"Ka" a verbal question marker | ||
When you ask something, you just have to ad the grammar marker "ka" to the verb at the end of a sentence. The verb always comes last in Japanese, so it goes like this |
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I am Tanaka Watashi wa Tanaka desu (subject) (object) (verb) |
Are you (Mr./ Mrs.) Tanaka? Anata wa Tanaka-san desu ka (subject) (object) (verb) |
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When you address a Japanese person, family name is used followed by "san". You have to ad "san" to the name when addressing a Japanese person but don't use "san" when referring to yourself. |
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Anata wa Tanaka-san desu (You are Mr/Mrs Tanaka) |
Anata wa Tanaka-san desu ka ? (Are you Mr/Mrs Tanaka?) |
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As being explained, subject can be left out | ||
Tanaka-san desu (He/she is Mr/Mrs Tanaka) |
Tanaka-san desu ka? (Is he/she Mr/Mrs Tanaka?) |
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Gakusei desu (I am/she is a student) |
Gakusei desu ka? (Are you/Is she a student?) |
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Tokyoo desu (This is Tokyo) |
Tokyoo desu ka? (Is this Tokyo?) |
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Amerikajin desu (I am / he is American) |
Amerikajin desu ka? (Are you/Is he American?) |
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If you say with the rising intonation at the end of a sentence like | ||
Tanaka-san ? | ||
Gakusei ? | ||
Tokyoo? | ||
Amerikajin? | ||
you can make a question sentence, but we find out with more ease that you are asking when you use "ka", verbal question marker to the verb at the end of a sentence |
Now let's practice the key sentences and understand how to use "desu" and "ka". Click me |