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Japanese verb "be"
Japanese verb "be" has three meanings;that is,"i-ru","a-ru" and "des"."Be" is not influenced by person.So to speak,we could say as follows:
"I be", "He or She be", "They or We be"
But we make a distinction between polite and impolite speeches,and between
animate(=living) and inanimate(=not living) things.
Why is "be" an exceptional verb?
Nothing is more important than life.To keep up the life,we must eat and
drink.This is why the words for "eat" and"drink" are very important inlanguage.The prerquisite to "eat" and "drink"must be the existence of eatables and drinkables:other-
wise,we can not eat and drink,This is why we could say that the wordsfor
"existence" occupy the most important positio n
among others.
Viewed from the above angle,we might be justified in consssidering that the verb "be" was one of the words created first in the remote past.Besides,the distinguishedly
frequent use of "be" in our daily life can not be compared with that of any other verbs.
In view of the above mentioned facts only,it is very natural that a special
treatment is given to "be" in any language.
PART 1 DISTINCTION BETWEEN ANIMATE AND INANIMATE THINGS
1. How to distinguish between animate and inanimate things
Anything that can get away when threatened or frightened is an animate(=living)
thing.Therefore,plants,which can not move,are ruled out of the animate
category though they are alive.
This way of thinking will help you in practice although not every living
thing can get away.For instance,those sticking to rocks in the sea are
classified into animate things though they can not move.
"I-ru" is used for animate things with location and "a-ru" for inanimate things including "plants" with location.In case both animates and inanimates things are not used
with location,"des" isused for them.
EX Ko-neko-wa heya ni i-mas.
[ANIMATE] [LOCATION]
(=The kitten is in the room.)
DVD-wa table ni a-ri-mas.
[INANIMATE][LOCATION]
(=The DVD is on the table.)
Nomura-san-wa pianist des.
[ANIMATE]
(=Ms.Nomura is a pianist.)
Kore-wa melon des.
[INANIMATE}
(=This is a melon.)
2. Why does Japanese distinguish between animate and inanimate things?
In the remote past,Japanese or those who immigrated into this country had
no contact with Western people.Therefore,the Japanese way of thinking in language took its own course
quite independently to that in the West.This was the case with the verb "be" too.
They tried,in this country,to distinguish between "location" and "no-location". Furthermore,they drew a sharp line between "animate things" and "inanimate things" concerning "location" as shown in the above examples.But,as to "no-location",they made no distinction.
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PART 2 I-RU,A-RU AND DES
1. Location and description
In the foregoing PART 1,it was explained that the verbs which express only "location" such as "a-ru" and "i-ru" were created in the remote past.But we can easily imagine that the need
of the expression which describes persons or things except "location" such as "he is my child","this is the latest issue of the magazine",etc.They are used as often as "there is ....." in our daily life.We should say it was very natural that our ancesters
made two diferent forms of the verb "be"because it has two obviously different meanings.
In Western languages,they did not distinguish the verb "be" between "location" and "description" as follows:
EX. Keetai-denwa-wa table ni a-ri-mas. - LOCATION
(=THe cellphone is on the table.)
Keetai-denwa-wa benri des. - DESCRIPTION
(=The cellphone is convenient.)
2. How was distinction between "location" and "description"
made ?
By inserting "de"( or in other words,by prefixing "de" to "a-ri-mas" ),in the following way,they distinguished between "there is ( a book )" and "it is ( a book )" in the remot past.
EX. Hon-ga a-ri-mas. - LOCATION
(=There is a book or The book is there.)
Hon-(ga) de a-ri-mas. - DESCRIPTION
(=It is a book.)
NOTE:
In the above example,the postposition "ga" of "Hon-ga" is left out.The postposition "ga" is on of the three exceptional postpositions ( ga,wa and o ) which can
not stay together with the others in modern Japanese.Therefore,it drops
off when followed "de" in the above example.
REMARK:
The above fact,that "de" was prefixed to "a-ri-mas",may be compared with the following English:
move → movie talk → talkie
Perhaps,there is another reason for having made the two words.But it appears
that they had no time to coin new words with the result that they merely
developed the established ones into "movie" and "talkie".
3. How was "des" made ?
"Des" is the abbreviation of "de a-ri-mas" or "de go-zai-mas".
EX. Paso-kon de a-ri-mas = Paso-kon des.
(=It is a personal computer.)
Engineer de a-ri-mas. = Engineer des.
(=He is an engineer.)
Paso-kon de a-ri-mashta = Paso-kon deshta.
(=It was a personal computer.)
Engineer de a-ri-mashta. = Engineer deshta.
(=He was an engineer.)
Paso-kon de a-ri-mashoo.
(=I think it is a personal computer.)
Engineer de a-ri-mashoo.
(=I think he is an engineer.)
