1,755 Answered Questions for the topic grammar

04/29/19

What's the difference between 「いけない」 and 「いかない」?
I've just learned that `～わけにはいけない` as in `断{ことわ}るわけにはいけない` ("I can't refuse") apparently isn't valid but `～わけにはいかない` is, even though I've been using the former frequently. But what is the... more
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04/29/19

What is the difference between 残念ながら and 残念なことに?
I hear both 残念ながら and 残念なことに when expressing that something was unfortunate before the actual sentence, much like the English "Unfortunately, ...". However, I'm not sure on where these two phrases... more
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04/29/19

What's the difference between 歩んでいった and 歩んできた?
> 私はまっすぐな人生を**歩んできた。** > > 私はまっすぐな人生を**歩んでいった。** Could someone explain to me the difference between the two? Thanks a lot! Edit: I still find ていった confusing even after reading the... more
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04/29/19

Meaning of volitional passive form?
> お姉ちゃんに何を**言われようが**、まる子はウキウキ気分なのであった。 > What was said by her sister ???? but, Maruko felt cheerful. I can't think of any way in which something which is passive can also be volitional. How... more
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04/28/19

Confusion about "Seemingly not ～"?
So there are several ways to express something is "seemingly not ～": > * ～なさそう * ～そうにない * ～そうもない * ～そうにもない (is this one even real?) I was always taught ～なさそう in my Japanese classes, and it was... more
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04/27/19

User tutorial: to be written in first or second person?
I'm writing a user tutorial but I'm unsure as to what perspective it should be written from e.g., first, second? The tutorial is a friendly guide showing how the user should do x. ... more
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04/27/19

Is it correct to combine multiple clauses into one sentence?
Is it correct to combine multiple clauses (sub sentences) into one? For example, let us consider this sentence: > *On managerial side, I am experienced in accounting software, have been... more
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04/26/19

What are the differences between 〜ので and 〜から?
When I was studying this, my 先生 kind of brushed over the point, and then years later, I realize that they are different, but I don't know exactly how. The only thing I understand is that ので is... more
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04/26/19

what's the difference between ところで and ちなみに ?
what's the difference between ところで and ちなみに ? Are they always/often/seldom interchangeable?
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04/26/19

Difference between passive form and てある?
I'm confused about the difference between the passive form and the てある form. > 飲み物はもう**買ってあります**。 > The drinks have already been bought. > > 飲み物はもう**買われました**。 > > The drinks... more
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04/25/19

Passive vs. active form of verb (past) What is the difference?
I was wondering what the difference is if I use passive form or active form of a verb. For example: ネズミは猫に食べられた。The mouse was eaten by the cat. 猫は、ネズミを食べた。The cat ate the mouse. What EXACTLY is... more
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Grammar English Books Quotes

04/24/19

For dragons are fire made flesh, and fire is power.?
This quote is from "A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two" *By George R.R. Martin*.This is the full quote:> "They shall come day and night to see the wonder that has been born again... more
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Grammar

04/24/19

Grammar question for engraved Snow globe for my mother
I want to engrave a snow globe for my mother on Mother’s Day. These are the exact words that will be on there, and I want to know if it’s correct: I love you, mama, always and forever.—Also, is it... more
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Grammar English

04/23/19

When to use "i.e." and "e.g."
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04/23/19

Past Perfect vs Past Simple?
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Grammar English Writing

04/23/19

Is it proper to start a sentence with the word that ended the last sentence?
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04/23/19

“einen Tag alt” – Why is it “einen” not “ein”?
I’m studying numbers and age expressions, and here is the sentence I don’t understand: > Dieses Baby ist einen Tag alt. I thought *ein Tag* is right but it wasn’t. Why? I assumed that... more
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Grammar German Formality

04/23/19

Difference between singular and plural formal form of address?
When using the formal address, both you (sing.) and you (pl.) get translated to Sie, when in nominative case, of course. This question is more general. Are there any hints in the language (e.g.... more
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Grammar German Etymology

04/23/19

English Present Progressive and German language?
Actually 2 questions: 1. Do English Present Progressive and German Partizip 1 have the same grammatical origin? I mean something like `I am thinking.` and `Ich bin denkend.`, although German uses... more
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04/23/19

When to use mid-sentence commas when adding a formal name?
Where is it appropriate to insert a comma when putting a persons name in the middle of a sentence, such as when writing an email or letter. Is it really before AND after? Examples: > *Thank... more
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04/23/19

Do I need to use a definite article?
Is this correct? > Ich freue mich, dass es Wochenende ist. Or should I say: > Ich freue mich, dass es *das* Wochenende ist. With or without the article? I have definitely heard the... more
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Grammar German Adjectives

04/23/19

Why does "neu" become "Neues" after "etwas"?
I found this sentence in a German children's book: >Jeden Tag entdeckt Katrin etwas Neues. Neues is a noun here? How can that be? I'd think that 'new' was an adjective. As a noun, I found... more
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Grammar Japanese Verbs

04/22/19

Habitual aspect?
My (poor) understanding of things is that there are two ways to get habitual semantics in Japanese: * use the dictionary form of the verb: > 毎日、映画{えいが}を見に行く "I go to the movies every day." *... more
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Grammar Japanese Usage

04/21/19

でも (demo) versus けど (kedo) to mean "but"?
I learned that you can use でも (*demo*) at the beginning of a sentence to mean "but," and that you can use けど (*kedo*) at the end of a sentence to mean "though." However, I don't see a difference... more
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04/21/19

How the ～にあって form works - situations, places, times, what?
I finally started going through some JLPT N1 grammar the other day, and one of the ones I'm looking at has me a bit confused: the ～にあって・～にあっても form. The book describes its usage as such: >... more
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