Neko Nihongo Open the app
EN

Minna no Nihongo, lesson 24

Lesson 24:

Lesson 24 of Minna no Nihongo, “Doing things for each other”, teaches 6 grammar patterns, including , , , and 23 words. Here is every word with romaji and English, the grammar explained with examples, and 44 example sentences.

Updated

Grammar

Someone gives me

あげます is for giving from you (or anyone) to someone else. When the thing comes to you or your family, use くれます, with the giver as the subject: サントスさんは わたしに ワインを くれました. わたしに is often left out. もらいます says the same from your side: わたしは サントスさんに ワインを もらいました.

  • Santosu-san wa watashi ni wain o kuremashita. Mr. Santos gave me some wine.
  • Sono tokei, dare ni moraimashita ka. Who did you get that watch from?
  • Chichi ni moraimashita. I got it from my father.

Doing something for someone

A て-form + あげます says you do something for someone's sake: きむらさんに ほんを かして あげました (I lent Ms. Kimura a book). It can sound as if you're doing a favour, so don't use it about yourself to someone older: offer with 〜ましょうか instead (てつだいましょうか).

  • Watashi wa Kimura-san ni hon o kashite agemashita. I lent Ms. Kimura a book.
  • Watashi wa imouto ni sandoitchi o tsukutte agemashita. I made my little sister a sandwich.
  • Kodomo ni hon o yonde agemasu. I read books to the children.

Having someone do something for you

A て-form + もらいます says someone did something for you, from your side and with thanks: やまださんに みちを おしえて もらいました (Mr. Yamada told me the way). The person who does it takes に.

  • Watashi wa Yamada-san ni michi o oshiete moraimashita. I had Mr. Yamada tell me the way.
  • Tomodachi ni kasa o kashite moraimashita. A friend lent me an umbrella.
  • Sensei ni repooto o naoshite moraimashita. I had the teacher correct my report.

Someone does something for you

A て-form + くれます says the same as 〜て もらいます, but with the other person as the subject, who takes が: やまださんが みちを おしえて くれました. Both thank the person; くれます puts them first.

  • Yamada-san ga michi o oshiete kuremashita. Mr. Yamada kindly told me the way.
  • Haha ga seetaa o okutte kuremashita. My mother sent me a sweater.
  • Tomodachi ga hikkoshi o tetsudatte kuremashita. A friend helped me move house.

Who did it?

A question word that is the subject always takes が, never は: だれが くれましたか (who gave it to you?). The answer keeps が: つまが くれました (my wife gave it to me).

  • Suteki na nekutai desu ne. What a lovely tie.
  • Ee, tsuma ga kuremashita. Thanks, my wife gave it to me.
  • Dare ga kuremashita ka. Who gave it to you?

Shall I …?

〜ましょうか offers to do something: コーヒーを いれましょうか (shall I make some coffee?). With a verb stem + に it offers to go and do it: てつだいに いきましょうか (shall I come and help?). Accept with ええ、おねがいします, or decline with いいえ、だいじょうぶです.

  • Tetsudai ni ikimashou ka. Shall I come and help?
  • Koohii o iremashou ka. Shall I make some coffee?
  • Ee, onegaishimasu. Yes, please.

Vocabulary: 23 words

Verbs

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
kuremasu give (to me or my family)The giver is the subject and you are the receiver: サントスさんは わたしに ワインを くれました. When you give, it's あげます.
naoshimasu repair, mend; correctA group I verb, like はなします: なおす, なおさない, なおした.
tsurete ikimasu take (someone somewhere)For people and animals; for things it's もって いきます.
tsurete kimasu bring (someone)
okurimasu see (someone) off, take (someone) homeミラーさんを えきまで おくります. The same verb as おくります (send).
iremasu make (coffee, tea)コーヒーを いれます. The same verb as いれます (put in).
shoukaishimasu introduce, recommend
annaishimasu show round, guideまちを あんないします (show someone round the town).
setsumeishimasu explain

People

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
ojiisan grandfather (someone else's); old man
ojiichan grandad, grandpaWhat children call their grandfather.
obaasan grandmother (someone else's); old woman
obaachan grandma, grannyWhat children call their grandmother.

Things and events

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
junbi preparation, getting readyパーティーの じゅんびを します (get ready for a party).
hikkoshi moving houseひっこしを します (move house).
okashi sweets, snacks
obentou packed lunch, lunch box
hoomusutei homestay (living with a family abroad)
wagonsha estate car, van
haha no hi Mother's Day

Phrases and other words

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
zenbu all, everythingぜんぶ たべました (I ate it all). ぜんぶで is "in total" (lesson 11).
jibunde by yourself, on your ownじぶんで なおしました (I fixed it myself).
hokani else, besidesほかに なにか ありますか (is there anything else?)

