Course 2, Lesson 1, Grammar Notes 3: Particles

[Accura]

3. Particles

Nouns used in sentences generally must be followed by particles, which indicate the relations that the onus bear to the verbs. In this lesson, we learn four particles:

'de' 'ni' 'e' 'o'

<'de' で>

The particle 'de' indicates where the event described by the verb takes place.

toshokan de hon o yomimasu. (I will read books in the library.)

uchi de terabit o mimasu. (I will watch TV at home)

<'ni' に>

The particle 'ni' has many meanings, but here we will learn two: (1) the goal toward which things move, and (2) the time at which an event takes place.

(1) goal of movement

watashi wa kyou gakkou ni ikimasen. (I will not go to school today.)

watashi wa uchi ni kaerimasu. (I will return home.)

(2) time

nichiyoubi ni Kyoto ni ikimasu. (I will go to Kyoto on Sunday.)

11-ji (juu ichi ji) ni nemasu. (I will go to bed at eleven.)

(Some time words stand alone, without the particle 'ni' tagging along, which will be discussed in Section 4 later.)

Approximate time references can be made by substituting 'goro' or 'goroni' for 'ni'. Thus,

11-ji (juu ichi ji) goro(ni) nemasu. (I will go to bed at about eleven.)

<'e' へ>

The particle 'e', too, indicates the goal of movement. The sentences in (1) above therefore can be rewritten using 'e' instead of 'ni'.

Note that this particle is pronounced 'e' even it's written by hiragana 'he(へ)' as a particle.

watashi wa kyou gakkou e ikimasen. (I will not go to school today.)

watashi wa uchi e kaerimasu. (I will return home.)

Note that 'e' may replace the particle 'ni' only in the goal-of movement sense. The particle 'ni' for time references and other uses, which we will learn about in later lessons, cannot be so replaced.

<'o' を>

The particle 'o' indicates "direct objects," the kind of things that are directly involved in, or affected by, the event.

Note that this particle is pronounced 'o' even it's written by hiragana 'o (を)' as a particle.

kohii o nomimasu. (I drink coffee.)

teepu o kikimasu. (I listen to tapes.)

terebi o mimasen. (I don't watch TV.)