Der Kartoffel

Monday, June 25, 2007

Grammar notes 49

でございます and でいらっしゃいます is the deferential form of the copula. でございます is restricted for oneself only, when speaking about the addressee or a object connected with the addressee でいらっしゃいます must be used.

The honorific form of a verb is formed by the pattern お(になる|です), where N is a verb in base 2. Should a more honorific sentence be required です can be replaced with いらっしゃいます.

When transforming a verbal noun into honorific, they take the pattern 御[noun N]なさる where N is a verbal noun. While the use of passive, Nされる is still possible, it is not frequently used.

Humble verbs are formed with the pattern お(します|いたします) where V is a verb in base 2. For a verbal noun a 御 is overriding the start to form 御[noun N](します|いたします)

Causatives may be used for requests. The pattern (もらいます|いただきます), V is a verb in ーて form, is not really a request, merely stating what you intend to do in a polite way. The pattern (くる|下さい|もらいたい|ほしい|いただきたい) is however used for strong requests or demands.

出来るだけ simply means "as much as possible", and is used such that 出来るだけ[sentence S] where S is an arbitrary sentence.

(もの|もん) may be inserted before with final verb in a sentence for sympathy.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Grammar notes 48

There are two ways to express percentage. One is to utilize the loanword パーセント, the other is by using 割 for 10% and 分 for one percent so that x割y分 = x*0.1+y*0.01.

Brusque positive commands are formed by going to base 5. If a negative command is desired な needs to be appended in base 3.

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