Behold My Swarthy (Incomplete and Not so Helpful) Japanese Grammar Guide

by Beholdmyswarthyface

2004

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Some Example Sentences, With Grammar Points Highlighted

3 - 31

Chapter Two: Notes from A Reference Grammar of Japanese

8 - 32

Chapter Three : Further Reading

33

Chapter One
Some Example Sentences, With Grammar Points Highlighted
*
*The height of rudeness.
*.The film was so moving that I cried.
*. It was a most uncomfortable conversation.
*.
*, .While studying at school, I also
worked part-time.

CF: Nagara, katagata.

*, . Often used for excuses.

*
*~like (e.g. springlike).
*Experience is what counts.
*. Mono ka usually include nante or nanka.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*()
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
3

82-90:
*()
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*One of her typical replies.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*()
*
*
*

11/11/06-
*()
*()
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*.
*
*
*
*()
5

*
*
*
*
*
*
*,
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
6

*
*.
*
*()
*
*
*
*().
*5000

Chapter Two
Notes from A Reference Grammar of Japanese
1. RESTRICTIVES AND QUASI-RESTRICTIVES
fresh from

the sort of; per.

the one addressed toper;
: aboutapproximately.
: after the fashion of.
: classified by; excluding.
: coated/plated with; at discount of.

: the level/mark of.

: (one that is) the size of.
(): amount of/at least/exactly; just for being.
() : the product/graduate of
produced by/at
: far from being/doing; hardly
: up to (the limit of).
: according to, like, as.
: (those) in company with.
: requiring as much as, taking. ;
:garbed in; multiplied by; ten percent of. .
: by the nature of.
: around the age of, about, around
: by about (a percent, a price level).
: traveling between; commuting to.
: across/beyond, over.
: each, every.
: inclusive of, with . . . and all.
: throughout, the whole/entire.
: and beyond.
: after, since, hereafter.
: below, under, less than.
8

 : after, since.
: odd, and a few.
: within, inside of; less than.
: all through; within, before the end of.
under
: to the extent of; limited to, only.
: (one who is) of about (age); with the look of.
: between A and B; the interval of.
: by route of, via.
: about (an amount of).
: .
: the most N in all of.
: exact amount.
including:
: traditional/native to.
: all the way (to/from).
: a drop-out from
: .
: in a mood of, in a state of, in confusion of.
: at the moment right before.
: .
: not yet fully, under (age/amount)
: imitating, in the style
: bound, intended for.
: suitable for.
: approximately.
: in the middle of.
: an ordinary example of,
: approximately to, to be expected of:
: at intervals of; skipping (every so many).
:
: depending on
: reared.
: (a price) of the order of.
: attired in.
: less than.
9

:
:
: at rate of .
: about, approximately.
: a lineup, an array of.
: weariness from.
: dated . .
: by dint/force of; purely out of.
: adorned with, swathed in, full of.
: face of.
: following along.
(?)

2. DESCRIPTIVE PREDICATES
It is natural that . . .

It is all one can do. .

Its ones aim to

3. CONVERSTION POSSIBILITIES

keeps on doing/happens over and over:

when about to.

4. POSTNOMINAL VERBS AND ADJECTIVES

10

Turns to

. Behaves like

Becomes like.

Shows signs of.

Becomes like.

Resembles, is close to

Looks.

Is like.

Gives feeling of being (bad)

5. ADJECTIVES/ADJECTIVAL NOUNS THAT VERBALIZE

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
: hungry
:
:
:
:
: Is impatiently awaited.
:
:
:
11

6. LEXICAL NEGATIVES
: noncombatant
:
:
:
:
:

uncontrolled

:
:
:

nonpayment

:
:

inexperienced

negligent

:
:

unpopular

:
:

reluctance

:
:
:
:
:

misconduct; profligate

impolite; awkward
unsociable

without notice

:
:

demobilized

7. SOME VERB INFINITIVES

:

to point; subtract.

8. ADVERBIAZATION: THE CONCURRENT-CONCESSIVE (NAGARA)

12

inadequate though I am

:
:

indirectly, casually

:
:
:
:
:

in my own small way

despite my intentions
from ones armchair, without stirring

:
:
:
:

incidentally

if I may presume

9. VERBAL INFITIVE(+)
:
:
:
:
:

:
:

()

:
:

:
: ,
:

Tends to; seems to.

10. LITERARY NEGATIVE INFINITIVE ()

13


11. LIST OF INFINITIVE-ATTACHED AUXILIARY VERBS
A. RECRIPOCAL

B. INCHOATIVE or INCEPTIVE
:

:
:

C. COMPLETIVE
:
:

Stops in the midst of doing

: . Finishes with; carries through to completion.

D. INTENSIVE
:

Does vigorously and with concentration

:
:

E. CONTINUATIVE
:
F. HABITUATIVE
:
,:

Makes habit of.

14

 :
:

G. ITERATIVE
: Repeats the doing of. Transitive verbs only
: Redoes DIFFERENTLY.
: Redoes DIFFERENTLY AND BETTER
H. EFFECTIVE
: manages to do, succeeds in doing

I. INEFFECTIVE

: wearies of doing; fails

:
:

Misdoes.

: Cant do; finds it difficult to do.

:
: .
: Too late; misses doing.
J. DEPLETIVE
:

Is finally reduced to.

:
:
: Fails to do
: Begrudges doing; is reluctant to.
K. INGRESSIVE
:
15

L. EGRESSIVE
:

M. OTHER
: Misses doing.
:
:
: Masters the doing of.
:

: But
: - easy to misread.
:
:
: Does it all the way; achieves ()
: Omits doing, neglects doing.
: what the shit are you doing?
:
:
, :

: Not quite fully unclouded.

:

12. PHRASAL POSTPOSITIONS

:
:

with Noun as keynote, basis

modeling after N

:
:
:
:
:
16

 :
:
:

as the momentum, turning point

:
on the model of

:
:

with Noun as a pledge

:
:

with Noun as a starter

in retaliation for Noun

on the strength/grounds/pretext of Noun

out of respect for Noun

setting ones sights on N

:
:
:

in common with

in collusion/conspiracy with

:
:

through the good offices of

under the auspices of

in compensation

:
:

on the supposition that S

:
:

saying nothing of . . .
despite (regardless) of

:
:

to make up for N, by way of compensation for N

under the assumed name of N

every three days of less

13. MORE PHRASAL POSTPOSITIONS

:

hand in hand with/coupled, conjoined with

:
:

taking on (as opponent), against

in conformity with

in expectation/hope of; arranged for (in anticipation of)

:
:

aboard a ship; availing oneself of, taking advantage of

17

 :
:
:

corresponding to, applicable, deserving

:
:
:

in obedience to/in obeisance

:
:

sandwiched/caught between

in contrast to

inclusive of, including

on the verge of

in proportion to, proportionally with

alluding to

depending on; irrespective of, in spite of

under pretext/ pretense of

combing (for a dual purpose)

in view of, in light of, taking a lesson from

calculated in terms of, converted to

modeling/patterning after the manner of, imitation of

/:

in competition for

for/in fear of

in agreement with/ in response to

independently of, irrespective of

of all the possibilities of/to . . ..

under the pretense of

inclusive of, including

in defiance of

in conspiracy with

:
:
:

in consideration/appreciation of, in reward for

:
:
:

out of consideration/respect for

in expectation/anticipation
with . . . in mind; contemplating

instead of, on behalf of

in the guise of, posing as; full-fledged

18

() :

patterning/modeling after, in imitation of

in the light of, in view/consideration of

following (pattern/precedent), in accordance with

supplementary to

in spite of, braving, in the teeth of

with banners raised, displaying in front

:
:
:
:

at the time of, in case of

:

:

in conformity with; conforming to; based/founded on

:
:

corresponding to; proportionate to; meriting

complying with, satisfying

(peering) through

. Coaxing, persuading

compared/checked/tallied with

under the burden of

:
:

in light of
with reference to, by association with; associated with

:
:

by way of, via

through (the medium of), through good offices of

through (the medium of), via; throughout, all over

in connection with

in company with

:
:
:
:
:
:

judging from/by, in light of

in expectation/anticipation of
taking advantage of
in conformity to, in pursuance of
in adjustment/accommodation with, in sympathy

with
:

in proportion to/ according to/as

19

14. LIST OF ADVERBS

A. Adverbs of Time
: at present.

().
recently

lately
: the other day, recently, in advance of.
(1)(2) at present/for the present
: for the present
: at first glance
just then
in advance
already; now; so soon

(temporal) (spatial)

hitherto
before long,
before long, soon

in the near future

by and by; eventually
sooner or later
finally

///: any moment; very nearly

at last
at last (literary)
20

in the end
:

before it happens
later on
in later years

B. Adverbs of Duration
(1)(2)

10 . Coldest winter in 10 years.

:
All year round.

without letup
///

C. Adverbs of Speed

21

On the spot.
(1)(2)

impetuously, at full speed

hastily, hurriedly

suddenly

suddenly
bursting out suddenly
readily, on short notice

D. Adverbs of Frequency
(just) once
once or twice
more than once

in rapid succession; in large numbers

repeatedly,
again, twice
again (undesirable)
22


yet again (gratuitously)
from time to time

Apt to.

often
over and over
over and over again
often
year after year
:Morning and evening
morning after morning
day after day
night after night
daily
from time to time (literary)
E. Adverbs combining Time and Frequency
often before
anew
F. Adverbs of PLACE or ORDER
afar, at a distance

(1)(2)
: () by turns, one after another
()successively, in order
in order

23

G. Adverbs of Degree (and Quantity)

: absolutely; wholly
: wholly

mostly, one the whole, for the most part

all there is, the whole thing

to the utmost, as best one can

exceedingly, exceptionally; unexpectedly
remarkably.
lavishly, lots).
in droves

lots
quite a lot

extremely much; thoroughly

mostly
very (adjectival noun)
very (adjectival noun)

greatly
greatly
generally
in general
(2)
24

entirely; (not) at all

around, about, nearly

no less than, as many as, approximately

almost, about (as noun: gist)
roughly, approximately; briefly, sketchily

slightly, a little

entirely

: much more/less

(1):(2)

briefly, roughly; as usual; tentatively

H. Adverbs of Manner

conspicuously placed

25


earnest.

I. Adverbs of Evaluation

Most, best

26

admirable
more/worse than ever
J. Adverbs of Logical Relation

(1) (2) (3) (4)

sorta, somewhat; for some reason

: as expected

precisely; just

27

after all; probably

in total. . .$

together

separately, respectively, each

precisely, nothing but

id est
what people call. .

alias, aka

especially
especially.
only, just, merely
: at highest/most
at the outside; at most, to the utmost

mainly, exclusively

K. Adverbs of Sentential Relation: Assertion and Prediction

28

by all means, necessarily (ought)

L. DENIAL

not wholly
absolutely not
(not) at all, (not) ever
(not) at all

(not) at all

:
M. PROHIBITION

OR REFUSAL

(1)(2)

N. SUPPOSITION

29

O. COMPARISON

(1) ; (2) ; (3)

P. MISCELLANEOUS
): .

15. LIST OF COMMON CONSTRUCTIONS OFTEN PRECEDED BY DIRECT

NOMINALIZATION

()

30

:
:
:
:

16. CONNECTORS AND SENTENCE-OPENERS; OPENING ELLIPSIS

31

to put it bluntly
: to tell the truth. . .
:

what it boils down to is. .

I am told that . .

bear in mind that . . .

nonetheless

32

Chapter Three
Further Reading

1. http://www.jgram.org/pages/viewList.php
2. Samuel E. Martin. A Reference Grammar of Japanese. Imprint Rutland, Vt. : C.E.
Tuttle Co. 1988.
3. Kakuko Shoji. Core Words and Phrases: Things you can't find in a dictionary.

33