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Book3_12

    Japanese Grammar – Book 3 Lesson 12

    ■ V-るまで、~

    Meaning: “Until [verb], [action/result]”

    Formation:
    verb (dictionary-form) + まで.
    Key Point:

    This expression is used to describe an action or event that continues until a certain point.

    It expresses duration until a specific action is completed or a certain condition is met

    まで is used to connect to a verb, expressing duration or the time until something happens.

    Example
    A:
    パソコンが 直[なお]るまで、どのぐらい かかりますか? How long will it take to fix the PC?
    B:
    1週間[しゅうかん]ぐらいだと 思[おも]います。 I think it will take about a week.

    店[みせ]の 人[ひと]が 来[く]るまで、ここで 待[ま]っていてください。 Please wait here until store staff comes.

    ■ V-やすいです

    ■ V-にくいです

    Meaning: “Easy to [verb]” / “Difficult to [verb]”

    Formation:

    V-やすい: Vます + やすい

    V-にくい: Vます + にくい

    Key Point:

    V-やすい is used to express that an action is easy to perform, while V-にくい expresses that an action is difficult to perform.

    For example:

    使[つか]いやすい (easy to use)

    使[つか]いにくい (difficult to use)

    In the sentence この 掃除機[そうじき]は、重[おも]くて、使[つか]いにくいですね (This vacuum cleaner is heavy and hard to use), 使[つか]いにくい expresses that it is difficult to use the vacuum cleaner due to its weight.

    Example
    この説明[せつめい]書[しょ]は、説明[せつめい]が とても わかりやすいですね。 These instructions are very easy to understand. 。

    この掃除機[そうじき]は、じょうぶで 壊[こわ]れにくいですよ。 This vacuum cleaner is durable and will not break easily.

    ■ N1と N2(と)、どちらが~か? (Comparison)

    ■ N1と N2(と)、どっちが~か? (Comparison)

    Meaning: “Which is more [adjective]?” / “Which one is better?”

    Formation:

    どちらが~か? / どっちが~か?: Used to compare two things to ask for a preference or description of which one is better, easier, etc.

    N1よりN2の ほうが~: Used to indicate that N2 is more [adjective] than N1, with N1より being the marker of the comparison.

    Key Point:

    どっち and どちら are used to ask which of two things is better, with どっち being the casual form, and どちら being the more formal version.

    のほうが is used in comparisons to emphasize the superior quality of N2 over N1.

    Example: セーシバの 掃除機[そうじき]の ほうが スギシタより 軽[かる]くて、動[うご]かしやすいですよ (Seshiba’s vacuum cleaner is lighter and easier to move compared to Sugishita).

    N1よりN2のほうが is used to indicate a preference for N2 in a direct comparison, where N1 is the baseline or comparison point, though N1より can be omitted if the comparison is clear from the context.

    Example
    A:
    冷蔵庫[れいぞうこ]の 色[いろ]は、白[しろ]と シルバーと、どっちが 人気[にんき]ですか? Which color of the refrigerator is more popular, white or silver?
    B:
    白[しろ]の ほうが よく 売[う]れています。でも、若[わか]い 人[ひと]には、白[しろ]より シルバーの ほうが 人気[にんき]が あります。 White is selling more, but among young people, silver is more popular than white.