Grammar Patterns — Gon, the Little Fox (ごん狐)

JLPT N4 estimated

〜という（名前）

Meaning: "Called ...; named ...": gives the name of a person or thing.

Form: Name + という + Noun

In this story

これは、私わたしが小さいときに、村の茂平もへいというおじいさんからきいたお話です。

This is a story I heard when I was small from an old man in our village called Mohei.
その中山から、少しはなれた山の中に、「ごん狐ぎつね」という狐がいました。

In the hills a little way from that Nakayama, there lived a fox called "Gon the fox."

JLPT N4 estimated

〜そうだ（伝聞）

Meaning: "I hear that ...; they say ...": passing on what someone else said.

Form: Plain form + そうだ（そうな）

In this story

むかしは、私たちの村のちかくの、中山なかやまというところに小さなお城があって、中山さまというおとのさまが、おられたそうです。

Long ago, at a place called Nakayama near our village, there was a small castle, and a lord called Lord Nakayama is said to have lived there.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜られる（尊敬）

Meaning: Honorific (尊敬語): the passive form used to show respect for the person doing the action.

Form: Verb passive form（待っていられる / 行かれる）

In this story

むかしは、私たちの村のちかくの、中山なかやまというところに小さなお城があって、中山さまというおとのさまが、おられたそうです。

Long ago, at a place called Nakayama near our village, there was a small castle, and a lord called Lord Nakayama is said to have lived there.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ばかり（〜だけ）

Meaning: "Only ...; nothing but ...": there is a lot of one thing, or someone does only that one thing.

Form: Noun + ばかり（いたずらばかりする）

In this story

そして、夜でも昼でも、あたりの村へ出てきて、いたずらばかりしました。

And night or day, he came out to the villages nearby and did nothing but play tricks.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜たり〜たりする

Meaning: "Do things like ... and ...": gives some examples from several actions.

Form: Verb た-form + り、Verb た-form + り + する

In this story

はたけへ入って芋をほりちらしたり、菜種なたねがらの、ほしてあるのへ火をつけたり、百姓家ひゃくしょうやの裏手につるしてあるとんがらしをむしりとって、いったり、いろんなことをしました。

He went into the fields and dug up potatoes all over the place, set fire to rapeseed stalks that had been left out to dry, pulled off the chili peppers hanging at the back of a farmer's house and made off with them, and did all sorts of things.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜てある

Meaning: The result of someone's action is still there: "has been ...".

Form: Verb (transitive) て-form + ある

In this story

はたけへ入って芋をほりちらしたり、菜種なたねがらの、ほしてあるのへ火をつけたり、百姓家ひゃくしょうやの裏手につるしてあるとんがらしをむしりとって、いったり、いろんなことをしました。

He went into the fields and dug up potatoes all over the place, set fire to rapeseed stalks that had been left out to dry, pulled off the chili peppers hanging at the back of a farmer's house and made off with them, and did all sorts of things.
兵十は立ちあがって、納屋なやにかけてある火縄銃ひなわじゅうをとって、火薬をつめました。

Hyōjū stood up, took down the matchlock gun that hung in the barn, and loaded it with gunpowder.

JLPT N4 estimated

可能形（〜られる）

Meaning: Potential form: "can ...; be able to ...".

Form: Verb potential form（生きられる / 読める）

In this story

二、三日雨がふりつづいたその間あいだ、ごんは、外へも出られなくて穴の中にしゃがんでいました。

For the two or three days that the rain kept falling, Gon could not even go outside and stayed crouched in his hole.
一ばんしまいに、太いうなぎをつかみにかかりましたが、何しろぬるぬるとすべりぬけるので、手ではつかめません。

Last of all he went to grab the fat eel, but it was so slimy that it kept slipping away, and he could not hold it with his paws.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜てくる

Meaning: Something comes toward the speaker, or a change starts and goes on ("it's getting ...").

