So, this month is the month you will be familiar with basic Japanese grammar.  We are starting with important particles.

So far, we have covered the following particles:

• Mo (も) – means “too” or “also” in English. Click here to review this.

 

• Ga(が) & Wa (は) – two confusing particles of Japanese. Click here to review this.

Today’s lesson covers the O (を) and De (で) particles.

First let’s cover the O (を)  particle. This particle has a lot to do with “direct object”.  According to the definition from Wikipedia, “Traditional grammar defines the object in a sentence as the entity that is acted upon by the subject.”. So, basically direct object is the entity that occurs right after the verb.  In Japanese, the direct object is followed by the particles O(を). 

Let me show you some examples:

• Watashi wa okashi o mottekimasu. 私は、おかし　を　持ってきます。（わたしは、おかし　を　もってきます。）- I will bring the snacks.

 

• Watashi wa pan o kaimasu.  私は、パン　を　買います。（わたしは、パン　を　かいます。）- I will buy the bread.

 

• Oto-to wa manga o yondeimasu. 弟は、漫画　を　読んでいます。（おとうとは、まんが　を　よんでいます。）- My brother is reading a comic book.

 

• Kino- watashi wa tomato o kaimashita. 昨日　私は、トマト　を　買いました。　（きのう　わたしは、トマト　を　かいました。）- Yesterday, I bought tomatoes.

 

The next particle is also useful one where you can use to mark the location of activities.  In English, this will be expressed by “at” or “in”.

Examples are:

• Ani wa ginko de hataraite imasu. 兄は、銀行　で　働いています。（あには、　ぎんこう　で　はたらいています。）- My older brother works at the bank.

 

• **Watashi wa sono inu o ko-en de mitsukemashita.　私は、その犬を公園　で　見つけました。（わたしは　このいぬを　こうえん　でみつけました。）- I found the dog at the park.

**Notice that there are two particles in discussion are used in the above sentence.

 

The particle De(で) does not just mark the location of the activities but also marks the means by which the action is performed. For example, tools and methods.  This is similar to “with”, “on”, “in”, “by” in English.

Examples are:

• Watashi wa haha to denwa de hanashimashita. 私は、　母と　電話　で　話しました。（わたしは、ははと　でんわ　で　はなしました。）- I spoke to my mom on the phone.

 

• Kyou wa kuruma de kokoe kimashita. 今日は、車　で　ここへ来ました。（きょうは、くるま　で　ここへきました。）- I came here by car today.

 

• Watashi wa nihongo de hanasunoga sukidesu. 私は、日本語　で　話すのが　好きです。（わたしは、　にほんご　で　はなすのが　すきです。）I like speaking in Japanese.

Try using these particles in your Japanese sentences. Try creating as many sentences as possible for your practice and let me know if you have any questions!