Konnichiwa!
I just started learning again today after putting it off for a long time.
I'm in Unit 1.1 and have a question: What is the difference between "wa" and "ka" when denoting a question?
Arrigato!
- Otis
Ka vs Wa

Kurisuchan
November 9, 2010

Sayaka-Matsuura
November 14, 2010
Konnichiwa Otis-san,
Great to have you with us again.
The particle 'wa' can be used as the end-particle denoting a question only in colloquial speech, and with a rising intonation. It is similar to English where you raise the tone at the end of words like "And this?" (Kore wa?) or "And you?" (Anata wa?) to ask questions.
The question particle 'ka' on the other hand is the 'official' question particle - meaning that whenever there is a 'ka' at the end of a sentence, you can assume it is a question. For example, the question "And this?" which in colloquial Japanese speech can be asked only by saying "Kore wa?" - but in a more formal manner, we use "Kore wa do desu ka?"
- Hope that helps!
Sayaka ;)

glinda--
May 23, 2011
what is the diffrence between NI and DE?

Pascal-P
May 23, 2011
Hi Glinda.
DE:
1)Location of an action, eg. tosho-kan de hon o yonde imasu>(I'm) reading a book in the library.
2)Manner or means, eg. Fune de ikimashou ka?>Shall we go by boat?
3)Materials used, eg. Kono Keiki wa, satou to tamago to gyuuniyuu de tsukurimasu> this cake is made of sugar, egg and milk.
4)Indicates superlatives within something>Sekai de ichiban shiawase ni suru kara, kekkon shiyou!> I'll make you the happiest in the world so let's marry!(thats taken directly from the course.....sorry)
5)Indicates condition> eg. Hitori dake de sunde imasu (I live just by myself)
Those are the main uses
NI:
1)Indicates a location and times, eg. Ginkou no mae ni imasu.> I'm in front of the bank
2)Indicates location of an action(ni indicates long-term action, de indicates short term action) eg. Resutoran ni tsutomete imasu> I'm working in a restaurant.
3)Indicates intervals, eg. Issshukan ni ichido tenisu o shimasu (I play tennis once a week)
4)Indicates movement, eg. Tokyo eki no mae de basu ni notte kudasai (Pease board the bus in front Tokyo station)
5)To go and do something---stem+ni+masu-base of verb, eg. Shokuji o tabe ni ikimasu ka? (Shall we go and eat lunch)
Using these concepts, you can understand other uses of ni, for example in change
eg. Taro-san isha ni natta> Taro became a doctor, even here, the concept of movement applies.
Hope that helped.

(deleted)
May 23, 2011
i want to know how i can write it down in japaness.
where
what
who
whose
why
im living
England
im from
thank you so much

Robin88
May 23, 2011
Marcy-san
where=doko
what=nani
who=dare
whose=dare no
why=naze, douchte
im living in=(place name) ni sunde imasu
im from england=Igirisu kara kimashita
hope this is okey

Pascal-P
May 23, 2011
@Marcy,
what=nani/nan
why=nande/naze/doushite
Good job otherwise though :)

Sayaka-Matsuura
May 24, 2011
Hi!
Here it is in Japanese characters:
where どこ 何処
what なに 何
who だれ 誰
whose だれの 誰の
why なんで 何で ・ なぜ 何故
im living すんでいる・すんでいます 住んでいる・住んでいます
England イギリス
im from わたしは___からです。