it was. I was really bad at it though. XD I was always better at grammar than vocab.

I'll probably be better at vocab.. grammar fails D:

Japanese grammar is easier than English grammar. :3

I hope so >< I fail at english grammar

nah, you're.....okayish at English grammar. 8D
<3
you're better than many internet-dwellers, at any rate.

._. *remembers one fanfic on AFF.net and shivers* I guess I'm okish

just a hint with kanji I guess. While it's always good to know the most common pronunciations, don't forget to learn the lesser-used ones as well. And never forget to learn the chinese readings along with the Japanese readings.

For anyone with an iPhone/iPod touch then you should get the app "Kanji" it's orange and... just is named kanji. Anyway you can make lists and then push the study button and it works just like flash cards >3<' I love it.

D: i need a ipod touch.. or a smart phone... or something ><

well flashcards work just as well s'long as you have all the readings still, but the app is just more convenient for me. XD

Oh so sorry for not being here! I think it's long overdue for another little lesson no? (fyi the quiz-type item - the first link - I will post up is a review on the old and a practice of using adjectives and this will also include translating (do not worry - in both hiragana and romaji))

So for today's lesson we will be showing how to say it isn't, was, and wasn't (using desu). AND IT WILL BE LONG FORM! aka formal.

THIS IS USING NOUNS FOR B!! BIG NOTE - IF USING I-ADJECTIVES IT CHANGES!! THIS WILL BE COVERED IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT!

Pt 1!!! - Past Affirmative (aka past tense)
PrAf: AはBです。　A wa B desu. (present affirmative AKA present tense)
PaAf: AはBでした。　A wa B deshita. (Past affirmative)

You see what I changed? The ending.. Well for the sake of this I will call it a 'verb' even though it really isn't, Changed~ So to make a regular sentence past you change it from です(desu) To でした(deshita)。

Pt2!!! -　Present Negative (aka negative)
PrAf: AはBです。A wa B desu.
PrNe: AはBじゃないです。 A wa B ja nai desu.
PrNe2: AはBじゃありません。 A wa B ja arimasen.

In order to change a positive simple sentence to negative you simply add じゃない(ja nai) after the noun in position B. If you put it where A is （before the は）not only does it sound funny but it isn't correct either.

Option 2: In this option you change the です(desu) to あります(arimasu). That is the verb to be (inanimate objects) and to have (not the same as to own though). And then we change the あります(arimasu) to ありません(arimasen). This will make it negative. You also make sure there is a じゃ(ja) following the noun.

Pt3!!! - Past Negative (no aka)
PrAf:　AはBです。　A wa B desu.
PaNe:　AはBじゃなかったです。　A wa B ja nakatta desu.
PaNe２：　AはBじゃありませんでした。　A wa B ja arimasen deshita.

So ask you can see the じゃない (ja nai) became じゃなかった(ja nakatta)。 Do you see the difference? If not, the ending い(i) of the じゃない(ja nai) became かった(katta).　Now that is using the first option as shown in pt 2 as well.

Option 2: We take the じゃありません(ja arimasen) and combine it with the past affirmative that was shown in part 1. So you take present negative + past affirmative and you get past negative!

For you ease this is how it lines up using the example This is paper （And all of it subsequent forms)

これはかみです。 Kore wa kami desu.
This is paper.
これはかみでした。 Kore wa kami deshita.
This was paper.
これはかみじゃないです・これはかみじゃありません。 Kore wa kami ja nai desu/ja arimasen.
This is not paper.
これはかみじゃなかったです・これはかみじゃありませんでした。 Kore wa ja nakatta desu/ja arimasen deshita.
This was not paper.

EDIT: So I will post up two things later tonight - 1 will be a homework type thing over this. The other will be a mini quiz of last weeks stuff. I will try to put doing this stuff weekly into my calendar ok? Then maybe we can get a weekly quiz (or daily if you want. We have 2 daily quizzes in my class) and a homework type thing that I do more often and it's a lot more simple. And maybe a monthly test?

Of course romaji, hiragana/romaji, and hiragana only would be available. What do you all think?

Shinkamalei-sensei!! Sugoku tanomoshii! <3

>////< Thank you ashurato-san! ちょっと恥ずかしい～ (A little embarassing). But thanks. I think it's good to pass on good teachings and honestly I would be doing a lot wrong if not for my teacher, kazuko-sensei.

