Tobira Lesson 4 Grammar

毎∼のように

"Almost every~"

Sentenceと｛考えられている／思われている｝

Formal.

Used to introduce a generally-accepted opinion regarding some matter.

考え～ indicates an opinion arrived at through logic.

思∼ indicates an opinion from intuition.

"It is considered that~"; "It is believed that~"

∼など（は）／∼なんて

"thing/people/etc like~"

なんて= colloquial

まず

first of all; first; to begin with; before everything

Verb Stem会う

"to each other"

V (to/for) each other; V with

Verb-non-pastように

"so that"; "in such a way that"

あるNoun

a; a certain; some; some (one/thing)

Sentence｛の／ん｝｛ではないたろうか・ではないでしょうか・じゃないかな}

"I think that~" "Isn't it that~?"

Verb-nai-stemず（に）

[exceptionするー＞せずに]

Synonymous with ないで when it means "without doing something" or "instead of doing something".

に is sometimes omitted.

"Without V-ing"; "Instead of V-ing"

｛そう／こう／ああ｝いうNoun

"that/this kind of" "such"

Sentenceと言える｛だろう／でしょう｝

Formal.

"It probably can be said that~"; "It is probably all right to say~"

XはY（という）ことなの｛である／だ｝

"X is Y" "X means that Y"

∼ん｛だけど／ですが｝

Casual.

Used to inform about speaker's desire, the current situation, ect. before

a) asking a question related to

b) asking for opinion or for advice

c) making a request

Can be used to extend and invitation or offer. When making a request, it is often left unstated

んですが is more formal than だけど

それで

"because of that"; "so"; "that's why"; "for that reason"

Question word ても

"No matter who/what/when/where/how"

Short ｛な／の｝うちに

Similar to 間に.

Always implies that it is not possible, easy, or a good idea to do something after the time specified by the うちにclause.

"While~ still"

ないうちに

"Before (something happens)~"

できれば；できたら

Used when asking a favor of someone in a less direct way.

できれば is slightly more formal than たら.

"If possible"; "If you don't mind"; "If it's alright"

（Past）たばかり｛の｝

Indicated that someone has just done something or something has just happened.

"have just V-ed"