大学で日本語を勉強します I’m going to study Japanese at a university.

Tam is chatting with her new friend Mi Ya, a photographer from China. Mi Ya's room is filled with pictures from around Japan.

#4
Scripts
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これ、どこですか。
Kore, doko desu ka.
Where is this?
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沖縄です。
Okinawa desu.
It’s Okinawa.
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へえ。
Hee.
Wow!
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これは京都です。
Kore wa Kyooto desu.
This is Kyoto.
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京都はとてもきれいですよ。
Kyooto wa totemo kiree desu yo.
Kyoto is very beautiful.
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そうですね。
Soo desu ne.
I think so too.
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タムさんは日本で何をしますか。
Tamu-san wa Nihon de nani o shimasu ka.
Tam-san, what are you going to do in Japan?
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大学で日本語を勉強します。
Daigaku de Nihongo o benkyoo-shimasu.
I’m going to study Japanese at a university.
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いいですね。
Ii desu ne.
That’s great.
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はい、楽しみです。
Hai, tanoshimi desu.
Yes, I’m looking forward to it.
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Vocabulary (17)
Basic phrase
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Saying what you're going to do
大学で日本語を勉強します。
Daigaku de Nihongo o benkyoo-shimasu.
I’m going to study Japanese at a university.
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To express what you're going to do, use the verb's MASU-form (that ends with "masu") such as "benkyoo-shimasu" or "I will study." This form is used when speaking politely. "De" is a particle indicating a place, and "o" is a particle expressing the object. The verb comes at the end of the sentence. Verb groups and conjugation: The basic form of verbs is called the dictionary form because that is the way they are listed in dictionaries. Examples: “kau” or “to buy,” “taberu” or “to eat,” and “benkyoo-suru” or “to study.” Verbs are divided into three groups based on how they are conjugated. Group 1 verbs end with “-u,” and the “-u” part is conjugated. They appear in forms like “kau (ka+u)” or “to buy,” “nomu (nom+u)” or “to drink,” and “iku (ik+u)” or “to go.” Group 2 verbs end with “-ru,” and the “-ru” ending is conjugated. They appear in forms like “miru (mi+ru)” or “to look” and “taberu (tabe+ru)” or “to eat.” Group 3 verbs have irregular conjugations. There are only two of them: “kuru” or “to come” and “suru/-suru” or “to do.” See the conjugation chart for more. To make a MASU-form from the dictionary form of Group 1 verbs, change the “-u” ending to “i” and add “masu” ("ka+u→ka+i masu"). With Group 2 verbs, change the “‐ru” ending to “‐masu” ("tabe+ru→tabe+masu"). Group 3 verbs (irregular verbs) are conjugated as: "kuru→kimasu" and "suru→shimasu." The MASU-form of verbs can be used to express what you’re going to do as well as your current habits and general facts.

Use It!
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日本で何をしますか。
Nihon de nani o shimasu ka.
What are you going to do in Japan?
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買い物をします。
Kaimono o shimasu.
I’m going to go shopping.
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Try It Out!
1
Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?
I’m going to eat tempura.
天ぷら | 食べます(食べる)
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tenpura | tabemasu (taberu)
tempura | going to eat
I’m going to eat tempura.
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1. Tenpura o tabemasu.
2. Tabemasu o tenpura.
3. O tenpura tabemasu.
2
Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).
I'm going to XXX [object]. 【object】 を~ます。 【object】 o~masu.
歌舞伎 | 見ます(見る)
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kabuki | mimasu (miru)
kabuki | going to see
I'm going to XXX [object]. 【object】 を~ます。 【object】 o~masu.
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Show answer 歌舞伎を見ます。
3
Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).
I'm going to XXX [object]. 【object】 を~ます。 【object】 o~masu.
お土産 | 買います(買う)
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omiyage | kaimasu (kau)
souvenirs | going to buy
I'm going to XXX [object]. 【object】 を~ます。 【object】 o~masu.
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Show answer お土産を買います。

Bonus phrase
楽しみです。
Tanoshimi desu.
I’m looking forward to it.

This is a phrase to express something you're happily expecting.


Culture
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Mi Ya’s Travel Guide
Beauty of Various Places Around Japan

You can enjoy the scenery of four distinct seasons around the country. For example, spring is the season for cherry blossoms. Kyoto is a prime place for seeing them. In summer, lots of people enjoy mountain climbing and going to the beach. In autumn, the coloring of the leaves is beautiful. Winter brings pure white snow. You can enjoy skiing and other winter sports.