I get so frustrated with our Japanese textbook. On page 103 it says, "The negative te-form of a verb followed by もいい means you need not do something, you don't have to do something. (Literally, it's all right if you don't do something."
Great! But when did they ever teach us the negative te-form? Never! So let's refresh our memories and build on that. The te-form of a verb (which I always call Vte) is the gerund, like the -ing form in English. It's combined with lots of other endings, for example: Vte imasu (I'm doing V), Vte kudasai (please do V), and Vte mo ii (it's okay to do V).
We've also learned a negative form of the gerund, V1 + nai + de. When combined with kudasai, it is the polite negative request: Please don't V. 吸わないでください。(Please don't smoke.) 行かないでください。(Please don't go.)
Another negative form of the gerund is V1 + nakute. By itself, it means without doing V, not doing V. It can be combined with several endings. V1 + nakute + mo (even if I don't do V), V1 + nakute + mo + ii (it's okay if you don't do V), and V1 + nakute + wa + ikemasen (you must do V).
I've added the -nakute ending to the Verb flashcards.
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which japanese text book are u using?
Hey, Pikey! おひさしぶりですね。Our text book is "Yookoso!" We're in the second year now, and the new book is even worse than the old book. The material is not bad, it's the layout and organization of the material. As I said before Christmas, it inspires me to write my own book--an idea I'm still working on. --M.
Posted by: pikey on April 18, 2004 05:33 PM
I can't stand it when textbooks are like that :P
Technically speaking, the gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun, right? I've always thought of Vて as the "connective form" since that's what its basic function is.
Posted by: マシュー on April 23, 2004 02:43 AM
Sorry, my explanation was sloppy. I used the headings in 501 Japanese verbs which refers to English usage. In English the gerund is a verb in -ing form of a verb which is used as a noun. "Swimming is fun." In Japanese you use の or こと to nominalize the verb. およぐことはたのしい。
In English, the -ing form is also used to describe an ongoing action. "I am eating." In Japanese, you do the same thing with Vte + imasu. 食べています。
You're right! By itself Vte is often described as the "connective" form, because you use it when stringing verbs in a sequence. I woke up, drank coffee, and read the paper. 起きて、コーヒーを飲んで、新聞を読みました。
Posted by: スティーブンズ on April 24, 2004 12:22 AM
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