Lesson 13

In previous lessons, we studied sentences in their long forms and practiced basic conversations using polite speech. Starting with this lesson, we begin learning sentences in their short forms and practicing basic conversations using casual speech. By learning the short forms, you will be able to carry on natural conversation with your friends using casual, informal speech. In this lesson, we mainly focus on short form conjugations.

When to start this lesson

Try answering the five questions below. You are ready to start this lesson if you can answer these questions.

  1. 昨日は忙しかったですか。（きのうはいそがしかったですか。）
  2. 昨日、何をしましたか。（きのう、なにをしましたか。）
  3. 今朝、何時に起きましたか。（けさ、なんじにおきましたか。）
  4. 今晩、何をしますか。（こんばん、なにをしますか。）
  5. 週末に、よく何をしますか。（しゅうまつに、よくなにをしますか。）

  1. Were you busy yesterday?
  2. What did you do yesterday?
  3. What time did you wake up this morning?
  4. What will you do tonight?
  5. What do you often do on weekends?

Lesson Goals

  • Understanding the differences between long forms and short forms
  • Learning the short form conjugation rules

What you will be able to do

By completing this lesson, you will be able to do the following:

  • You can conjugate words into their short forms (affirmative and negative, non-past and past).

Activities

L13 Activity 1 – Learn & Understand (1)

Understand the differences between polite speech and casual speech and learn the three basic word endings of short forms.

  1. Watch the video below bearing the two questions below in mind:
    • When should I use さかなをたべる versus さかなをたべます?
    • What are the three short form endings that are common across all parts of speech?
  2. Read “GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations” in the textbook (pp.94-95 in the main volume) to deepen your understanding. When you read example sentences, check word definitions and pronunciations using the example sentence slides below.

[p.94] GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations

Watch this video when you start studying GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations on p.94.

pp.94-95

This slide includes the example sentences from the section [1] Overview of Short Forms in GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations.

L12 Activity 2 – Learn & Understand (2)

Complete “Comprehension Check GP5-1 [1]” on pp.95-96 and check your understanding. You can confirm your answers on the answer key below:
Answer Key

L13 Activity 3 – Practice (1)

Activity Booklet “Conjugation Practice 19-1” (p.30)

Using a video in “Video Practice 19-1” below, practice using the three basic word endings of short forms. 

Practice 19-1

The AI robot that you are helping learn Japanese wants to know how to speak casually to Japanese friends.

Common Characteristics: ない, た (or だ), なかった

First, help the robot learn Japanese the common characteristics of short forms across all parts of speech — ない, た (or だ), and なかった — by changing the given words in the right forms.

L13 Activity 4 – Learn & Understand (3)

Understand the short form conjugations for verbs. 

Read “GP5-1 [2] Verb Short Form Conjugations” in the textbook (pp.96-97 in the main volume) to deepen your understanding. When you read example sentences, check word definitions and pronunciations using the example sentence slides below.

pp.96-97

This slide includes the example sentences from the section [2] Verb Short Form Conjugations in GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations.

L13 Activity 5 – Learn & Understand (4)

Complete “Comprehension Check GP5-1 [2]” on p.98 and check your understanding. You can confirm your answers on the answer key below:
Answer Key

    L13 Activity 6 – Practice (2)

    Activity Booklet “Conjugation Practice 19-1” (p.30)

    Using videos in “Video Practice 19-1” below, practice short form conjugations for verbs. 

    Practice 19-1

    U-verb Non-past Negative Forms

    The robot has understood the general concept (ない, た, and なかった), but needs more data to master u-verb conjugations. As the second step, focus on the non-past negative forms of u-verbs.

    Next, change the given u-verbs into the right u-verb past affirmative forms.

    L13 Activity 7 – Practice (3)

    Short Form Conjugation Practice

    Using the online practice quizzes below, practice conjugating verbs into the short forms.

    Take practice quizzes to test your knowledge of the short form conjugations for verbs.

    L13 Activity 8 – Learn & Understand (5)

    Understand the short form conjugations for だ and i-adjective. 

    Read “GP5-1 [3] だ and I-adjective Short Form Conjugations” in the textbook (p.99 in the main volume) to deepen your understanding. When you read example sentences, check word definitions and pronunciations using the example sentence slides below.

    p.99

    This slide includes the example sentences from the section [3]だ and i-adjective Short Form Conjugations in GP5-1. Short Form Conjugations.

    L13 Activity 9 – Learn & Understand (6)

    Complete “Comprehension Check GP5-1 [3]” on p.100 and check your understanding. You can confirm your answers on the answer key below:
    Answer Key

    L13 Activity 10 – Practice (4)

    Short Form Conjugation Practice

    Using the online practice quizzes below, practice conjugating verbs, だ, and i-adjectives into the short forms.