Form: Verb て-form + くる

In this story

ごんは、村の小川おがわの堤つつみまで出て来ました。

Gon came out as far as the bank of the village stream.
と、村の方から、カーン、カーン、と、鐘かねが鳴って来ました。

Then, from the direction of the village, a bell began to ring: clang, clang.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ていく

Meaning: A change goes on from now (or from that point) into the future ("keep ...ing; go on getting ...").

Form: Verb て-form + いく

In this story

ごんは川下かわしもの方へと、ぬかるみみちを歩いていきました。

Gon walked along the muddy path toward the downstream side.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜と（発見）

Meaning: "When I did ..., (I found that) ...": what one noticed right after an action.

Form: Verb (plain / polite) + と

In this story

ふと見ると、川の中に人がいて、何かやっています。

Suddenly he saw that there was a person in the stream, doing something.
家の中を見ると、土間どまに栗が、かためておいてあるのが目につきました。

When he looked inside the house, chestnuts set down in a pile on the earth floor caught his eye.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ように（目的）

Meaning: "So that ...; in order that ...": the result one hopes for. With a negative it means "so as not to ...".

Form: Verb (dictionary / ない-form) + ように

In this story

ごんは、見つからないように、そうっと草の深いところへ歩きよって、そこからじっとのぞいてみました。

So as not to be found, Gon walked very quietly over to a place where the grass was deep, and from there he peeked out, keeping quite still.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜てみる

Meaning: "Try ...ing; ... and see".

Form: Verb て-form + みる（見る）

In this story

ごんは、見つからないように、そうっと草の深いところへ歩きよって、そこからじっとのぞいてみました。

So as not to be found, Gon walked very quietly over to a place where the grass was deep, and from there he peeked out, keeping quite still.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ながら

Meaning: "While ...ing": two actions by the same person at the same time.

Form: Verb ます-stem + ながら

In this story

兵十はぼろぼろの黒いきものをまくし上げて、腰のところまで水にひたりながら、魚をとる、はりきりという、網をゆすぶっていました。

Hyōjū had tucked up his ragged black kimono and, standing in water up to his waist, was shaking the net for catching fish that is called a harikiri.
こんなことを考えながらやって来ますと、いつの間まにか、表に赤い井戸のある、兵十の家の前へ来ました。

Thinking about this as he went along, before he knew it he had come to the front of Hyōjū's house, the one with the red well outside.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜みたいだ

Meaning: "Like ...; looks like ...": a casual, spoken form of 〜のようだ.

Form: Noun / Plain form + みたいだ（みたいな + Noun / みたいに）

In this story

はちまきをした顔の横っちょうに、まるい萩の葉が一まい、大きな黒子ほくろみたいにへばりついていました。

On the side of his headbanded face, one round bush-clover leaf was stuck like a big mole.
いつもは、赤いさつま芋いもみたいな元気のいい顔が、きょうは何だかしおれていました。

His face, usually as healthy as a red sweet potato, somehow looked wilted today.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ように（比喩）

Meaning: "Like ...; as if ...": compares something to something else.

Form: Noun + の / Verb (plain) + ように

In this story

しばらくすると、兵十は、はりきり網の一ばんうしろの、袋のようになったところを、水の中からもちあげました。

After a while, Hyōjū lifted out of the water the part at the very back of the harikiri net that is shaped like a bag.
墓地には、ひがん花ばなが、赤い布きれのようにさきつづいていました。

In the graveyard, red spider lilies were blooming on and on like a red cloth.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜なくなる

Meaning: "Stop ...ing; no longer ...": something that used to happen does not happen any more.

Form: Verb ない-stem + なくなる

In this story

兵十がいなくなると、ごんは、ぴょいと草の中からとび出して、びくのそばへかけつけました。

As soon as Hyōjū was gone, Gon hopped out of the grass and ran up to the basket.

JLPT N5 estimated

〜たい

Meaning: "Want to ...": the speaker's wish.

Form: Verb ます-stem + たい

In this story

ちょいと、いたずらがしたくなったのです。

He just felt like playing a little trick.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜のだ／〜のです

Meaning: Explains a situation or gives the reason behind it ("the thing is ...").

