Dumb Japanese language questions!

[Frap]

Hello.

I couldn't find a similar thread (I didn't look very hard, though, sorry!) where we (I) can ask dumb questions about Japanese language/study.

I JUST started the CLAIR language course for beginners and I'm trying to understand each "example" properly before I move on.

Is my understanding of the following statement correct:

"On top of the table, there is a book."

tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu

つくえの　上に　本が　あります

table possession particle on top location particle book subject particle there is (existence of inanimate object)

[Gizmotech]

That's correct, only for better clarity it's not "on top" but "above/top" as the "ni" is indicating location in a way similar to our preposition.

Also, what's with the funny brackets?

つくえ の うえ に ほん が あります
机の上に本があります
{机[desk]の(Possessive) 上[top/above]に(locative) 本[book] }が(direct subject) あります[existential inanimate verb]

Also, please for the love of god put your modifiers where they belong. "on the table" is modifying "book" (see curlies) so fronting the modifier in English is stupid.

There is {a book on the table}.

[Jiggit]

But who was pen?

[Frap]

That's correct, only for better clarity it's not "on top" but "above/top" as the "ni" is indicating location in a way similar to our preposition

Noted!

Also, what's with the funny brackets?

Oh, I didn't notice those brackets! Huh, I just copied that Japanese line from the CLAIR page!

つくえ の うえ に ほん が あります
机の上に本があります
{机[desk]の(Possessive) 上[top/above]に(locative) 本[book] }が(direct subject) あります[existential inanimate verb]

Also, please for the love of god put your modifiers where they belong. "on the table" is modifying "book" (see curlies) so fronting the modifier in English is stupid.

There is {a book on the table}.

I just copypasted the English from CLAIR's page, as well! Personally, I would never say "on top of the table, there is a book."

机の上に本があります - Got it! Thanks~

[Gizmotech]

Okay, cheers. For future reference, please let us know when you're copypastaing... that way we know if it's you or the book being silly. You'd be amazed at the... random things I've heard ALTs say when translating Japanese sentences from these books, or the baad habbits they've learned on places like /r/learnJapanese.

[Jiggit]

baad habbits

Naasty thieving habbits, we hates them!

[Virgil]

Naasty thieving habbits, we hates them!

I am precious.

[Ebi]

I can't speak about the beginners book, but I absolutely hated the intermediate ones and stopped taking the tests after the first book. They weren't clear and the problems were ambiguous and often poorly phrased. My JTE tried to help me out with a section and basically told me it was all wrong.

If you're willing to invest in a different textbook, I've heard good things about Genki. Tae Kim's grammar guide is also useful for a reference and Jisho.org is pretty decent as a free dictionary. (Learn a few of the basic hashtags to narrow down your searches or just use the classic version.)

On the positive side, I know some people who liked the JET books because it gave them free, consistent study practice. Also, the fact there's actually kanji and hiragana in the beginners course is a huge improvement. I heard that the books were entirely in romaji. Anyway, good luck!

[Virgil]

I think it has changed a lot this year??

[Gizmotech]

It changed a lot since it went digital.


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[Ebi]

Thank goodness!

[Frap]

lol wtf im doing a test on the CLAIR site and it just asked me a question and the answer is nothing theyve previously taught... how am i supposed to know?!

[5100]

"lowest bidder", blablabla

[daisychain]

I don't know about anyone else but I find the layout awful and somewhat difficult to navigate. It really put me off as I was trying to use it!
Another ALT in my area is taking the Intermediate course, and the lessons are EXACTLY the same as the N3 level book he bought recently, even down to the pictures used apparently.. not sure what book he is using though, but he was pretty amused by this.

I have found Tae Kim's online guide much more useful - if you're willing to set your own learning structure and keep to it.

[Virgil]

I don't know about anyone else but I find the layout awful and somewhat difficult to navigate. It really put me off as I was trying to use it!
Another ALT in my area is taking the Intermediate course, and the lessons are EXACTLY the same as the N3 level book he bought recently, even down to the pictures used apparently.. not sure what book he is using though, but he was pretty amused by this.

I have found Tae Kim's online guide much more useful - if you're willing to set your own learning structure and keep to it.

Yeah I swear the beginner's one is the same as 'Japanese for Busy People'

[Virgil]

Actually it's exactly the same as this N5 book I have. I just checked.

[Frap]

OMG SPOILERS! >: (

[Gizmotech]

What, is it seriously just Japanese for busy people?

You're taking the piss right?

[Virgil]

No, it's an N5 textbook I had. I definitely remembered the stock pictures and generic situations though.

[Zolrak 22]

For a minute there I was hoping for a highlander situation with swords instead of umbrellas.