Active verbs v.s. Non-active verbs Part 3

If you’re wondering why I have explained this, it’s because it’s easier for you to understand Japanese grammar if you can distinguish between active verbs and non-active verbs.

There are many cases in Japanese grammar where you should choose whether to use verbs with intention or not.

Example1: Non-active verbs are not used with を (o) which marks a direct object. I previously wrote that “nihongo を wakaru” is incorrect. Similarly, “kuruma を aru”, “surfing を dekiru”, “Fujisan を mieru” aren’t correct either. You should use が, not を.

Nihongo ga wakaru. (Japanese is understandable to me./ I understand Japanese.)

Kuruma ga aru. (There is a car.)

Sufing ga dekiru. (I can surf.)

Fujisan ga mieru. (Mt. Fuji is visible./ I can see Mt. Fuji.)

However, を can be used with potential forms such as “nihongo を hanaseru” and “kanji を yomeru”. But, they are originally active verbs.

Example2: Compare tame ni and you ni. Both are usually translated as “in order to”. Please pay attention to particles, を and が as well.

Byouki o naosu tame ni, kusuri o nomu. (I take medicine in order to cure my illness.)

Naosu (to make someone healthy again) is an active verb.

Byouki ga naoru you ni, kusuri o nomu. (I take medicine so that I’ll get better.)

Naoru (to recover from a illness) is a non-active verb.

Example 3: Compare tara and ba.

Ano mise ni ittara, yuumeina cheese cake o taberu. (If/when I go to that shop, I’ll eat their famous cheese cake.)

Taberu is an active verb.

Ano mise ni ikeba, oishii cheese cake ga aru. (If you go to that shop, (you’ll find )there are good cheese cakes.)

Aru is a non-active verb.

There are grammar rules that tame ni and tara are paired with active verbs, and you ni and ba are paired with non-active verbs. (Tara and ba have different usages as well.)

If you can distinguish between the two verb types, it gets easier to use Japanese grammar correctly. Remembering the meaning of words is not enough. Try to think about whether it’s an action, state or change at the same time!

(Please read part 1 and 2.)