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All Japanese activities

Activities: "How to form the past tense in Japanese?"

By: Hiroki Fukushima

Activity 1: Creating the ta-form

Let’s start with a warm-up practice on how to make and use the ta-form!

For each verb listed in the word bank below, make the ta-form to be used in following sections.

  1. 着る transcribed kirumeaning to wear

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

  2. 走る transcribed hashirumeaning is running

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

  3. する transcribed surumeaning to do

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

  4. 会う transcribed aumeaning to meet

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

  5. 呼ぶ transcribed yobumeaning to call

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

  6. 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go

    • Ta-form:

    • Polite mashita-form:

Activity 2: Use the ta-form in a sentence

Put each sentence below into the past tense using the ta-form. Use the same level of politeness used in the sentence you're given.
  1. 今日は夏の制服を着る。
    Transcription: Kyō wa natsu no seifuku o kiru.
    Translation: Today I will wear the summer uniform.
    昨日は夏の制服を 。
    Transcription: kinō wa ie de dorama o __.
    Translation: Yesterday I wore the summer uniform.
  2. 今週は池の周りを走ります。
    Transcription: Konshū wa ike no mawari o hashirimasu.
    Translation: This week I will run around the pond.
    先週は池の周りを。
    Transcription: Senshū wa ike no mawari o ___.
    Translation: Last week I ran around the pond.
  3. 明日は学校に行きますか。
    Transcription: Ashita wa gakkō ni ikimasu ka.
    Translation: Will you go to school tomorrow?
    一昨日は学校に。
    Transcription: Ototoi wa gakkō ni ___.
    Translation: Did you go to school the day before yesterday?
  4. 今年はサンタクロースに手紙を書きません。
    Transcription: Kotoshi wa santakurōsu ni tegami o kakimasen.
    Translation: I will not write a letter to Santa Claus this year.
    去年はサンタクロースに手紙を。
    Transcription: Kyonen wa santakurōsu ni tegami o ___.
    Translation: I did not write a letter to Santa Claus last year.
  5. あ、お医者さんが呼んでいますよ。
    Transcription: A, oishasan ga yonde imasu yo.
    Translation: Hey, the doctor is calling you.
    さっき、お医者さんがよ。
    Transcription: Sakki, oisyasan ga ___ yo.
    Translation: The doctor was calling you a few minutes ago.
  6. いま、父は料理をしていません。
    Transcription: Ima, chichi wa ryōri o shiteimasen.
    Translation: My father is not cooking now.
    電話があったとき、父は料理を。
    Transcription: Denwa ga atta toki, chichi wa ryōri o ___.
    Translation: My father was not cooking when the phone call came in.

Activity 3: Finish the conversation

Content paragraph goes here

Conversation 1: Kinkakuji Temple

You are planning a trip to Kyoto and your colleague Mrs. Yamada recommends Kinkakuji Temple. Let’s have a conversation about your trip to Kyoto with her! Note that Mrs. Yamada talks to you casually but you talk in polite form.

  • Mrs. Yamada
    京都旅行いくの？　いいね。金閣寺はどう？
    Transcription: Kyōto ryokō iku no? Ii ne. Kinkakuji wa dō?
    Translation: A trip to Kyoto? That's nice. What about Kinkakuji temple?
  • You:
    先週、三島由紀夫の小説『金閣寺』を ___。
    Transcription: Senshū, Mishima Yukio no shōsetsu Kinkakuji o ___.
    Translation: Last week, I read Yukio Mishima's novel, "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion."
    Select your answer
  • You:
    とても___。
    Transcription: Totemo ___.
    Translation: It was very interesting.
    Select your answer
  • You:
    だから来週金閣寺に___。
    Transcription: Dakara raishū Kinkakuji ni ___.
    Translation: So I'm going to Kinkaku-ji Temple next week.
    Select your answer
  • Mrs. Yamada
    ああ、昨日会ったときも、その小説を___ね。
    Transcription: Ā, senshū atta toki mo, sono shōsetsu o ___ ne.
    Translation: Oh, you were reading that novel when we met yesterday, weren't you?
    Select your answer
  • Mrs. Yamada
    わたしも、その小説を10年前に___よ。旅行、楽しんでね。
    Transcription: Watashi mo, sono shōsetsu o 10 nen mae ni ___ yo. Ryokō, tanoshinde ne.
    Translation: I also read that novel 10 years ago. Have a great trip!
    Select your answer

Conversation 2: Printing the posters

Yesterday you were asked by Mrs. Suzuki to print the posters.

  • Mrs. Suzuki
    ポスター、___印刷しましたか。
    Transcription: Posutā, ___ insatsushimashita ka.
    Translation: Have you already printed the poster?
    Select your answer
  • You:
    ごめんなさい、___ 印刷していません。
    Transcription: Gomen nasai, ___ insatsu ___.
    Translation: Sorry, I haven't printed it yet.
    Select your answer
  • You:
    いまから___。
    Transcription: Ima kara ___.
    Translation: I will print it now.
    Select your answer
  • Mrs. Suzuki
    すぐにお願いします。
    Transcription: Sugu ni onegai shimasu.
    Translation: Right away, please.