Form: Plain form + のだ / のです（Noun / な-adj + なのだ）

In this story

ちょいと、いたずらがしたくなったのです。

He just felt like playing a little trick.

JLPT N2 estimated

〜ては（くり返し）

Meaning: "Each time (he) does ..., (he) does ...": an action that is repeated again and again.

Form: Verb て-form + は + Verb

In this story

ごんはびくの中の魚をつかみ出しては、はりきり網のかかっているところより下手しもての川の中を目がけて、ぽんぽんなげこみました。

Gon grabbed the fish out of the basket and tossed them, one after another, into the stream below the place where the harikiri net was set.
つぎの日も、そのつぎの日もごんは、栗をひろっては、兵十の家へもって来てやりました。

The next day, and the day after that too, Gon gathered chestnuts and brought them to Hyōjū's house.

JLPT N5 estimated

〜より（比較）

Meaning: "Than ...": the thing something is compared with.

Form: Noun + より

In this story

ごんはびくの中の魚をつかみ出しては、はりきり網のかかっているところより下手しもての川の中を目がけて、ぽんぽんなげこみました。

Gon grabbed the fish out of the basket and tossed them, one after another, into the stream below the place where the harikiri net was set.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ので

Meaning: "Because ...; so ...": gives a reason (softer than から).

Form: Plain form + ので（Noun / な-adj + なので）

In this story

一ばんしまいに、太いうなぎをつかみにかかりましたが、何しろぬるぬるとすべりぬけるので、手ではつかめません。

Last of all he went to grab the fat eel, but it was so slimy that it kept slipping away, and he could not hold it with his paws.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜ようとする

Meaning: "Try to ...; be about to ...".

Form: Verb volitional form + とする（と致す）

In this story

うなぎをふりすててにげようとしましたが、うなぎは、ごんの首にまきついたままはなれません。

He tried to shake off the eel and run away, but the eel stayed wrapped around his neck and would not come off.
そして足音をしのばせてちかよって、今戸口を出ようとするごんを、ドンと、うちました。

Then he crept up without a sound and, just as Gon was about to go out the door, shot him — bang.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜まま

Meaning: "As it is; still ...": a state continues without changing.

Form: Noun + の / Verb た-form + まま

In this story

うなぎをふりすててにげようとしましたが、うなぎは、ごんの首にまきついたままはなれません。

He tried to shake off the eel and run away, but the eel stayed wrapped around his neck and would not come off.
裏口からのぞいて見ますと、兵十は、午飯ひるめしをたべかけて、茶椀ちゃわんをもったまま、ぼんやりと考えこんでいました。

When he peeked in through the back door, Hyōjū had stopped in the middle of eating his lunch and, still holding his rice bowl, was lost in thought.
ごんは、ぐったりと目をつぶったまま、うなずきました。

Gon, limp, with his eyes still closed, nodded.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ておく

Meaning: Doing something in advance, or leaving something in a certain state.

Form: Verb て-form + おく（置く）

In this story

ごんは、ほっとして、うなぎの頭をかみくだき、やっとはずして穴のそとの、草の葉の上にのせておきました。

Relieved, Gon bit the eel's head to pieces, finally got it off, and left it on the grass outside his hole.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜（の）なら

Meaning: "If (that is the case) ...": takes up what the other person said or what the situation is.

Form: Plain form + (の)なら / Noun + なら

In this story

祭なら、太鼓や笛の音がしそうなものだ。

If it were a festival, you would expect to hear drums and flutes.
うそと思うなら、あした見に来こいよ。

If you think it's a lie, come and see tomorrow.

JLPT N1 estimated

〜そうなものだ

Meaning: "One would expect ...; surely there ought to be ...": what should naturally be the case (but isn't).

Form: Verb ます-stem + そうなものだ（ありそうなものである）

In this story

祭なら、太鼓や笛の音がしそうなものだ。

If it were a festival, you would expect to hear drums and flutes.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜はずだ

Meaning: "Should be ...; I expect ...": the speaker is sure because there is a good reason.

