In 3.7 there is discussion of forming past tense.
Lesson 3.7 Past Tense
For "Sashimi o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?" If this is supposed to be a past tense
why isn't it "Sashimi o tabeta koto ga arimashita ka?
The same for all the other cases? as in tabeta koto ga arimasen deshita ka?
Response please.
M
Past tense
Milton-D
April 23, 2011
2679
April 23, 2011
Konnichiwa !
Here, the verb aru (conjugated: arimasu/arimasen) works as an auxiliary verb, while the verb taberu (to eat) is the main verb.
When conjugating verbs, the "ta"-base is used for past tenses.
Present/infinitive: taberu -> past tense: tabeta.
In a way, by conjugating the verb aru at past tense along with tabeta (past tense too) you obtain something similar to past perfect.
Hope it helps :). Happy Easter !
Milton-D
April 23, 2011
What would be wrong with "past perfect"? Wouldn't the meaning still be clearly past and the sentence meaning basically the same?
Milton-D
April 23, 2011
Hi,
Thanks for your help. I'm new at using the system and just learning the
ropes. I appreciate your answer but it seems to me the use of the past tense
should also be correct both ways.
How would the meanings be any different?
Happy Passover also.
2679
April 23, 2011
both tenses are correct, there's no problem, you can use which one you like in this context because it's short, but if you have a more complex sentence with actions that took place at different times, you must be careful at the way you use them. Just as you do in English.
Milton-D
April 23, 2011
Hi again. Thanks again too. Now I feel better since it seems to make sense that they would have the same meanings.
(BTW, depending on where we live and when we get a chance to link in, these "community" entries can, indeed, be hours apart. I'm in Hawaii which is 3 hours later than California:). )
Aloha,
Pascal-P
April 23, 2011
@Coddo, Milton D
Just to try and help a bit, a more literal way of thinking of this is that "tabeta koto ga arimasu" means "The act of having eaten exists", where "koto" means thing, matter etc.
You can use koto to nominalize a verb, eg "yomu koto wa suki" : "I like reading/to read/the act of reading" :)
And happy easter to you all ;)
2679
April 24, 2011
Good point Pascal-san. Arigatou ne !