;w; you are so helpful <3 *reads*

I think it's a wonderful thing you're doing, shinkamalei. I'm sure people like DK *stares at the hungry-wolf expression on DK's face* really appreciate it.

you're welcome DK. I check back here everyday but just briefly (check for new comments and/or msgs). If you have any questions - you can PM me. Or anyone else. <3 I will soon be graduating 1st year japanese and I get to be my teacher's TA <3333 Which is a first at my college!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /excited

@ashurato:
lol well I hope I am really able to help. All the information that is taught to me by the international students, all my own blunders, and all the things my teacher has taught me I will try to pass on. <3 And if I make a mistake - please feel free to correct me. ^^;

Will do~ If either of you get stuck on something, just feel free to ask.
Also, are these "lesson" posts being archived? *checks the front page*

Yep, good job!

I wish my printer had ink D8 I am gonna take my kana cards and note book to the surgery center tomorrow/today and practice my higarana.. I'm on the s's.. sa shi su se so

I got;
a i u e o ka ki ku ke ko

down.. .. one step at a time *^*

Once I get enough characters memorized I tend to write small words that are available so far :3


Ashu - theys important and I needs them up there or I'll never see them again xD

Good job!!
And that's a smart way to go.
FYI, the times I forget my hiragana/katakana order (i do timed trials on occasions) I say this to myself:

A
Kitty
Saw
The
Nasty
House
Mouse
Yelling
Really
Weird
Noises

xDDD
Each hiragana has a little story to go along with it and that's how I learned it best.
It's actually what has helped me memorize the kanji for milk! <33

oh and here's the first one:
http://www.mediafire.com/?x418fdot9ia1j6n .doc
http://www.mediafire.com/?h1dacv7decpi16m .docx

@ashurato:
I shall! And you would be able to explain things to me right? There is one thing I do have a question on but I have class when my teacher has her office hours.

thats what we did for math! 8D

Please
Excuse
My
Dear
Aunt
Sally

x'D *grabs note books and writes this down* OwO

@ shinka - yup! i'll try my best. i've just never explained specific japanese language mechanics in english before, but i'll try.

And that's an interesting way to remember the order!

tests added to the front! :3 *downloads one*

@DK:
lololol WE LEARNED THAT SAME ONE!!!
so much fun!

@ashurato:
So for my class, we are required to have pen pals in tokyo women's university.
We got out letters recently and I had one of my japanese friends help me out on a sentence. It is:

フォーが何であるかを知っていますか？

My question is why would they tell me to use the 何であるか?
I know I am asking do you know what pho is.
And I can dissect is so I see the あります but I don't see why there is a か after is.
I know 何 is what and 何で can be why or another way of saying "what" correct?

I have a question! *^*

In kana writings on some stuff.. um.. its best I show you a pic cause I donno how to explain it other then it looks like a line.. and from what I seen it's to tell you to hold out a sound.

I took notice of this thing when trying to translate the candy box I gotten (and kept)

http://bestuff.com/images/images_of_...jpg?1173282454

チヨコレト
there is supposed to be that line in there to hold out re I think.. I can't seem to figure out how to make it ><

This. You're pretty much saying "do you know what pho is/consists of"?
Another way of putting it is:

フォーという料理の材料が知っていますか？

＠DK - You mean typing it out? I just use the dash key. And the ヨ next to the チ is small: チョコレート。

how do you get it to be small? o.O

and its just the dash sign? i see ._. *feels stupid*

Type in "cho". It should be automatic.

チョ

o.o Ahhhh! I see! okay x3 I gots it now. :3

yeah it's the dash key
and what do you think about doing a speaking thing?
Like listening practice?
That's the only thing I DON'T have from my japanese class and it really sucks.
But there's only so much one can do in an hour.

also if you want it to be small you can put an h or an l before it and it should go.
like my name メロディー　won't work if I simply put di. It is mean to me like that.

@ashurato:
ohhhh. I think i understand it better now. Thank you~ <3

Hee hee~ Glad to be of help.

if you have skype sure! :3 we should make a schedual for it so others know. x3

Speaking thing? Sure, just tell me when (preferably on the weekend on after 7 pm PST).

weekends would be good :3 more people could join in

Oh boy. Did I suddenly find myself with a Trisphee online class to teach?

xD I dunno.. who is the teacher? >w<

*makes like a Japanese person and ninjas out of here*

But kidding, I'd be glad to help you guys.

I think the voice lessons would actually help me best x3 with hearing and visuals I learn the best I think

Awesome~
and I got a little lost but I have skype.
same name as my username here.
and we could do a LS out of this.
/shrugs/ what about sundays?
and I am in PST also! <3
DK?

Sundays would be perfect, actually.
My handle is ashurato47 for skype.

I don't know my timezone ^^, I just know its 1AM here xD

I'm free almost 24/7 :3 for this week I might have to wonder off every once in a while cause of moms foot surgery but I'll still be able to do it

*adds you to skypes*

mine is demons-kid =w=

Sounds like you're EST, DK. We're three hours behind.