SHO: Grammar - Counting Things in Japanese

Grammar - Counting Things in Japanese

Please watch this slide show on "Counting Things in Japanese." Then read about where to place those counters in sentences.

Download a printable version of the presentation. Links to an external site.

Challenge 1: You want to say "There are five tomatoes."

• Incorrect:
  • "Itsutsu Tomato-ga arimasu."
• Correct:
  • "Tomato-ga itsutsu arimasu."
• Conclusion: Place the counter right before the verb.
• (Noun)-(particle) COUNTER (verb).

Challenge 2: You want to say "Please give me four cheeseburgers and two hamburgers."

• Incorrect:
  • "yottsu Chiizubaagaa-to futatsu hanbaagaa-o kudasai."
• Correct:
  • "Chiizubaagaa-o yottsu-to hanbaagaa-o futatsu kudasai."
• Conclusion: Place the counters right before Particle -to and the verb.
• (Noun)-(particle) COUNTER -to (Noun)-(particle) COUNTER (verb).

Counter Activity

Now, complete the following activity below to check your understanding.

You are a customer at H & H Burger. Look at the menu and complete each challenge.

Menu
Hanbaagaa	¥ 240
Chiizubaagaa	¥ 280
Potato furai	¥ 100
Mirukusheeki	¥ 180
Koora	¥ 120
Aisu tii	¥ 130

Particle Practice

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION | IRASSHAI VIDEO SERIES COURTESY OF GPB, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.