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Questions tagged [grammar]

文法. A collective term for syntax (the way sentences are put together) and morphology (forms of words, including the way new words are put together). Often used to describe function words such as particles, to describe word endings, and to talk about general sentence structure.

Applies to any question regarding Japanese grammar, such as particles, conjugations and endings for verbs and adjectives, and general sentence structure.

Questions about specific words, or nuance differences between words, are not included in this tag.

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Difference between ために and ように

I've got a question regarding difference in usage of 辞書形+ように and 辞書形+ために with verbs' dictionary forms, i.e. 飛行機に乗り遅れないように、前日早寝したのです。 彼は質問をするために手を上げました。 The notion I get is that the first is used with non-action verbs, while the latter form is…
szychy
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Difference between にかんして and について?

What is the difference between にかんして and について? Example usage would be much appreciated!
hachikuro
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だって (datte) meaning

What are the possible uses for だって?
Mel
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Positioning of quantities (using counters)

Example 1 ビール一杯を飲む 一杯のビールを飲む ビールを一杯飲む Example 2 ネジ2本を取り付ける 2本のネジを取り付ける ネジを2本取り付ける Is there any difference between the above examples with the positioning of the quantity?
Jesse Good
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Does Vて+いる always mean an action already completed?

For the longest time, I thought that a verb ending in て+いる meant that one was currently doing an action, similar to how we use ~ing in English to mean a contuinuing state. So 食{た}べている means "eating". However, I've run into confusion over sentences…
Questioner
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Difference Between べんきょう する and べんきょうを する

What is the difference between べんきょう する and べんきょうを する?
Mudassir
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Can someone explain the logic of the grammar "とは限らない"

I found this example sentence in "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar" under a grammar point unrelated to "とは限らない": "運動をよくする人が必ずしも長生きするとは限らない。" I understand the meaning of the sentence ("People who exercise a lot don't necessarily live a…
wwwhitney
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Difference between てもいい and ていい?

寝ていい？ I've learned that to ask permission for doing something, you needed to use ～てもいい but the more I read japanese, the more I come across ～ていい. What is the difference ? Is the latter a colloquial version of ～てもいい ?
Ushiromiya
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What does 「学校が学校」, 「年が年」and such mean exactly?

So I came across this sentence when reading "Kokoro" by Natsume Souseki: ...友達は中国のある資産家の息子で金に不自由のない男であったけれども、学校が学校なのと年が年なので、生活の程度は私とそう変りもしなかった。 And a translation says: ...My friend was from a wealthy family in the Central Provinces, and had no…
Harmonika
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Is there a difference between んがため and ために?

My JLPT textbook has a section about the use of んがため, which they define as "making an effort in order to realize the intended purpose." Which to me sounds like plain ol' ために. For example, they have this example…
Questioner
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What's the difference between 〜以上は and 〜からには

The textbook I'm currently using defines both of these grammar points as: 〜のだから、絶対にする／しないのが当然だ What is the difference between the two grammar points, can they be used interchangeably like the following: …
phirru
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When do you use するには as opposed to するため（には） to mean "in order to"?

I keep having するため（には） corrected to するには when writing sentences, but how interchangeable are they and when should each be used? Taking some Japanese sentences from Space ALC with my own English translations, is there some reason why one or the other…
cypher
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How do ことになる and ようになる differ? (When ことになる cannot = "It has been decided that")

I understand that ことになる has the meaning "It has been decided that" and can be used to point to a ritual or habit of a society like taking off your shoes. However, I don't get what it means when it is like this: あすで１週間雨が降りつづくことになる。 How is that…
Nathan
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Why is 楽しみに！wrong?

I was corrected on Lang-8 website that I should write 楽しみ！or 楽しみにしています！instead of 楽しみに！. And I don't understand why. Help please. 教えてくださいませんか。
dimadesu
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What is the purpose of adding と?

For example: 柔和{にゅうわ}な線{せん}で縁取{ふちど}られた宝石{ほうせき}のような瞳{ひとみ}に、ほっそりとした顎{あご}、綺麗{きれい}な鼻筋{はなすじ}。美人{びじん}っていう人{ひと}の条件{じょうけん}しっかりと備{ととの}えちゃってる。 What is the purpose of the と in ほっそりとした instead of just saying ほっそりした? Also what's the difference the following…
Tomm
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