Basic questions

[Ryuk]

Hi all, I am still very much a beginner so please be nice :relief:

I just have two questions:

1. Does this make sense and is it correct usage of お？

“わたしは まいにち コーヒーお のみます。“

I think I might have actually put it in the wrong place there :bluush:

2. When conjugating verbs such as きく is it simply a matter of removing the last character and adding ます (i.e. to give きます）. I realise that this maybe isn't a fixed rule for modifying verbs but do I have the correct general idea?

ども ありがとう

[nice gaijin]

1. The particle may be pronounced the same as お, but it's always written を. Other than that, your sentence is using it correctly (placed after the direct object). Also, you don't need any spaces in Japanese.

2. There are two kinds of verbs when it comes to conjugation (three if you count the irregular verbs). They are called ichidan and godan verbs, and they conjugate differently. For instance, "kiru" (to wear) is an ichidan verb, and would become "kimasu." However, "kiku" (to listen) is a godan verb, and would actually conjugate into "kikimasu." At first it seems arbitrary, but it'll make more sense and become natural with practice.

This article (http://www.epochrypha.com/japanese/verbs/verbs_overview.html) touches on this subject.

lastly, it's "どうも ありがとう"

keep it up!

[Tomii515]

Hi all, I am still very much a beginner so please be nice :relief:
I just have two questions:
1. Does this make sense and is it correct usage of お？
“わたしは まいにち コーヒーお のみます。“
I think I might have actually put it in the wrong place there :bluush:
2. When conjugating verbs such as きく is it simply a matter of removing the last character and adding ます (i.e. to give きます）. I realise that this maybe isn't a fixed rule for modifying verbs but do I have the correct general idea?
ども ありがとう

I'm probably just going to repeat, but I have nothing better to do, so... :p

1. わたしはまいにちコーヒーをのみます。 = I drink coffee every day.

If that's what you were trying to say, than it's fine! Only one thing: although the particle 'o' is pronounced like 「お」, it is always written as 「を」.

2. I would say the easiest way to try to remember verb conjugation is to think as verbs being put into 3 classes: -u verbs, -ru verbs, and irregular verbs. But how to tell them apart?

-u verbs end in -u, obviously. For example, 'kiku', 'matsu', 'oyagu', 'toru'. With these verbs, all you do is take off the '-u' and add '-imasu' for the polite present affirmative form. So... kiku -> kikimasu, matsu -> machimasu, oyagu -> oyagimasu, toru -> torimasu.

-ru verb end in -eru or -iru. For example, 'okiru[B]', tab[B]eru. To conjugate these to the polite present affirmative form, take off the '-ru' and add '-masu', so... okiru -> okimasu, taberu -> tabemasu. Any verbs that end in -aru, -uru, or -oru belong to the -u verbs. And most verbs ending in -iru or -eru belong to the -ru verbs. But, of course, there are a few exeption, such as 'kaeru', which conjugates as 'kaerimasu' rather than 'kaemasu'. These exceptions are very important to remember.

Finally, irregular verbs. There are two: suru and kuru. They conjugate in the polite present affirmative form as the following: suru -> shimasu, kuru -> kimasu.

I hope this helps ^^ :cool:

p.s. it's どうもありがとう

どういたしまして〜 :relief: