Articles and nouns

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Articles and nouns

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Nov 17th 2009 04:51

Using articles correctly and choosing the singular or plural form of nouns properly is one of the hardest for Japanese people studying English. For there are nothing like articles or difference between singular and plural nouns in Japanese.

We may see that thorough one of the hottest entries on Japanese weblogs these days, which is an episode of someone anonymous. Although its punchline is unrelated to articles or plurals, we can see that how bad we are at these things.

The episode is about what happened his English class.
Now I try to translate it into English.

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In today's English class, we played a game. You write what you like on a paper, and exchange it with the student next chair. My next person was a cute girl, so my heart was throbbing.

Anyway, I just wrote "I like dog" on the paper, and gave it to her. She gave me hers.

Her paper said "I like you."

I was so surprised and must look upset. She suddenly said "Oh I'm sorry. I was wrong," robbing me of the paper from my hand.

"Here you are. I should have written this" said she, and gave me it again.

It said...

"I love you."

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Let's not consider whether the punch line is good or not. As you noticed, in the above episode the "I" should have written "I like dogs," unless he likes to eat dog's meat. It's a common mistake by Japanese people. Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the episode did not notice this mistake at all.

Now you may see how bad we are at articles or nouns. As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct English, so I must study rightly and continuously.

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1
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English

Nov 17th 2009 05:03 мιℓктєα

English
Japanese, Korean

Using articles correctly and choosing the singular or plural form of nouns properly is one of the hardest for Japanese people studying English.
Using articles correctly and choosing the singular or plural form of nouns properly is one of the hardest grammar points for Japanese people studying English.

Comment

For there are nothing like articles or difference between singular and plural nouns in Japanese.
For there is nothing like articles or difference between singular and plural nouns in Japanese.

Comment

We may see that thorough one of the hottest entries on Japanese weblogs these days, which is an episode of someone anonymous.
We may see that through one of the most popular blog entries on Japanese weblogs these days, which is usually by someone anonymous.

Comment

Although its punchline is unrelated to articles or plurals, we can see that how bad we are at these things.
Although its punchline is unrelated to articles or plurals, we can see that how bad we are at these things.

Comment

The episode is about what happened his English class.
The episode is about what happened in his English class.

Comment

Now I try to translate it into English.
Now I'll try to translate it into English.

Comment

You write what you like on a paper, and exchange it with the student next chair.
You write what you like on a paper, and exchange it with the student in the next chair.

Comment

My next person was a cute girl, so my heart was throbbing.
My next person person next to me was a cute girl, so my heart was throbbing.

Comment

I was so surprised and must look upset.
I was so surprised and I must've looked upset.

Comment

As you noticed, in the above episode the "I" should have written "I like dogs," unless he likes to eat dog's meat.
As you noticed, in the above episode scenario the "I" should have been written, "I like dogs," unless he likes to eat dog's meat.

Comment

It's a common mistake by Japanese people.
It's a common mistake made by Japanese people.

Comment

Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the episode did not notice this mistake at all.
Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the episode scenario did not notice this mistake at all.

Comment

As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct English, so I must study rightly and continuously.
As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct natural/fluent English, so I must study rightly and continuously.

Comment

I think you are well on your way. I understand what you mean about Japanese having problems with articles. In my English Language class, we studied English grammar a lot and even though, as native English speakers, we knew how to use articles and plurals naturally, we struggled on explaining how to use them. Of course, now we know how to explain how to use them but as they are not used in Japanese, I can imagine for Japanese speakers, it's very hard to pick up.

For English speakers, we struggle with は・が as you already know, we don't have such particles in English! So, we both have our struggles!

Nov 17th 2009 08:58 Sarahu

English
Japanese

Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the episode did not notice this mistake at all.
Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese person who read the scenario did not notice this mistake at all.

Comment

Now you may see how bad we are at articles or nouns.
Now you may see how bad we are at articles and nouns.

Comment

As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct English, so I must study rightly and continuously.
As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write in English correctly, so I must study efficiently and continuously. 'Rightly' isn't a word, but there are a few that could be exchanged for it :D

Comment

You sound very observant 0-0 Well done!

Nov 17th 2009 10:01 starerin

English
Japanese

Your very observant!
Good luck with your studies ^_^

Nov 27th 2009 13:43 Brian

English
Japanese

Using articles correctly and choosing the singular or plural form of nouns properly is one of the hardest for Japanese people studying English.
Using articles correctly and choosing the singular or plural form of nouns properly is one are some of the hardest *noun needed* for Japanese people studying English.

Comment

For there are nothing like articles or difference between singular and plural nouns in Japanese.
For* Because there are nothing like neither articles nor differences between singular and plural nouns in Japanese., <----you need to connect another sentence here. Please review subordinate conjunctions.*Usage point--try to avoid using for as a subordinate conjunction. At least in America, because sounds less stuffy, and therefore more natural.

Comment

We may see that thorough one of the hottest entries on Japanese weblogs these days, which is an episode of someone anonymous.
We may see that *noun needed thorough one of the hottest entries on Japanese weblogs these days, which is an episode of someone anonymous.<------I don't know what you mean here. Maybe you mean written by an anonymous author.*that "____" 「空欄」 in American usage is called a vague pronoun. That is a pronoun, and is pointing to something, but you left the thing to which it was pointing out of the sentence. Now the reader must guess what that thing is. Try to be clear. Just say something like "that difference" or "those differences".

Comment

Although its punchline is unrelated to articles or plurals, we can see that how bad we are at these things.
Although its punchline is unrelated to articles or plurals,* we can see that this episode nevertheless sheds light on how bad we Japanese are at these things.*I think this problem is called a dangling modifier. A modifier dangles when there is no word in the sentence to which it can logically or grammatically refer. Although, I'd like to hear what someone else has to say about this particular issue. Their are a few ways to solve this problem.

Comment

In today's English class, we played a game.
In today's English class, we played a game.

Comment

You write what you like on a paper, and exchange it with the student next chair.
You write what you like on a piece of paper, and exchange it with the student next chair.

Comment

My next person was a cute girl, so my heart was throbbing.
My next person The person next to me was a cute girl, so my heart was throbbing.

Comment

She suddenly said "Oh I'm sorry.
She suddenly said "Oh I'm sorry."

Comment

I should have written this" said she, and gave me it again.
I should have written this" said she she said, and gave it to me again.

Comment

As you noticed, in the above episode the "I" should have written "I like dogs," unless he likes to eat dog's meat.
As you must have noticed in the above episode*, the "I" should have been written "I like dogs," unless the author meant that he likes to eat dog's meat.*either episode or scenario is correct in this instance. The person who corrected you above has no justification to correct that usage other than simply nitpicking.

Comment

Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the episode did not notice this mistake at all.
Interestingly, or unfortunately, almost every Japanese who read the this episode did not notice this mistake at all.

Comment

Now you may see how bad we are at articles or nouns.
Now you may* can see how bad we are at articles or nouns.

Comment

As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct English, so I must study rightly and continuously.
As for me, I hope that someday I will be able to write correct English, so I must study rightly and continuously.**While there is nothing wrong with your adverb usage, a native speaker would not conclude the sentence with these adverbs. Try this: so I must continue to study.

Comment

頑張ったね。成績が９１％。