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All Japanese activities

Activities: How to use のだ (noda) and んだ (nda) in Japanese?

By: Masaru Mito

Activity 1: Complete the sentences

Read the following situations and complete each sentence using the words provided in the word bank. You may also need to add some particles or adjust the form accordingly.
  1. Situation

    Your classmate asked why you will be busy next weekend. You want to tell them it’s because you have a part-time job every day.

    Vocabulary

    毎日 transcribed mainichimeaning every day, ある transcribed arumeaning to have

    アルバイトがんです。
    Arubaito ga ... ndesu.
    (The reason is that) I have my part-time job every day.

  2. Situation

    You passed by a shop that recently opened and saw a long line. You are guessing that the shop is popular.

    Vocabulary

    人気がある transcribed ninki ga arumeaning popular

    へえ、この店んだ。
    Hē, kono mise ... nda.
    Oh, this store is popular (which explains the long line).

  3. Situation

    You’re writing a report on the environment. You want to conclude that many people want to protect the environment based on the increasing number of people participating in volunteer cleanups.

    Vocabulary

    環境 transcribed kankyōmeaning environment, 守る transcribed mamorumeaning to protect

    最近、ボランティアでゴミ拾いをする人が増えている。多くの人が のだ。
    Saikin, borantia de gomi hiroi o suru hito ga fuete iru. Ōku no hito ga ... noda.
    Lately, there has been an increase in people participating in volunteer cleanups. (It means that) a lot of people want to protect the environment.

  4. Situation

    You came to your favorite game shop for the first time in a while. You found a new game you haven’t seen.

    Vocabulary

    ゲーム transcribed gēmumeaning game, 出る transcribed derumeaning to be released

    あ、新しいんだ。
    A, atarashii ... nda.
    Oh, (I didn’t know that) a new game has been released.

  5. Situation

    You were going to call Ms. Yamada, but your brother asked you for help with his homework. After helping him, you remembered the call you were going to make.

    Vocabulary

    電話する transcribed denwa surumeaning to call

    山田さんにんだった。
    Yamada-san ni ... ndatta.
    (I remember now) I was going to call Ms. Yamada.

  6. Situation

    Your classmate asked you if you’ve been to Japan. You want to share a story about your trip to Japan.

    Vocabulary

    日本 transcribed nihonmeaning Japan, 旅行する transcribed ryokō surumeaning to travel

    去年の夏、んですけど、すごく暑くて大変でした。
    Kyonen no natsu, ... ndesu kedo, sugoku atsukute taihen deshita.
    Last summer, I traveled to Japan. It was really hot and tough.

  7. Situation

    You want to tell your co-worker a story about what happened yesterday.

    Vocabulary

    買い物 transcribed kaimonomeaning shopping, 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go

    昨日んです。でも、財布を忘れて、何も買えなかったんです。
    Kinō ... ndesu. Demo, saifu o wasurete, nani mo kaenakatta ndesu.
    You know, I went shopping yesterday. But, I forgot my wallet, so I couldn't buy anything.

  8. Situation

    You are working on a project led by the department manager. Your co-worker told you that an unexpected issue has arisen. You want to tell them that they should contact the manager.

    Vocabulary

    部長 transcribed buchōmeaning department manager, 連絡する transcribed renraku surumeaning to contact

    早くんだ！
    Hayaku ... nda!
    (You should) contact the department manager immediately!

  9. Situation

    You're busy cleaning the house, but your partner is just lying on the couch, despite having the day off. You want to ask them for help since they don't have any work today.

    Vocabulary

    仕事 transcribed shigotomeaning work, 休み transcribed yasumimeaning a day off

    今日はんだから、手伝ってよ。
    Kyō wa ... nda kara, tetsudatte yo.
    Since you have a day off today (as you already know), please help.

  10. Situation

    Your friend didn’t get a job from the company they applied for. You want to uplift them because there are a lot of other good companies out there.

    Vocabulary

    たくさん transcribed takusanmeaning many, ある transcribed arumeaning to have

    他にも良い会社はんだから、大丈夫！
    Hoka ni mo ii kaisha wa ... nda kara, daijōbu!
    There are many other good companies (as you already know), so you’ll be fine!

  11. Situation

    Your friend showed you a pair of shoes they recently got. You found them cool and want to know where they got them.

    Vocabulary

    どこ transcribed dokomeaning where, 買う transcribed kaumeaning to buy

    かっこいいね！の？
    Kakkoii ne! ... no?
    They are cool! (Tell me) where did you buy them?

Activity 2: What's your function, のだ?

Read the following sentences with のだ and identify its function by dragging one from the box below.
Word BankChoose a word, then choose a blank. You can also drag.
  1. Ms. Tanaka is upset with her child because they're still playing even though they need to wake up early tomorrow.

    Ms. Tanaka: 明日早く起きなきゃいけないんだから、早く寝なさい。
    Ashita hayaku okinakya ikenai nda kara, hayaku ne nasai.
    You have to wake up early tomorrow, so go to bed soon.

    Function of のだ:
  2. Ms. Tanaka’s friend invited her to a party tomorrow, but she cannot make it.

    Ms. Tanaka: ごめん。明日は用事があるの。
    Gomen. Ashita wa yōji ga aru no.
    Sorry. I have some errands tomorrow.

    Function of のだ:
  3. Mr. Sato is talking with his friend.

    Mr. Sato: 昨日、久しぶりに加藤くんに会ったんだけど、仕事頑張ってるそうだよ。
    Kinō, hisashiburi ni Katō-kun ni atta nda kedo, shigoto ganbatteru sō da yo.
    Yesterday, I ran into Mr. Katō after a long time, and it seems like he's working hard.

    Function of のだ:
  4. Ms. Tanaka got a new printer, but couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. Now she is reading the instructions.

    Ms. Tanaka: ああ、このボタンを押すんだ。
    Ā, kono botan o osu nda.
    Ah, I (was supposed to) push this button.

    Function of のだ:
  5. Mr. Sato is in a business meeting discussing the company's products. Someone mentioned that product A isn't very popular. Mr. Sato wants to know the reason.

    Mr. Sato: どうしてこの商品は人気がないんですか。
    Dōshite kono shōhin wa ninki ga nai ndesu ka.
    Why isn't this product popular?

    Function of のだ: