Lesson 7

Giving and Receiving

Grammar
Pattern 1 · [N] は [tool] で [object] を V-ます
tool でobject を
Subject does V using [tool]. The で particle marks the instrument or means. Third distinct use of で (after L05 transport and L06 location).
Examples

chopsticks noun with / using particle (de) · tool rice / meal noun particle verb

I eat rice with chopsticks.

scissors noun particle paper noun particle cut verb

I cut paper with scissors.
Pattern 2 · [language] で V-ます
language で
Subject does V IN [language]. