Author Archives: Kenneth

New Lesson: Demonstratives: the Ko-so-a-do Series

Demonstratives: the Ko-so-a-do Series covers an interesting collection of Japanese pronouns, adverbs, and modifiers. English has demonstratives too, like “this”, “that”, “here”, and “there”, but as usual Japanese is far more systematic. At this, the first main section of the … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons, Grammar | Leave a comment

Beginning Lessons Revision Almost Complete

The Introduction to the Japanese Language series has now been fully integrated into the Beginning Lessons. Several new pages have been written, the top page reorganized, and “recommended background” and “what next?” sections added to all pages. A Guide to … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons | Leave a comment

Intro/Beginning Lessons Revision Progress

I’ve written the new pronunciation guide and expanded the intro lesson on writing. The other big changes I need to make is to reorganize the lessons relating to desu and nouns/pronouns/plurals. Then I’ll post everything and make the remaining changes.

Posted in Beginning Lessons | Leave a comment

Intro and Beginning Lessons Rewrite

I’ve decided to combine Introduction to the Japanese Language into the Beginning Lessons. (You can read about the reasons behind this in the last post.) It’s time I start revising the lessons I’ve written so far, so I might as … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons | Leave a comment

New Lesson: “No”, The Modifying Particle

Another longer lesson, “No”, The Modifying Particle explains this particle’s multiple uses as a modifier, first to create possessives (my, your) followed by the more general case. Other uses of “no”, such as its use as a nominalizer (turning the … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons, Grammar | Leave a comment

Beginning Lessons Progress

With about 17 lessons already written, I think it’s about time for a more detailed explanation of what’s coming over the next 6 weeks and beyond. First, I’m starting to consider combining Introduction to the Japanese Language into the Beginning … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons | Leave a comment

Problem With WordPress Editor

Just today, the WordPress editor started deleting Japanese text from my pages and posts when I try to save them. I haven’t been able to find an easy fix for the problem, so any new content is on hold, as … Continue reading

Posted in News | Leave a comment

New Lesson: Question Words

Question Words is a follow up to Questions and Negation, which focuses on yes-no questions. The next couple of lessons will be about the possessive particle “no” and the ko-so-a-do series (this, that, here, there, etc.), followed by adjectives and … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons, Grammar | Leave a comment

New Page: Basic Japanese Vocabulary

The new Basic Japanese Vocabulary page under Beginning Lessons includes some general vocabulary for beginners as well as links to particular categories of vocabulary covered on dedicated pages. A basic particle summary page is also in the works.

Posted in Beginning Lessons, Site Updates | Leave a comment

New Lesson: The Sentence Ending Particles “Ne” and “Yo”

The Sentence Ending Particles “Ne” and “Yo” explains the other two sentence ending particles (along with “ka”) used in formal speech: when to use each, or both together. It also covers the “sou desu” category of expressions that are common … Continue reading

Posted in Beginning Lessons, Grammar | Leave a comment