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Activities: "Particle ellipsis: When to leave out a particle in Japanese?"

By: Kumiko Saeto

Activity 1: Which particles can be omitted?

With your friend ゆき meaning Yuki you’re planning a birthday party for your friend はるき meaning Haruki over text. In your conversation, click on the particles you can omit without changing the meaning of the sentence. This will make your conversation seem more natural and casual! All particles will be in bold.

Activity 2: Identify correct and incorrect particle ellipsis

Now using your knowledge on particle ellipses and which can or can’t be omitted, find the sentences that have correctly omitted a particle and those that haven’t! If the particle ellipsis is correct, leave the text box blank. For those that have changed the meaning of the sentence by omitting a particle, write the new meaning below.
  1. 肝試しは夜、旧校舎でしたんだ！
    Transcription: Kimodameshi wa yoru, kyūkōshya de shitanda!
    Translation: At night, we did the test of courage at the old school building!
    → 肝試しは夜、旧校舎したんだ！
    Transcription: Kimodameshi wa yoru, kyūkōsha shitanda!

  2. そのボールを投げ返してくれる？
    Transcription: Sono bōru o nage kaeshite kureru?
    Translation: Can you throw that ball back?
    → そのボール投げ返してくれる？
    Transcription: Sono bōru nage kaeshite kureru?

  3. このお菓子はおばあちゃんの家へ行った時もらった。
    Transcription: Kono okashi wa obāchan no ie e itta toki moratta.
    Translation: I got these sweets when I went to my grandmother’s house.
    → このお菓子、おばあちゃんの家行った時もらった。
    Transcription: Kono okashi, obāchan no ie itta toki moratta.

  4. 今日の昼ごはんはあそこで食べたい。
    Transcription: Kyō no hiru gohan wa asoko de tabetai.
    Translation: I want to eat today’s lunch there.
    → 今日の昼ごはんはあそこ食べたい。
    Transcription: Kyō no hiru gohan wa asoko tabetai.