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Need help with sentences.... 2009/5/22 00:25
Konbanwa.

Watashi wa Mikev8 desu.

That wasn't what I needed help with, but if it is incorrect please tell me why.

I would like to know if there is anything wrong with the sentence structure of these statements.

"Who was that woman?"

[Dare ga sore wa kojoshi desitta?]

"What are you talking about?"

[Nani ga anata wa katari ka?]

"Where are we going?"

[Doko ga watashitachi e iku ka?]

Much thanks to all who can help.


by Mikev8 (guest)  

My attempt 2009/5/22 10:37
I would probably go with:
Sono onna no kata wa dare deshita ka?

Sono means ''that'' as a modifier. Onna no kata is a polite way to say ''woman'' but your word would likely work as well.

Nani o itte imasu ka?

I'm not really sure on this one. Nani = what, itte imasu = saying/talking. Also, I dropped the anata since it isn't used often (politeness reasons), and it would be implied who you were talking to.

Doko ni/e itte imasu ka?

You likely don't need watashitachi in the sentence as it is implied. For your sentence, the e/ni particle should have been on the destination.
by Gunshi rate this post as useful

... 2009/5/22 12:33
"Who was that woman?"
- Sono josei wa dare deshita ka? ("josei" is another way to say "woman/lady.")
- Sono onna no kata wa dare deshita ka? (As suggested by the earlier poster.)

You could use the modifier "ano" instead of "sono" to say "that," if that woman is at a distance. "Ano" is "that over there."

"What are you talking about?"
- Nan no hanashi wo shite iru no desu ka?
("katari" is more like "narrative," and not really used in a simple conversational sentence like this.)
("Nani wo itte imasu ka?" Is more like "What are you/is he saying?" which may be used, for example, your Japanese friend and you are listening to the news together, and you missed what they said, so you ask your friend what the newscaster is saying.)

"Where are we going?"
- (Watashitachi wa) Doko e iku no desu ka?
As explained by the earlier poster, the subject can be omitted.
by AK rate this post as useful

(cont.) 2009/5/22 15:09
Thanks for the help. Now I would like to know if the lit. translation (which I am about to write) of the sentence corrected above is correct.

(ex.)
Watashi wa Mikev8 desu
- As for me, Mikev8 I am.

"What are you talking about?"
- Nan no hanashi wo shite iru no desu ka?

[Doing you are what talk?]
by Mikev8 (guest) rate this post as useful

... 2009/5/22 16:09
Mikev8,

I don't know why you are trying your hand at "literal translation," but if I am to take apart my suggested sentence for: "What are you talking about?" which was "Nan no hanashi wo shite iru no desu ka?"

[Nan no hanashi] wo {shite iru} no desu ka?

[Talk of what] are you {doing}, it is?
by AK rate this post as useful

Just to add 2009/5/22 16:11
Maybe I should have given:
- Nan no hanashi wo shite imasu ka?

This is more straightforward - in line with the beginner's grammar.

[Nan no hanashi ] wo {shite imasu] ka?
[Talk of what] are you {doing}?

"wo" is a (direct) object marker.
by AK rate this post as useful

(cont.) 2009/5/22 16:41
Thanks for the help. Now I would like to know if the lit. translation (which I am about to write) of the sentence corrected above is correct.

(ex.)
Watashi wa Mikev8 desu
- As for me, Mikev8 I am.

"What are you talking about?"
- Nan no hanashi wo shite iru no desu ka?

[Doing you are what talk?]
by Mikev8 (guest) rate this post as useful

(cont.) 2009/5/22 16:46
Sorry for that last post.
As for the lit. translation I just wanted to see if I was even close to understanding how a sentence would sound as I thought about it before I spoke it in Japanese. Also, to see if I'm getting the use of my particals confused.

Thank you much for the reply.
by Mikev8 (guest) rate this post as useful

Uses of Why 2009/5/22 17:02
What types of situations would using the other forms of "Nan" (if any) be appropriate?


by Mikev8 (guest) rate this post as useful

"nan" 2009/5/22 18:42
"nan" in the above sentence is a variation of "nani," "what."

"nan no hanashi?" (talk about/of what?)
"nan to iu namae?" (what name is it/are you referred by?)

"Why" would be "naze?" or "nande?" ("by what" = "by what reason/circumstances" = "why")
by AK rate this post as useful

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