Example sentences

  • Santosu-san wa watashi ni wain o kuremashita. Mr. Santos gave me some wine.
  • Suteki na nekutai desu ne. What a lovely tie.
  • Ee, tsuma ga kuremashita. Thanks, my wife gave it to me.
  • Dare ga kuremashita ka. Who gave it to you?
  • Tomodachi ga kuremashita. A friend gave it to me.
  • Sono tokei, dare ni moraimashita ka. Who did you get that watch from?
  • Chichi ni moraimashita. I got it from my father.
  • Haha ga seetaa o okutte kuremashita. My mother sent me a sweater.
  • Watashi wa Kimura-san ni hon o kashite agemashita. I lent Ms. Kimura a book.
  • Watashi wa imouto ni sandoitchi o tsukutte agemashita. I made my little sister a sandwich.
  • Kodomo ni hon o yonde agemasu. I read books to the children.
  • Watashi wa Yamada-san ni michi o oshiete moraimashita. I had Mr. Yamada tell me the way.
  • Tomodachi ni kasa o kashite moraimashita. A friend lent me an umbrella.
  • Sensei ni repooto o naoshite moraimashita. I had the teacher correct my report.
  • Yamada-san ni ii byouin o shoukaishite moraimashita. Mr. Yamada recommended a good hospital to me.
  • Yamada-san ga michi o oshiete kuremashita. Mr. Yamada kindly told me the way.
  • Tomodachi ga hikkoshi o tetsudatte kuremashita. A friend helped me move house.
  • Chichi ga jitensha o naoshite kuremashita. My father fixed my bike for me.
  • Tomodachi ga machi o annaishite kuremashita. A friend showed me round the town.
  • Miraa-san ga tsukaikata o setsumeishite kuremashita. Mr. Miller explained how to use it for me.
  • Haha ga obentou o tsukutte kuremashita. My mother made me a packed lunch.
  • Kachou ga kuruma de uchi made okutte kuremashita. The section chief drove me home.
  • Miraa-san o eki made okurimashita. I saw Mr. Miller to the station.
  • Nichiyoubi ni kodomo o kouen e tsurete ikimasu. On Sunday I'm taking the children to the park.
  • Ashita imouto o tsurete kimasu. I'll bring my little sister tomorrow.
  • Kazoku ni tomodachi o shoukaishimashita. I introduced my friend to my family.
  • Kyouto o annaishimashou ka. Shall I show you round Kyoto?
  • Tsukaikata o setsumeishite kudasai. Please explain how to use it.
  • Koohii o iremashou ka. Shall I make some coffee?
  • Ee, onegaishimasu. Yes, please.
  • Tetsudai ni ikimashou ka. Shall I come and help?
  • Arigatou gozaimasu. Ja, nichiyoubi no kuji goro onegaishimasu. Thank you. Then about nine on Sunday, please.
  • Jitensha o jibunde naoshimashita. I fixed my bike myself.
  • Maiban jibunde ryouri o tsukurimasu. I cook for myself every evening.
  • Okashi o zenbu tabemashita. I ate all the sweets.
  • Hokani nanika arimasu ka. Is there anything else?
  • Iie, sore dake desu. No, that's all.
  • Paatii no junbi o shimasu. I'm getting ready for the party.
  • Raishuu hikkoshi o shimasu. I'm moving house next week.
  • Obaa-chan ga okashi o kuremashita. Grandma gave me some sweets.
  • Haha no hi ni haha ni hana o agemashita. On Mother's Day I gave my mother flowers.
  • Kyonen amerika de hoomusutei o shimashita. Last year I did a homestay in America.
  • Miraa-san no Ojii-san wa amerika ni sunde imasu. Mr. Miller's grandfather lives in America.
  • Wagonsha de nimotsu o motte ikimasu. I'll take the things in the van.

Conversations to practise

In the app you play one of the speakers and choose what to say, line by line, with natural Japanese voices.

  • Shall I come and help?Karina is moving house next Sunday. You offer to help.
  • Who gave it to you?Mr. Miller notices your new tie.
  • Mother's DayMs. Sato asks what you're doing for Mother's Day.

Practise lesson 24

Flashcards, spelling with kana tiles, sentence building and conversations. Free to start: lessons 1 and 2 need no sign-up, 3 to 5 a free account, and lesson 6 onwards Premium.

Start lesson 24