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Activities: "What’s the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in Japanese?"

By: Sayumi Suzuki

Activity 1: Difficulty Level ★

Fill in the blanks with the matching transitive or intransitive pair. Please type only the Japanese text, not the transcription.
  • Transitive VerbIntransitive Verb
    開ける
    Transcription: akeru
    Translation: to open (something)

    (something) opens

    to close (something)

    閉まる
    Transcription: shimaru
    Translation: (something) closes

    to turn on (something)

    つく
    Transcription: tsuku
    Translation: (something) turns on
    消す
    Transcription: kesu
    Translation: to turn off (something)

    (something) turns off

    to take out (something)

    出る
    Transcription: deru
    Translation: (something/someone) goes out
    入れる
    Transcription: ireru
    Translation: to put (something) in

    (something/someone) goes in

    壊す
    Transcription: kowasu
    Translation: to break (something)

    (something) breaks

    to start (something)

    始まる
    Transcription: hajimaru
    Translation: (something) starts
    冷やす
    Transcription: hiyasu
    Translation: to chill (something)

    (something) chills

    to wake (something/someone) up

    起きる
    Transcription: okiru
    Translation: (something/someone) wakes up

Activity 2: Difficulty Level: ★★

You are writing some texts to your roommate, Arisa. Choose the right Japanese verb in [brackets] to complete each message.

Activity 3: Difficulty Level: ★★★

Fill in the blanks with a particle and a verb, according to the English provided. Conjugate the verb appropriately, and use masu-form for sentence-ending.
  1. 中村さんがドア
    Nakamura san ga doa ___.
    Ms. Nakamura opened the door.

  2. 牛乳をこぼして、シャツしまいました。
    Gyūnyū o koboshite, shatsu ___ shimaimashita.
    I spilled milk and dirtied my shirt, to my regret.

  3. エレベーター前に、乗りましょう!
    Erebētā ___ mae ni, norimashō!
    Let’s get into the elevator before it closes!

  4. 毎朝八時にごみなくてはいけません。
    Maiasa hachiji ni gomi ___ nakutewa ikemasen.
    You have to take our garbage at 8 every morning.

  5. 引っ越したので、住所
    Hikkoshita node, jūsho ___.
    I moved, and my address has changed.