Cheatography
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Japanese Verb Tenses Japanese Verb Tenses
This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.
Present Progressive vs "Sometimes"
V-る + ことがある |
V-た + ことがある |
"There are times when" "Sometimes..." |
“I have done/been…” |
1️⃣ Occasional occurrence 2️⃣ Adverbs of Frequency like "いつも", "よく" "ときどき", "たまに” are used |
日本人と好きあったことがある? Have you dated a Japanese person? |
たまに日本のしょうせつを読むことがあります。 I read Japanese novels occasionally. |
❗️❗️Formation:
V-る
い-Adj / な-Adj + ことがある
Noun + である
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"Have never done" "Have not..yet" "No need to"
V-た + こと(が)ない / ありません |
V-て (は)ない** |
V-た + こと(は)ない / ありません |
Negative Present Perfect Tense “I have never done…” |
"Haven't done... yet" |
“There is no need to…” |
この映画は見たこと(が)ない。 I have never seen this movie before. |
A.新しい映画を見ましたか。 Have you seen the new movie? B. うんん、見てない。 I haven't seen it yet. |
明日のテストは簡単だから心配することはないよ。 Tomorrow's test will be easy, so it's nothing to worry |
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VS. すみませんでした。 I didn’t watch. (Sounds like you chose to not watch it but decided not to after all.) |
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"I decided to do (something)"
V-る + ことにする |
V-る + ことにしている |
V-る + ことにした |
V-ない + ことにした |
“I JUST decided to (do something)…” |
Nuance: I've decided to do so and I make it my personal rule. " |
"I decided to..." |
"I decided not to..." |
1️⃣Used if the activity will be a habit 2️⃣ If you have decided to do something JUST NOW |
Note: Do not use it for things people do because of their national customs or tradition. |
-The decision was made not JUST now but it was a week/a month ago. |
-The decision was made not JUST now but it was a week/a month ago. |
これから毎日ランニングをすることにする。 I've decided to go running every day from now on. |
アメリカにすんでいるけど、げんかんでくつをぬぐことにしている。 Although I live in the US, I make it a rule to take off my shoes at the entrance. |
家を買うことにした。 I decided to buy a house. |
寝る前に食べないことにした。 I've decided to stop eating before going to bed. |
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"It's been decided" vs "Decided on N"
V-る + ことになる |
<N> を 決める (きめる) |
It's been decided..." |
"To decide on / to choose <Noun> |
-The decision is made by somebody else or you made the decision WITH somebody else (eg. It's the law, rule). Things that you did not decide and you have to follow that rule. |
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明日6時に会うことになった。 WE decided/agreed to meet at 6 tomorrow. (The decision was mutual) |
こたえを決める. To decide on / to choose an answer. |
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"To become (something)" "To finally become"
(N) に なる / V-る ことになる |
N + となる / V-る こととなる |
な- Adj +になる / い- Adj + くなる
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-Adjectives do not come before …となる。 |
1️⃣To naturally become 2️⃣The change is expected by everyone 3️⃣ To change time/season |
-Has the feeling of “Finally!” |
よるになった。 It became night. |
けっこんすることとなる。 We are finally getting married. (After all the heartbreak and ups and downs) |
いしゃになる。 To become a doctor. |
たなかさんはいしゃとなる。Tanaka is finally a doctor! (After all the struggles he has experienced) |
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"Used to do something" Nostalgia*
V-たもんだ |
よく... Vたっけ? "Used to always V" |
”Used to V…" |
1️⃣ Used to recall something from the past and get that feeling of nostalgia 2️⃣ Adding adverb of frequency in your sentence also adds that nostalgic feeling because if this is not added, it will sound like you just can’t remember it and just trying to recall something |
Words often used with this grammar: 1️⃣ 【昔】むかしは V-た 物だ: Back in the day, I used to V 2️⃣ よく: Often 3️⃣ Adverb of frequency |
Words often used: よく/毎日/毎週; Adverb of frequency |
よく【祖父】そふの【田んぼ】たんぼの手伝いをしていたもんだ。 I used to often help with my grandpa’s rice field. |
よく家族とここに来たっけ。 I used to come here often with my family. |
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VS |
【家族】かぞくとよくここに来たもんだ。 I used to come here often with my family. |
家族とここに来たっけ? Did I come here with my family? |
“Used to V”
-Expresses the nostalgia
-Speaker used to do something often in the past and you do not do it anymore
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