Lesson 18: Conjunctions & Complex Clauses

Contrasting Clauses with が and けど

In Japanese, が and けど (or けれど) connect clauses that have contrasting or conflicting information, similar to "but" or "however" in English. These conjunctions allow you to express complex ideas with nuance.

Basic Formation

Clause 1 + が / けど + Clause 2

Comparing が and けど

Examples in Context

Sentence-Initial でも

Another way to express contrast is to start a new sentence with でも ("but," "however"):

Softening Function

Both が and けど can soften statements and requests, even without a direct contrast:

Cultural Note:
Japanese speakers often use contrasting conjunctions to create a more indirect, softer communication style. Starting with positive information before providing negative information (using が or けど) is considered more polite than being direct. This reflects the cultural value of 和 (wa, harmony) by avoiding blunt statements.

Listing Reasons with ～し

The particle し is used to list multiple reasons, causes, or characteristics. It creates a casual "and" connection that builds up evidence for a conclusion.

Basic Formation

Reason 1 + し, Reason 2 + し(, ... ), Conclusion

Uses of ～し

1. Listing Multiple Reasons

When providing multiple reasons for a decision, opinion, or state:

2. Describing Multiple Characteristics

When listing attributes or qualities of a person, place, or thing:

3. With or Without だから

You can use だから ("therefore," "that's why") to introduce the conclusion, or leave it implied:

Connecting Different Parts of Speech with し

The particle し connects multiple reasons or examples, indicating "and also" or "not only... but also..."

Verbs

泳およげるし、走はしれるし...
I can swim and I can run (and...)

い-Adjectives

楽たのしいし、面白おもしろいし...
It's fun and interesting (and...)

な-Adjectives

簡単かんたんだし、便利べんりだし...
It's easy and convenient (and...)

Nouns

日本人にほんじんだし、先生せんせいだし...
He's Japanese and a teacher (and...)

Cultural Note:
Using し is more conversational and casual than using formal conjunctions like そして or また. It creates a feeling of "piling up" reasons in a natural, somewhat persuasive way. This pattern is common in daily Japanese conversation when explaining your reasoning or trying to convince someone.

Relative Clauses in Japanese

Japanese relative clauses (also called attributive clauses) modify nouns by placing the entire clause before the noun. Unlike English, Japanese doesn't use relative pronouns like "who," "which," or "that."

Basic Formation

[Modifying Clause in Plain Form] + Noun

Types of Relative Clauses

1. When the Modified Noun is the Subject of the Clause

The noun being described would take が if the clause were a separate sentence:

2. When the Modified Noun is the Object of the Clause

The noun being described would take を if the clause were a separate sentence:

3. When the Modified Noun has Other Roles

The noun can have other relationships to the clause (time, location, etc.):

Complex Relative Clauses

You can create more complex descriptions by using longer clauses:

Important Grammar Points

1. The verb in the relative clause must be in plain form (not polite ます form)
2. Past tense, negative forms, and other conjugations are allowed within the clause
3. The particle が is often used for the subject within the relative clause
4. The modified noun follows immediately after the clause

Cultural Note:
Japanese writing often features long chains of relative clauses, especially in newspapers, literature, and formal documents. Being able to parse these complex structures is crucial for advanced reading comprehension. Native speakers pack a lot of information into sentences this way, creating precise and detailed descriptions.

Expressing Unexpected Outcomes with ～のに

The grammar pattern ～のに expresses a sense of disappointment, surprise, or contradiction when the result is different from what might be expected based on the first clause. It's similar to "even though," "despite," or "and yet" in English.

Basic Formation

Clause 1 + のに + Clause 2

Uses of ～のに

1. Expressing Disappointment

When something doesn't produce the expected outcome:

2. Expressing Surprise or Contradiction

When something goes contrary to expectations:

Comparing のに vs. が/けど

のに with Different Parts of Speech

VERBS
Formation: Plain form + のに
Example:
行いったのに...
(Even though I went...)

い-ADJECTIVES
Formation: As is + のに
Example:
寒さむいのに...
(Even though it's cold...)

な-ADJECTIVES
Formation: な + のに
Example:
静しずかなのに...
(Even though it's quiet...)

NOUNS
Formation: な + のに
Example:
休やすみなのに...
(Even though it's a holiday...)

のに at the End of a Sentence

のに can also appear at the end of a sentence, leaving the disappointment implied:

Cultural Note:
のに is commonly used when complaining or expressing dissatisfaction in Japanese. It reflects the cultural tendency to indirectly express negative emotions through grammatical structures rather than explicit criticism. When you hear のに, the speaker is often signaling that their expectations weren't met in some way.

Time-Related Clauses with ～時/～ときに

The grammar pattern ～時/～ときに (toki/toki ni) is used to express "when" or "at the time that" something happens. It connects two actions or events with a temporal relationship.

Basic Formation

Action/Event 1 (plain form) + 時(toki)/ときに(toki ni) + Action/Event 2

Uses of ～時(toki)/～ときに(toki ni)

1. Past Events

Describing what happened when something else occurred:

2. Habitual Actions

Describing what usually happens when a certain condition exists:

3. Future Events

Describing what will happen when something occurs:

Grammar Points to Remember

1. The verb before 時(とき/toki) is in plain form, not ます form
2. Past, present, or future tense can be used before 時(とき/toki)
3. The particle に after 時(とき/toki) is optional (時に(ときに/tokini) or just 時(とき/toki))
4. The second clause can be any tense depending on the situation

Comparing 時 with Other Time Expressions

Cultural Note:
Japanese places great importance on temporal relationships between actions, with many specific grammar patterns for different timing situations. Using 時(とき/toki) correctly shows sensitivity to the sequence of events, which is valued in Japanese communication. The choice between 時(とき/toki) and 時に(ときに/tokini) often depends on the formality of the situation, with 時に being slightly more formal.