NOTE:
Simple forms are as follows:
des → da
deshta → datta
deshoo → daroo
4. How to abbreviate Japanese words
When we abbreviate a Japanese word,we cut out the middle part,for example:
watakushi(= I )→ watashi
In the abbreviation of Japanized Western words,the last part is cut off
as follows:
digital camera → deji-kame handkerchief → hankachi notebook → nooto
off the record → off reco overcoat → oobaa personal computer → paso-kon
television → terebi
5. Why did Japanese use long spelling words for "be"
Such a verb as "be",which is used so often in our daily life,should be short.
Neverthless,in olden times,Japanese people did not care that the Japanese "be" was long spelling "de ari-mas" and trublesome even though it was so frequently used.This was because
time hung heavy on their hands and they didn't know what to do with the
ample time.
But as their life became busier,people became impatient with using such
long verbs perhaps hundred times every day.Thus,
they shortened the verb "de ari-mas" into "des" as you see in the above '3. How was "des" made?'.
It was,however,very recent that they first used the shortened "be",that is,"des".We should say it is a quite modern word in the history of language.You
can not find it in the old books written and before the Tokugawa Age.This
is why perform-
ances of classic Japanese play,"kabuki",do not use "des".
6. Some other uses of "a-ru"
"A-ri-mas" and "goza-i-mas" are exactly the same inthe meaning:therefore,they are interchangeable
in any case,
though the latter is very humble.
When "a-ru" is used,the postposition for its object must be "ga" or "wa" which is used for a subject.
NOTE:
The infinitive of "goza-i-mas" ,that is ,"goza-ru"is obsolete.
"A-ri-mas" and "gozai-mas" are used for the following meanings too:
EX. Kono uchi-wa itsutsu heya-ga a-ri-mas.
(=This house has five rooms.)
Watashi-wa ototo-ga a-ri-mas.
(=I have a brother.)
Suzuki-san kara denwa-ga a-ri-mashita( or goza-i-mashta ).
(=I had phone call from Ms.Suzuki.)
Kuruma-nokagi-wa hikidashi ni a-ri-mashta( goza-i-mashta ).
(=I found the car key in the drawer.)
Sono jiko-wa saku-ban a-ri-mashta( or atta ).
(=The accident happened last night.)
Kinjo de kaji-ga a-ri-mashta( or atta ).
(=A fire broke out in my neighbourhood.)
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PART 3 DE NAI DES
1. Why "de nai des" equal to "a-ri-masen" ?
"Nai des" is used for "a-ri-masen" as follows:
EX. Knife de nai des( or de a-ri-masen ).
(=It is not a knife.)
Seeto de nai des( or de a-ri-masen).
(=It is not a pupil.)
This means that the negative of "a-ru" is "nai des".In other words,"a-ri-masen" is equal to "nai des".
As shown below,except "a-ru",all the other ordinary verbs have two types of the negative of pure future,for
example:
EX. Tani-san-wa ashta kaisha ni i-ki-masen or i-ka nai des.
(=Mr.Tani will not go to the office tomorrow.)
Haha-wa kyoo-no gogo uchi ni i-masen or i nai des.
(=My mother will not be at home this afternoon.)
But as you see in the following,"a-ru" has only one type of negative.In other words,"a-ru" is an only verb which can not coexist with "nai des" in its negative:that is,we can not say "a-ra nai des".
As mentioned in PART 2 - 3,"des" is abbreviation of "de a-ri-mas".When "des" was newly coined, "nai des" is used for "a-ri-masen"as its negative form.This is the reason why the negative of "a-ru" can not exist with "nai des" .
EX. Heya ni terebi-ga a-ri-masen. - RIGHT
Heya ni terebi-ga a-ra nai des. - IMPOSSIBLE
(=There is not a television in the room.)
Shorui-ga tsukue no-ue-ni a-ri-masen. - RIGHT
Shorui-ga tsukue no-ue-ni a-ra nai des. - IMPOSSIBLE
(=The papers are not on the desk.)
NOTE:
"gozai-masen" = "a-ri-masen" = "nai des"
"Gozai-masen"is a humble words,that is,the most polite among these three.We should say that "a-ri-masen" is less polite than "gozai-masen" but more polite than "nai des".
2. Direct combination with nouns adjectives,postpositions,etc.
EX. Kono hana-wa bara de gozai-masen. de a-ri-masen. de nai des. - NOUN
(=This flower is not a rose.)
Yasai-wa ima yasu-ku gozai-masen. a-ri-masen. nai des. - TRUE ADJECTIVE
(=Vegetables are not cheap now.)
Sono hanashi-wa hontoo de gozai-masen. de a-ri-masen. de nai des. - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
(=That story is not true.)
Kono wine-wa France kara de gozai-masen. de a-ri-masen. de nai des. - POSTPOSITION
(=This wine is not from France.)
NOTE:
True adjectives such as "yasu-i(=cheap)","atsu-i(=hot)",etc. are exceptions;that is,we can not insert "de" between a true adjective and "be(=des,i-ru,a-ru)".
