My original intent was to continue the series with a third volume which would cover adverbs and some other smaller problems peculiar to the Japanese language. My previous two books, Intermediate Japanese Reading Aids ， Volume I, Verbs and Verb-following Expressions, and Volume II, Particles and Noun-supporting Words and Expressions, have fortu nately been received favorably by many teachers as well as students of Japanese. Naturally, the students need to make a conscientious effort, receive effective in struction if possible, and use quality dictionaries and reference books. Therefore, in spite of the often-heard remark, “ Japanese is an impossible language,” it is indeed possible for most students to learn to speak, read, and write modern Japanese. Rest of the words, such as adverbial phrases, is very flexible, and so forth. For example, main verbs are always at the end of a clause or sentence any element which changes the status of these verbs, such as nega tive, desiderative, or passive forms, will be attached at the end of the verb and every modifier, whether an adjective, adverb, or some others, always precedes what it modifies the position of the Once the basic principles are learned, the structure of most sentences can be understood. Japanese grammar may be complex, but it is not as difficult to learn as many people believe. Traditional Japanese grammar sometimes serves well for this purpose, but at other times it tends to hinder students’ learning by making the Japanese language appear more complicated than it really is. Japanese grammar books written for non-native students must include clear and convincing explanations for these kinds of problems peculiar to the Japanese language. These, however, are some of the most confusing, if not most difficult, proolems that non-Japanese students face when they study Japanese. Nor would a Japanese wonder which would be the correct way to form a verb and adjective な-form, and so forth.
For example, no Japanese, not even little children, would ask which particle, wa ^ or ga が， should be used for a certain occasion. It is clear that the problems of teaching Japanese grammar to English-speaking students are entirely different from those of teaching this grammar to native Japanese students. Reference has sometimes been made to traditional Japanese grammatical explanations, but considerable liberty has also been taken wherever necessary to arrive at satisfactory, as well as easily understood, explanations. For that reason I have tried to explain the various grammatical points simply and concisely, avoiding the use of most technical terms and, whenever possible, comparing Japanese gram mar with that of English for clarity. PREFACE This book is intended both as a Japanese grammar reference book and as a reading aid, that is to say, an effective reference tool for those who study Japanese, either in a classroom or on their own. Bruce Batten, John O’Donnell, Michael Powell, Miss Juliet Thorpe, my husband Robert and son Ken. Special thanks go to those who took their valuable time reading the manuscript and offering helpful suggestions: Professors Stephen Kohl and Ryoko Toyama Messrs. I am also grateful to those who wrote me from time to time commenting on my previous two books their kind words often gave me much-needed encouragement. P u b lish ed b y T h e H oku seid o P ress 3-12, Kanda-Nishlldcho, Chiyoda-lcu, TokyoĪCKNOWLEDGMENT The enthusiasm and earnestness of my students at the Univeristy of Oregon during the past several years gave me the courage, in spiration and moral support to write this book, and I would first like to thank all of them. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.įirst printing,1981 Second printing, 1982 Third printing, 1982 Fourth printing, 1982 Fifth printing, 1983 衫ixth printing,1983
PL M3/7 Copyright © 1981 by The Hokuseido Press, Japan. YOKO M ATSU O K A McCLAIN University of Oregon HANDBOOK OF MODERN JAPANESE GRAMMAR including Lists of Words and Expressions with English Equivalents for Reading Aid
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