私：
When is Haruki’s birthday?
- はるきの誕生日はいつ？
ゆき：
I heard from Haruki that it’s tomorrow. How about we throw a surprise party?
- はるきから明日って聞いたよ。サプライズパーティーをするのはどう？
Do you know Haruki’s plans for tomorrow?
- はるきの明日の予定を知ってる？
Should I ask him over the phone?
- はるきに電話で聞いてみようか？
It’s not a surprise if we ask…
聞いたらサプライズじゃないね…
🤔...
Then, let’s go to a cafe with Haruki after school. The cafe near the train station is famous for their cake.
- じゃあ、学校の帰りにはるきとカフェに行こう。駅の近くのカフェはケーキが美味しいって評判だよ。
That sounds good! Let’s order a cake at that cafe.
- いいね！そのカフェでケーキを注文しておこう。
But the prices are a bit high.
- でも値段がちょっと高いよ。
Oh, I don’t have much on me at the moment. Could I borrow some money?
- え、いまお金があまりないんだよね。お金を貸してくれない？
I don’t have any either.
- 私もないよ。
Well, that’s a problem….
- それは困ったね….
Activities: "Particle ellipsis: When to leave out a particle in Japanese?"
By: Kumiko Saeto
Activity 1: Which particles can be omitted?
With your friend ゆき(Yuki) you’re planning a birthday party for your friend はるき(Haruki) over text. In your conversation, click on the particles you can omit without changing the meaning of the sentence. This will make your conversation seem more natural and casual! All particles will be in bold.
Activity 2: Identify correct and incorrect particle ellipsis
Now using your knowledge on particle ellipses and which can or can’t be omitted, find the sentences that have correctly omitted a particle and those that haven’t! If the particle ellipsis is correct, leave the text box blank. For those that have changed the meaning of the sentence by omitting a particle, write the new meaning below.
肝試しは夜、旧校舎でしたんだ！
Kimodameshi wa yoru, kyūkōshya de shitanda!
At night, we did the test of courage at the old school building!
→ 肝試しは夜、旧校舎したんだ！
Kimodameshi wa yoru, kyūkōsha shitanda!
そのボールを投げ返してくれる？
Sono bōru o nage kaeshite kureru?
Can you throw that ball back?
→ そのボール投げ返してくれる？
Sono bōru nage kaeshite kureru?
このお菓子はおばあちゃんの家へ行った時もらった。
Kono okashi wa obāchan no ie e itta toki moratta.
I got these sweets when I went to my grandmother’s house.
→ このお菓子、おばあちゃんの家行った時もらった。
Kono okashi, obāchan no ie itta toki moratta.
今日の昼ごはんはあそこで食べたい。
Kyō no hiru gohan wa asoko de tabetai.
I want to eat today’s lunch there.
→ 今日の昼ごはんはあそこ食べたい。
Kyō no hiru gohan wa asoko tabetai.
