Processing keyword: ～たり、～たり します (〜tari, 〜tari shimasu)

Japanese Grammar Point: ～たり、～たり します (〜tari, 〜tari shimasu)

1. Introduction

In this lesson, we'll explore the grammar pattern ～たり、～たり します (〜tari, 〜tari shimasu). This structure is essential for expressing activities or states by listing examples among several actions. It's particularly useful when you want to say you do things like A and B, among other activities.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

The ～たり、～たり します pattern is used to:

• List multiple actions or states as examples, implying there are other actions not mentioned.
• Express a non-exhaustive list of activities done at various times.
• Indicate repetition or randomness of actions without specifying order.

Structure

To form this pattern:

1. Convert verbs to the past plain form (た-form).
2. Add り (ri) to the end of each verb.
3. Conclude with する (suru) in the appropriate tense and politeness level.

Formation Diagram

Verb Dictionary Form	Verb た-form	＋り	Repeat as needed	する / します
食べる (taberu)	食べた	食べたり
飲む (nomu)	飲んだ	飲んだり		します

Formation Steps

1. Verb to た-form:
   • 食べる → 食べた
   • 飲む → 飲んだ
2. Add り:
   • 食べたり
   • 飲んだり
3. Add する / します:
   • 食べたり、飲んだりします

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3. Comparative Analysis

～て、～て Form vs. ～たり、～たり します | Feature | ～て、～て Form | ～たり、～たり します | |--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Usage | Lists actions in sequence. | Lists actions as examples among others. | | Implication | Actions occur one after another in a specific order. | Actions occur at various times, order not specified. | | Example | 食べて、寝ます。
I eat and then sleep. | 食べたり、寝たりします。
I do things like eating and sleeping. |

4. Examples in Context

Formal Speech

1. 週末は本を読んだり、映画を見たりします。
   • Shūmatsu wa hon o yonda*ri, eiga o mitari shimasu.*
   • Translation: On weekends, I do things like reading books and watching movies.
2. 休みの日には公園を散歩したり、友達と話したりします。
   • Yasumi no hi ni wa kōen o sanpo shi*tari, tomodachi to hanashitari shimasu.*
   • Translation: On my days off, I do things like walking in the park and talking with friends.

Informal Speech

1. 昨日はゲームをしたり、音楽を聞いたりした。
   • Kinō wa gēmu o shi*tari, ongaku o kiitari shita.*
   • Translation: Yesterday, I did things like playing games and listening to music.
2. 夏休みに海で泳いだり、山に登ったりしたい。
   • Natsuyasumi ni umi de oyoida*ri, yama ni nobottari shitai.*
   • Translation: During summer vacation, I want to do things like swimming in the sea and climbing mountains.

Written Context

1. 彼の一日は勉強したり、運動したりと忙しい。
   • Kare no ichinichi wa benkyō shi*tari, undō shitari to isogashii.*
   • Translation: His day is busy with activities like studying and exercising.

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5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

• Indirection in Communication: Japanese often communicate in a non-direct manner. Using ～たり、～たりします implies there are other activities not mentioned, aligning with the cultural preference for understatement.
• Politeness Levels: Ending the sentence with します is polite. In casual conversations, する is used instead.

Idiomatic Expressions

• While ～たり、～たりします is primarily a grammatical structure, it appears in idiomatic expressions where actions are listed non-exhaustively.

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

1. Using the Dictionary Form Instead of た-form
   • Incorrect: 食べるり、飲みるりします。
   • Correct: 食べたり、飲んだりします.
2. Forgetting to Add り After Each Verb
   • Incorrect: 踊った、歌ったします。
   • Correct: 踊ったり、歌ったりします。
3. Mixing Forms
   • Incorrect: 行きてり、見たりします。
   • Correct: 行ったり、見たりします.

Learning Strategies

• Mnemonic Device: Remember that た + り sounds like "ta-ri," which can remind you of "variety." You're mentioning a variety of activities.
• Practice Conjugation: Regularly practice converting verbs to their た-form to become comfortable with this pattern.
• Create Example Sentences: Write sentences about your daily activities using this structure to reinforce learning.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• Purpose: Use ～たり、～たりします to list actions or states as examples among others.
• Formation: Verb (た-form) + り + Verb (た-form) + り + します/する.
• Nuance: Actions are not in a specific order and imply there are other activities.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. How do you form the ～たり、～たりします pattern?
2. What is the main difference between ～て、～て form and ～たり、～たりします?
3. Correct the mistake: 友達と話してり、カフェに行ってりします。

Answers:

1. Convert verbs to the past plain form (た-form), add り after each, and end with する or します.
2. ～て、～て form lists actions in sequence; ～たり、～たりします lists actions as examples among others without implying order.
3. Corrected Sentence: 友達と話したり、カフェに行ったりします。

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By mastering this grammar point, you'll enhance your ability to describe your activities and experiences more naturally in Japanese. Practice by creating sentences about what you do in your free time using ～たり、～たりします!

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