Form: Plain form + はずだ（筈だ）

In this story

それに第一、お宮にのぼりが立つはずだが」

And for one thing, banners would be up at the shrine."

JLPT N4 estimated

〜だろう（推量）

Meaning: "Probably ...; I bet ...": the speaker's guess (casual form of でしょう).

Form: Plain form + だろう

In this story

「兵十の家のだれが死んだんだろう」

"I wonder who has died at Hyōjū's house."

JLPT N4 estimated

受身（〜られる）

Meaning: Passive voice: the subject receives the action.

Form: Verb passive form（追い上げられる / 沈められる）

In this story

人々が通ったあとには、ひがん花が、ふみおられていました。

Where the people had passed, the spider lilies were trampled and broken.
おかげでおれは、盗人ぬすびとと思われて、いわし屋のやつに、ひどい目にあわされた」と、ぶつぶつ言っています。

Thanks to that, I was taken for a thief and that sardine seller gave me a terrible time," he was grumbling.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜に違いない

Meaning: "Must be ...; surely ...": the speaker is certain.

Form: Plain form / Noun + に違いない（違いありません）

In this story

「兵十のおっ母は、床とこについていて、うなぎが食べたいと言ったにちがいない。

"Hyōjū's mother must have been lying sick in bed and said she wanted to eat eel.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜てしまう

Meaning: Shows that an action is completely finished, often with regret or an unwanted result.

Form: Verb て-form + しまう

In this story

ところが、わしがいたずらをして、うなぎをとって来てしまった。

But I played a trick and took the eel away.
そのままおっ母は、死んじゃったにちがいない。

She must have died just like that.

JLPT N4 estimated

使役（〜せる／させる）

Meaning: Causative: to make or let someone do something.

Form: Verb causative form（坐らせる / やめさせる）

In this story

だから兵十は、おっ母にうなぎを食べさせることができなかった。

So Hyōjū could not let his mother eat eel.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ことができる

Meaning: "Can ...; be able to ...".

Form: Verb (dictionary) + ことができる（ことはできない）

In this story

だから兵十は、おっ母にうなぎを食べさせることができなかった。

So Hyōjū could not let his mother eat eel.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜ばよかった

Meaning: "I wish I had (not) ...; I should (not) have ...": regret about something that cannot be changed now.

Form: Verb ば-form + よかった（〜なければよかった / spoken: 〜なけりゃよかった）

In this story

ちょッ、あんないたずらをしなけりゃよかった。」

Tch. I wish I hadn't played a trick like that."

JLPT N3 estimated

〜きり

Meaning: "Only ...; just ...": no more than that number or amount.

Form: Noun (number of people or things) + きり

In this story

兵十は今まで、おっ母と二人ふたりきりで、貧しいくらしをしていたもので、おっ母が死んでしまっては、もう一人ぼっちでした。

Until now Hyōjū had lived a poor life, just he and his mother, so now that his mother was dead he was all alone.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜ては

Meaning: "If you (go on) ..., (something bad will happen)": a condition with an unwanted result.

Form: Verb て-form + は

In this story

兵十は今まで、おっ母と二人ふたりきりで、貧しいくらしをしていたもので、おっ母が死んでしまっては、もう一人ぼっちでした。

Until now Hyōjū had lived a poor life, just he and his mother, so now that his mother was dead he was all alone.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜かける

Meaning: An action has just started, or is only half done: "start to ...; be in the middle of ...".

Form: Verb ます-stem + かける

In this story

ごんは物置のそばをはなれて、向うへいきかけますと、どこかで、いわしを売る声がします。

Gon left the shed and was starting to go away when, from somewhere, he heard a voice selling sardines.
裏口からのぞいて見ますと、兵十は、午飯ひるめしをたべかけて、茶椀ちゃわんをもったまま、ぼんやりと考えこんでいました。

When he peeked in through the back door, Hyōjū had stopped in the middle of eating his lunch and, still holding his rice bowl, was lost in thought.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜てやる

Meaning: Doing something for someone of equal or lower status (or an animal).

