The Basic Difference Between English and Japanese
From Akita Wiki
In English, the most basic unit of grammar you can create is a subject plus an auxiliary verb.
For example,
- (Yes,) I do.
- (Yes,) I will.
- (Yes,) I am.
- (Yes,) I must.
- (Yes,) I shall.
- (Yes,) I may.
- (Yes,) I can.
In Japanese, the most basic unit of grammar you can create is a participle plus おくりがな (okurigana).
For example (I will use the participle "行き (iki, meaning "go") because it was the first one that I ever learned,
- （はい、）行きます。(ikimasu)
- （はい、）行きますでしょう。 (ikimasudeshou!)
- （はい、）行っています。(itteimasu)
- （はい、）行かなければいきません。(ikanakerebaikimasen)
- （はい、）行きましょう。(ikimashou)
- （はい、）行ってもいいです。(ittemoiidesu)
- （はい、）行けます。(ikemasu)
What about "Yes, I have." and "行きたい。
Most people learning English feel really nervous leaving off the subject because, in English, grammar is organized around the subject. But in Japanese, grammar is organized around the participle, for example go.
Japanese おくりがな (okurigana serve the same grammatical function as the English auxiliary verb.
For example
- ます (masu) = do
- Note: "do"can also be a participle as in: (I don't exercise much, but)I do do a push up or two. or as in I am doing my homework. When do is used as a participle, it translates to Japanese as します (shimasu)
- ますでしょう (masudeshou) = will
- ています (teimasu) = am
- なければいきません (nakerebaikimasen) = must
- ましょう (mashou) = shall
- てもいいです (temoiidesu) = may
- "け／せ"ます ("ke／se"masu) or られます = can