Cause and Effect with ～から and ～ので

The grammar patterns ～から and ～ので both express cause and effect relationships, similar to "because" or "since" in English. While they have similar meanings, they differ in formality and nuance.

Basic Formation

Cause/Reason (plain form) + から/ので + Effect/Result

Comparing から and ので

Examples with から

Examples with ので

Important Grammar Rules

For Verbs and い-Adjectives

• Plain form + から/ので
  • 行いくから / 行いくので (because I'm going)
  • 寒さむいから / 寒さむいので (because it's cold)

For な-Adjectives and Nouns

• With から: だ + から
  • 静しずかだから (because it's quiet)
  • 学生がくせいだから (because I'm a student)
• With ので: な + ので (だ is dropped)
  • 静しずかなので (because it's quiet)
  • 学生がくせいなので (because I'm a student)

Cultural Note:
Japanese communication often emphasizes the reason or cause behind actions and states. Explaining why you do something or why something happens is important for creating context and maintaining smooth relationships. から tends to be used more in casual conversation, while ので is preferred in polite or formal situations where sounding too direct might be inappropriate.

Putting It All Together: Complex Sentences

Now that we've learned various conjunction patterns, let's examine how they can be combined to create more sophisticated Japanese sentences.

Conversation: Making Plans

A: 週末しゅうまつ、何なにをしますか？
(Shūmatsu, nani o shimasu ka?)
"What are you doing this weekend?"

B: 天気てんきが良よければ、富士山ふじさんに行いきたいんですが、
雨あめが降ふるかもしれないので、まだ決きめていません。
(Tenki ga yokereba, Fujisan ni ikitain desu ga, ame ga furu kamoshirenai node, mada kimete imasen.)
"If the weather is good, I want to go to Mt. Fuji, but since it might rain, I haven't decided yet."

A: 天気予報てんきよほうを見みた時とき、晴はれると言いっていましたよ。
(Tenki yohō o mita toki, hareru to itte imashita yo.)
"When I saw the weather forecast, it said it would be sunny."

B: そうですか。じゃあ、行いきましょう！
富士山ふじさんは綺麗きれいだし、
空気くうきも良よいし、最高さいこうですよ。
(Sō desu ka. Jā, ikimashō! Fujisan wa kirei da shi, kūki mo yoi shi, saikō desu yo.)
"Is that so? Then, let's go! Mt. Fuji is beautiful, the air is good too, it's the best."

Conversation: Discussing a Problem at Work

A: 昨日きのうの会議かいぎで説明せつめいした企画きかくについて、
質問しつもんがあります。
(Kinō no kaigi de setsumei shita kikaku ni tsuite, shitsumon ga arimasu.)
"I have a question about the project you explained in yesterday's meeting."

B: はい、どんな質問しつもんですか？
(Hai, donna shitsumon desu ka?)
"Yes, what kind of question do you have?"

A: 十分じゅうぶんに準備じゅんびしたのに、
社長しゃちょうは承認しょうにんしませんでしたが、
理由りゆうは何なんですか？
(Jūbun ni junbi shita noni, shachō wa shōnin shimasen deshita ga, riyū wa nan desu ka?)
"Even though we prepared thoroughly, the president didn't approve it, but what was the reason?"

B: 予算よさんが足たりないからです。
良よい企画きかくですけど、
今いまの経済状況けいざいじょうきょうが難むずかしいので、
来年らいねんまで待まつことになりました。
(Yosan ga tarinai kara desu. Yoi kikaku desu kedo, ima no keizai jōkyō ga muzukashii node, rainen made matsu koto ni narimashita.)
"It's because the budget is insufficient. It's a good project, but since the current economic situation is difficult, we've decided to wait until next year."

Writing Example: Email Response

先日せんじつはご連絡れんらくいただき、
ありがとうございました。提案ていあんしていただいた日時にちじですが、
その時間じかんは別べつの会議かいぎがあるので、
参加さんかできません。
午後ごご3時じ以降いこうなら空あいていますし、
金曜日きんようびも大丈夫だいじょうぶですし、ご都合つごうの良よい
時間じかんをお知しらせください。

(Senjitsu wa go-renraku itadaki, arigatō gozaimashita. Teian shite itadaita nichiji desu ga, sono jikan wa betsu no kaigi ga aru node, sanka dekimasen. Gogo sanji ikō nara aite imasu shi, kinyōbi mo daijōbu desu shi, go-tsugō no yoi jikan o oshirase kudasai.)

"Thank you for contacting me the other day. Regarding the date and time you proposed, I cannot participate at that time because I have another meeting. I'm available after 3 PM, and Friday is also fine, so please let me know a time that's convenient for you."

Practical Tip:
In complex Japanese sentences, the order of information matters. Typically, Japanese sentences follow this pattern:
Time/context information
Background/reasons
Main statement or request
Additional details or exceptions

Mastering conjunctions allows you to link these elements smoothly and naturally, making your Japanese more sophisticated and native-like.