Introducing the phrase 'iru' | The Japan Times 2017/12/14 10(53

Introducing the phrase iru

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro Nov 20, 2017

A, mado-ga aite-iru-yo. (Oh, the window is open.)

Situation 1: Mr. and Mrs. Okubo are drinking tea in their house.

Tsuma: Nandaka samuku-nai?

Otto: A, mado-ga aite-iru-yo. Dakara samui-n-da.

Wife: Isnt it cold in here?

Husband: Oh, the window is open. No wonder its cold.

Today well introduce the phrase X(=verb in te-form) that shows the state of
something. X(=verb in te-form) has some usages, and when X is an action
verb such as () (to speak) or () (to read), X expresses the
action in progress, as in ()() (Im drinking
coffee now). X also expresses an experience, as in 2(
)() (I have been to India twice), and also shows the
completion/realization of the action, as in ()
(The presentation has already started). When X is an intransitive verb to describe a
change of state, such as () (to open) or (to turn on), or a verb that
shows the continuing state, such as () (to live), () (to know), X
shows the resulting state of a certain change. Examples: ()
(The road is wet); ()()()
(My younger brother lives in Thailand now). V(verb in te-form) is a
colloquial contracted form of V(verb in te-form), and is usually used in
casual conversation.

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Introducing the phrase 'iru' | The Japan Times 2017/12/14 10(53

Situation 2: At home. Little Mariko asks her elder sister Takako where their
mother is.

Mariko: Oksan-wa kaimono-ni itta-no?

Takako: Sakki itte-kite, ima-wa ie-ni kaette-iru-yo.

Mariko: Has Mom gone shopping?

Takako: She went a few minutes ago, and now shes home.

When X is a verb of movement such as (to go), (to come) or (to

go/come back), Y(name of the place) X(verb in te-form) means that
someone/something has already moved to Y and that he/she/it is still in that place.
Therefore, ()()() means He has come to
Tokyo and is still here, not He is coming to Tokyo. Another example: (
)()()()
(Ms. Takahashi is in Sapporo for a business trip).

Bonus Dialogue: Young staff members are chatting before the business seminar.

()()()

()()

()()
()

()
()

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Introducing the phrase 'iru' | The Japan Times 2017/12/14 10(53

()()

()

()
() ()(
)

[]()

Tamachi: I see Mr. Mita is already here. How about Ms. Ichikawa?

Mita: She isnt here yet. I got an e-mail that shes on her way.

Tamachi: Ms. Ichikawa came to the previous seminar, didnt she? She seems
eager.

Gray: Yeah. But when she came to the seminar last time, the class had already
started and she looked a little embarrassed.

Mita: Her job is to deal with customers so it cant be helped.

Tamachi: I understand. Mr. Mita, why dont you take notes for her? Some good
may come of it.

Mita: What? I dont have any intentions like that.

Gray: You are the person who invited her to this seminar, right? We know all
about it. Well (warmly) watch over you.

Mita: Yeah. (To himself) Gee, this is making me uncomfortable

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