Unit 17 Guidebook: use present tense verbs
KEY PHRASES
Use present tense verbs
まいにちおよぎます。
I swim every day.
I swim every day.
ヨガをしますか。
Do you do yoga?
Do you do yoga?
はい、ときどきけんさんとヨガをします。
Yes, I sometimes do yoga with Ken.
Yes, I sometimes do yoga with Ken.
土曜日はひとりでまんがを読みます。
On Saturdays, I read manga by myself.
On Saturdays, I read manga by myself.
よくともだちとゲームをします。
I often play video games with friends.
I often play video games with friends.
TIP
Work Hard, Play Hard
In English we sometimes say things like do work, do yoga, and so on. Similarly, many Japanese verbs are made by adding します (shimasu) to nouns.
平日は仕事（を）します。
heijitsu wa shigoto (o) shimasu.
(I) work on weekdays.
heijitsu wa shigoto (o) shimasu.
(I) work on weekdays.
昨日は勉強（を）しませんでした。
kinō wa benkyō (o) shimasendeshita.
(I) did not study yesterday.
kinō wa benkyō (o) shimasendeshita.
(I) did not study yesterday.
おとといはパーティー（を）しました。
Ototoi wa pātī (o) shimashita.
(I) had a party the day before yesterday.
Ototoi wa pātī (o) shimashita.
(I) had a party the day before yesterday.
Note that with these noun and verb combinations, を(o) is optional!