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Section

4.15 Complex Sentences 1: Japanese

In the following examples from Japanese, the a-sentences are simple sentences and each b-sentence contains a relative clause based on the corresponding a-sentence. Examine the sentences and answer questions A-E.

When -wa appears, it marks the subject of the verb of the main clause of the sentence; otherwise, the subject is marked with -ga. Furthermore, assume that -0 indicates direct object.

la. Kinoo John-ga otoko-o nagutta. "Yesterday, John hit a man."

b.Watasi-wa kinoo John-ga nagutta otoko-o mita. "I saw the man whom John hit yesterday."

2a. Kinoo John-ga otoko-o nagutta. "Yesterday, John hit a man."

b.Kinoo John-ga nagutta otoko-ga paatii-ni kita.

"The man whom John hit yesterday came to the party."

3a. Kinoo otoko-ga John-o nagutta. "Yesterday, a man hit John."

b.Watasi-wa kinoo John-o nagutta otoko-o mita. "I saw the man who hit John yesterday."

4a. Watasi-wa Hanako-kara hon-o karita. "I borrowed a book from Hanako."

b.Otooto-wa watasi-ga Hanako-kara karita hon-o nakusita. "My brother lost the book which I borrowed from Hanako."

5a. Watasi-wa Hanako-kara hon-o karita. "I borrowed a book from Hanako."

b.Watasi-ga Hanako-kara karita hon-wa totemo omosiroi.

"The book which I borrowed from Hanako is very interesting."

Questions

A. Provide the Japanese equivalents for the English words and phrases below.

B.In English a relative clause may be introduced by a relative pronoun such as who or which (the book which you borrowed). Does Japanese have such a word that indicates the presence of a relative clause?

C . In the noun phrase the child who cried a lot, the child is called the "head" of the relative clause. In English the "head" occurs to the left of the relative clause. Where does the "head" of the relative clause occur in a Japanese noun phrase?

D.For each of the b-sentences, draw brackets around the noun phrase that contains the relative clause. Be sure to put the relative clause within the brackets for the noun phrase in the following manner:

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