A Linguistics Workbook, 4th Edition

Name

Section

4.14 Simple Sentences 6: Japanese

Examine the Japanese sentences 1-7 and answer the questions that follow.

Assume that the particles -ga, -0, and -ni indicate whether the noun phrase to

which they are attached is functioning as subject, object, or indirect object,

respectively.

la. Sono kodomo-ga tokei-o mita.

b. Tokei-o sono kodomo-ga mita.

"That child saw the watch."

2. Sono tokei-ga ookii desu.
   "That watch is big."
   3a. Kare-no hahaoya-o otoko-ga aisita.
   b. Otoko-ga kare-no hahaoya-o aisita.
   "The man loved his mother."


3. Watasi-no hahaoya-ga sinda.
   "My mother died."
   5a. Watasi-no kodomo-ni sensei-ga sono hon-o ageta.
   b. Sensei-ga watasi-no kodomo-ni sono hon-o ageta.
   c. Sono hon-o sensei-ga watasi-no kodomo-ni ageta.
   d. Sono hon-o watasi-no kodomo-ni sensei-ga ageta.
   "The teacher gave that book to my child."
   6a. Kare-ga sono hon-o katta.
   b. Sono hon-o kare-ga katta.
   "He bought that book."
   7a. Watasi-ga sono enpitu-o katta.
   b. Sono enpitu-o watasi-ga katta.
   "I bought that pencil."