Shan - シャン
where to use "imasu" and "desu"? 彼女は年をとっています。(Kanojo wa toshi wo totte imasu.) = She is old. 彼女は太っています。(Kanojo wa futotte imasu.) = She is fat. but............. 彼女は女の子です。(Kanojo wa onnanoko desu) = She is a girl. 彼は背が低いです。(Kare wa sega hikui desu.) = He is short. Is there any rule of grammar to decide where to use です and where to use います in very simple sentences like those above? Many thanks for your suggestions.
2010년 9월 25일 오후 8:04
답변 · 11
1
<ーっている can be used after perfect tense> 彼女は年をとっています。She has aged. 彼女は太っています。She's gained her waight. <ーです can be used after a noun> * 彼女は年寄りです She is an old person. * 彼女はデブです。 She is a fat person(fat as a noun -Japanese expression) 彼女は女の子です。She is a girl. 彼は背が低いです(彼は背が低い人です)。He is short. (He is a short person) ※but please be awared that this is Japanese exprssion, and the grammar is not always equal to the English one. There are still some slight different points between -ている and one of perfect tense in English. In Japanese 太っている or 年をとっている could be used as Adjective, but also as a perfect tense. However です would be always following after a noun. Hope this makes sense for you.
2010년 9월 26일
1
The rule is simple. 年をとる = get (become) old. 年をとってる = be old. 太る = get (become) fat. 太ってる = be fat. There are quite a few Japanese verbs like this. Get used to them.
2010년 9월 26일
You are welcome and thank you..^^ Have a safe move. Keep in touch.
2010년 10월 4일
Thanks Pomme, thank you very much for your detailed explanation... I will study more examples with です and います later to understand it better..... Now, I'm on the move.... Hope you are keeping well. Keep in touch ^^
2010년 10월 4일
There are good answers. Just the reference for you. です is for after nouns and adjectives. 彼女は“女の子”です。 ...女の子(girl) is noun. 彼は“若い(わかい)”です。 ...若い(young) is i-adjective. 彼は“元気(げんき)”です。 ...元気(well) is na-adjective. 彼女は“背が低い”です。 ...“背が低い” is small phrase. And be taken as noun. ます is for after verbs. 彼は歩き(あるき)・ます。 ...歩き(<歩く, walk) is verb 彼女は年をとり・ます。 ...とり(<とる, get) is verb. 彼女は太り・ます。 ...太り(<太る, get fat) is verb. います is a variation of ます and represent the advancing movement or the state, I think this corresponds to progressive form in English basically, but there exists some difference. 彼は歩いています。 ...He is walking. <advancing movement> 彼女は年をとっています。 ...She is old. <state> 彼女は太っています。 ...She is fat. <state>
2010년 10월 4일
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