Activities: How to describe habits and occupations in Japanese?

First, complete the sentences using the cues. Then choose which of the two sentences fits better in the blank in a paragraph.

• Mina goes to Kyoto every year. (行く[iku](to go))

  • [Use a simple verb.]

    美菜は毎年京都にます。
    Mina wa maitoshi kyōto ni ... masu.

  • [Use 〜ている[-teiru].]

    美菜は毎年京都にます。
    Mina wa maitoshi kyōto ni ... masu.

  Which of the two sentences above would fit better before the sentences below? Write A or B:

  そこで神社やお寺を見ます。京都駅でお土産を買って、名古屋に帰ります。

  Soko de jinja ya otera o mimasu. Kyōto eki de omiyage o katte, nagoya ni kaerimasu.

  She sees shrines and temples there. She buys souvenirs at the Kyōto station, and goes back to Nagoya.

  Note:
  In this paragraph, Mina going to Kyoto is simply a fact, followed by other things she does there and afterwards. There is nothing to be emphasized, such as the result, consequences, and background, so 行きます[ikimasu] fits better.

• Kentarō does not use this computer very often now.. (使う[tsukau](to use))

  • [Use a simple verb.]

    健太郎は今、あまりこのパソコンをません。
    Kentarō wa ima, amari kono pasokon o ... masen.

  • [Use 〜ている[-teiru].]

    健太郎は今、あまりこのパソコンをません。
    Kentarō wa ima, amari kono pasokon o ... masen.

  Which of the two sentences above would fit better before the sentence below? Write A or B:

  今年買った新しいパソコンの方が速いし、軽いし、使いやすいからです。

  Kotoshi katta atarashii pasokon no hou ga hayai shi, karui shi, tsukaiyasui kara desu.

  Because the computer he bought this year is faster, lighter, and easier to use.

  Note:
  In this paragraph, the reason for not using the old computer is emphasized. In cases like this, you want to have 〜ている[-teiru] for the habitual action.

• Ami sleeps eight hours every night. (寝る[neru](to sleep))

  • [Use a simple verb.]

    あみは毎晩8時間ます。
    Ami wa maiban hachi-jikan ... masu.

  • [Use 〜ている[-teiru].]

    あみは毎晩8時間ます。
    Ami wa maiban hachi-jikan ... masu.

  Which of the two sentences above would fit better in the blank below? Write A or B:

  あみは毎晩８時間寝ます。

  Sore nanoni, jugyōchū itsumo nemuku natte shimaimasu.

  Despite that, she always feels tired during classes.

  Note:
  There is an emphasis on the fact that she gets tired after sleeping eight hours (=target habitual action). Therefore, you would expect 寝ています[neteimasu].

  How about before the following sentence? Write A or B:

  朝は６時に起きて、１時間勉強します。

  Asa wa roku-ji ni okite, ichi-jikan benkyō shimasu.

  She gets up at six in the morning and studies for one hour.

  Note:
  Here, her action of sleeping is simply one of the activities she does, along with getting up and studying. So, 寝ます[nemasu] without 〜ている[-teiru] would be more suitable.

People are having a conversation. Complete the sentences using 〜ている[-teiru].

• お仕事は何ですか。
  Oshigoto wa nan desu ka.
  What do you do?

• ます。
  ... masu.
  I’m a doctor.

  Note:
  [occupation] をしています[o shiteimasu] is a common way to answer this question.

• オーケストラで ます。
  Ōkesutora de ... masu.
  I play the violin for an orchestra.

  Note:
  The word for “to play (a musical instrument)” is 弾く[hiku]; conjugate it into the form with 〜ている[-teiru] to express one’s occupation!

• ます。(シェフ[shefu](chef))
  ... masu.
  I’m a chef.

  Note:
  シェフをしています[Shefu o shiteimasu.] would be an appropriate answer.

• ます。(動画 [dōga](video))
  ... masu.
  I create videos.

  Note:
  The word for “to create; to make” is 作る[tsukuru], so 作っています[tsukutteimasu] would be an appropriate answer.