Give a pen
Pen o (ageru)agemasu (Normal Form)
Pen o sashi agemasu (Polite Form)
Tony has given a pen to Michael – Toni san wa, Maikeru san ni pen o agemashita

Receive a pen
Pen o (morau)moraimasu (Normal Form)
Pen o kuremasu (Impolite Form)
Pen o itadakimasu (Polite Form)
Michael has received a pen from Tony – Maikeru san wa Toni san kara(ni) pen o moraimashita

Polite form is normally use when you are giving or receiving something to / from someone who you should respect (ie. Teacher, Boss, etc)

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Today I will cover the use of “koto ga dekimasu” which means “can do something”.

Example
Can speak Japanese – Nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu
Cannot speak Japanese – Nihongo wa hanasu koto ga dekimasen
Meaning : Hanasu (Speak)

The verb shall be the original form (third sound) and it has to be placed just before the “koto ga…”. In the example above “hanasu” (sa shi su se so).

Another Example
Q : Can you make Japanese food? – Nihon ryōri o tsukuru kota ga dekimasu ka?
A : Yes, I can make Japanese food – Hai, nihon ryōri o tsukuru koto ga dekimasu
A : No, I cannot make Japanese food – Iie, nihon ryōri wa tsukuru koto ga dekimasen
Meaning : Ryōri (Food), Tsukuru (Make)

It’s easy. Go on, practise it and you should be able to master the usage in a short time.

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Conversation 1
Q : Where are you going? – Doko, iku no?
A : Shibuya – Shibuya
Q : Shopping? – Kaimono?
A : No, metting friends – Uun, tomodachi ni au no
Meaning : Doko (Where), Shibuya (A place located in Tokyo), Kaimono (Shopping)

Conversation 2
Q : It’s crowded, can you see anything? – (Komu)Konde iru wa ne. Mieru?
A : No, I don’t see clearly – Uun, amari yoku mienai wa
Meaning : Komu (Crowd), Mieru (Can See), Amari (Not so)

Conversation 3
Q : Did you read the notice board today? – Kyō no keijiban, mita?
A : No, Still not yet? – Uun, mada dakedo
Q : It’s for the recruitment of partime workers? – Arubaito no boshū ga (kaku)kaite atta yo
A : Oh, So let me go and have a look? – Sō. Jaa, mitekuru yo
Meaning : Keijiban (Notice Board), Dakedo (Anyway / However), Arubaito (Part Time Job), Boshū (Recruitment)

Conversation 4
Q : Sleepy. I woke up at around 2 o’clock yesterday – Nemui wa. Kinō mo 2 ji goro made (okiru)okiteta
A : What have you done? – Nani (suru)shiteta no?
Q : Writing a letter to friend – Tomodachi ni, tegami (kaku)kaiteta
A : Posted already? – – Mō (dasu)dashita?
Q : No, I haven’t buy a stamp yet – Uun, mada kitte kattenai yo
Meaning : Nemui (Sleepy), Okiru (Wake Up), Kitte (Stamp), Dasu (Send / Issue)

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All this while, we have learned the usage of Verbs in polite form (ie. Nomimasu (Drink), etc). Today I will show you how to use verbs for social conversation (friend’s conversation)

Do you want to drink coffee
Ko-hi- o nomimasu ka? (Polite Form)
Ko-hi-, nomu? (Social Form)

Yes, I want coffee
Hai, Ko-hi- o nomimasu (Polite Form)
Un, nomu yo (Social Form)

Other examples
Q : Wanna cake? – Ke-ki, taberu?
A : Ya, sure – Un, taberu (yo) / (wa)
Q : Wanna tea? – Ocha, nomu
A : Nope, don’t want – Uun, nomanai (yo) / (wa)

The “yo”(for male) & “wa”(for female) is optional. “yo” & “wa” is only an expression.

Past Tense
Q : Did you drink fruit juice? – Kajū, nonda?
A : Ya, drank – Un, nonda (yo) / (wa)
Q : Drank Beer – Bi-ru, nonda?
A : Nope, I did not – Uun, nomanakatta (yo) / (wa)

Other Verbs

As shown above, the conversation is mainly depends on the last Hiragana character used. Read carefully and you will definately be able to master it. If you are not sure how to convert certain verb, please feel free to ask.

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