Compare affirmative with negative.
[ AFFIRMATIVE ] [ NEGATIVE ]
↓ ↓
Tulip des( or de a-ri-mas ). → Tulip de nai des( or de a-ri-masen ).
(=It is a tulip.) (=It is not a tulip.)
Tulip deshta( or de a-ri-mashta ). → Tulip de nakatta des( or de a-ri-masen-deshta ).
(=It was a tulip.) (=It was not a tulip.)
Tulip deshoo( or de a-ri-mashoo ). → Tulip de nai deshoo( or de a-ri-masen-deshoo ).
(=I think it is a tulip.) (=I don't think it is not a tulip.)
Simple forms:
[ AFFIRMATIVE ］ [ NEGATIVE ]
Tulip da. → Tulip de( or ja ) nai.
(=It is a tulip.) (=It is not a tulip.)
Tulip datta. → Tulip de( or ja ) nakatta.
(=It was a tulip.) (=It was not atulip.)
Tulip daroo. → Tulip de( or ja ) nai daroo.
(=I think it is a tulip.) (=I don't think it is a tulip.)
3. How insert "wa" ?
In negative case only,we often add "wa" to "de" in the following way.
EX. Kore-wa melon de wa nai des. or de wa a-ri-masen. or de wa gozai-masen.
(=This is not a melon.)
Abe-san-wa isha de wa nai des. or de wa a-ri-masen. or de wa gozai-masen.
(=Mr.Abe is not a doctor.)
NOTE:
There is no difference of meaning between "de a-ri-masen" and "de wa a-ri-masen".
"De wa" can be repalced "ja" without changing the meaning.
EX. Kore-wa melon ja nai des. or ja a-ri-masen. or ja gozai-masen.
(=This is not a melon.)
Abe-san-wa isha ja nai des. or ja a-ri-masen. or ja gozai-masen.
(=Mr.Abe is not a doctor.)
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PART 4 PARTICULAR WORD ORDER REQUIRED BY "DES"
1. The most emphasized word must be combined with "des"
. It is also true in other languages that the most emphasized word must
be combined with "des" or "deshta" in assertive sentences. In other words,the word placed closest to "des" or "deshta" is most emphasized.In the following English
examples,you will find it.
EX. It was Mr.Suzuki who lost the room key yesterday.
(=Kinoo heya-no kagi-o naku-shta no-wa Suzuki-san deshta.)
[EMPHASIZED]
It was yesterday that Mr.Suzuki lost the room key.
(=Suzuki-san-ga heya-no kagi-o naku-shta no-wa kinoo deshta.)
[EMPHASIZED]
It was the room key that Mr.Suzuki lost yesterday.
(=Kinoo Suzuki-san-ga naku-shta no-wa heya-no kagi deshta.)
[EMPHASIZED]
It is fine today.
(=Kyoo-wa yo-i tenki des.)
NOTE:
This means "It is fine not cloudy". Therefore,"fine" is emphasized.
THis ring is the most expensive among these.
(=Korera no-naka-de kono yubiwa-ga ichi-ban taka-i des.)
The most expensive ring is this among these.
(=Korera no-naka-de ichi-ban taka-i yubiwa-wa kore des.)
NOTE:
In the above two examples,the most emphasized words are "the most expensive(=ichi-ban taka-i)" and "this
(=kore)" respectively.Therefore,they must be placed closest to the verb"is(des)".
2. Another way of thinking:"Why the most emphasized word is combined
with "des"
"Des" is the abbreviation of "de a-ri-mas".Just as an English preposition takes ( or is combined with ) a definite
noun
( or pronoun ),any Japanese postposition must be combined with a definite
noun ( or pronoun ).For example,in English you can not say as follows:
EX. Mr.Aoki went by town to car. - WRONG
Mr.Aoki went to town by car. - RIGHT
(=Aoki-san-wa kuruma de machi e i-ki-mashta.)
Although a true adjective can not be combined with "de a-ri-mas",it is possible to combine it directly with "des".Therefore,the above stated rule that the most emphasized word must be combined with the verb "be(=des)" can be applied to any word most emphasized in a sentence.
3. Interrogative word must be combined with "des"
In any interrogative sentence,if there is an interrogative word,it is,of course,most emphasized.Therefore,in accordance with the above statement 1,the interrogative word must be combined with "des" or "deshta".And it goes without saying that,in its answer,the word corresponding to
the interrogative word is most emphasized being combined with "des" or "deshta".
EX. Aoki-san-wa anata-no kaisha de nan(i) des ka.
(= What is Mr.Aoki in your office?)
Kare-wa watashi-tachi-no kaisha de manager des.
(=He is the manager in our office.)
NOTE:
In this answer,we can mention only "manager" in practice leaving out "He" and "in our office".This indicates that "themanager" is most emphasized and that it must be combined with "des".
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