Form: Verb て-form + やる

In this story

つぎの日も、そのつぎの日もごんは、栗をひろっては、兵十の家へもって来てやりました。

The next day, and the day after that too, Gon gathered chestnuts and brought them to Hyōjū's house.
その栗を見せてやるよ」

I'll show you the chestnuts."

JLPT N2 estimated

〜ばかりではない

Meaning: "Not only ...": there is more beyond this.

Form: Plain form / Noun + ばかりではない（ばかりでなく）

In this story

そのつぎの日には、栗ばかりでなく、まつたけも二、三ぼんもっていきました。

The day after that, he took not only chestnuts but also two or three matsutake mushrooms.

JLPT N5 estimated

〜に行く（目的）

Meaning: "Go to do ...": the purpose of going.

Form: Verb ます-stem + に行く

In this story

ごんは、ぶらぶらあそびに出かけました。

Gon went out for a stroll.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ようだ（推量）

Meaning: "It seems ...; looks like ...": a guess based on what one observes.

Form: Plain form + ようだ

In this story

中山さまのお城の下を通ってすこしいくと、細い道の向うから、だれか来るようです。

When he had gone a little way past the foot of Lord Nakayama's castle, it seemed that someone was coming along the narrow path from the other direction.

JLPT N3 estimated

〜うちに

Meaning: "While ...; before ... changes": within a period of time.

Form: Verb (plain) / Noun + の + うちに（中に）

In this story

おれの知らんうちに、おいていくんだ」

They leave them before I know it."

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ないで

Meaning: "Without doing ...; not doing ... (but doing something else)".

Form: Verb ない-form + で

In this story

加助は、ごんには気がつかないで、そのままさっさとあるきました。

Kasuke did not notice Gon and walked briskly on.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜ようと思う

Meaning: "I think I'll ...; I'm going to ...": the speaker's intention.

Form: Verb volitional form + と思う（とおもう）

In this story

ごんは、二人の話をきこうと思って、ついていきました。

Gon followed them, wanting to hear what the two would say.

JLPT N4 estimated

〜出す

Meaning: "Start ...ing": an action begins, often all of a sudden.

Form: Verb ます-stem + 出す

In this story

お城の前まで来たとき、加助が言い出しました。

When they had come as far as the front of the castle, Kasuke began to speak.

JLPT N3 estimated

特別な尊敬語（いらっしゃる・おっしゃる・くださる）

Meaning: Special honorific verbs that show respect for the person who acts: いらっしゃる (to be, come, go), おっしゃる (to say), くださる (to give).

Form: いる / 来る / 行く → いらっしゃる、言う → おっしゃる、くれる → くださる

In this story

「おれは、あれからずっと考えていたが、どうも、そりゃ、人間じゃない、神さまだ、神さまが、お前がたった一人になったのをあわれに思わっしゃって、いろんなものをめぐんで下さるんだよ」

"I've been thinking about it ever since, and somehow I feel that's no human being, it's the gods. The gods felt sorry for you, left all on your own, and they are kindly giving you all sorts of things."

JLPT N4 estimated

〜のに

Meaning: "Although ...; even though ...": the result is not what one would expect, often with disappointment or complaint.

Form: Plain form + のに（Noun / な-adj + なのに）

In this story

おれが、栗や松たけを持っていってやるのに、そのおれにはお礼をいわないで、神さまにお礼をいうんじゃア、おれは、引き合わないなあ。

I take him chestnuts and matsutake, and yet he doesn't thank me; if he thanks the gods instead, it's not worth my trouble.

JLPT N2 estimated

〜ではないか

Meaning: "Why, it's ...!": expresses surprise at what one sees (narrative style).

Form: Plain form + のではないか（ではございませんか）

In this story

と狐が家の中へはいったではありませんか。

And what did he see but a fox going into his house!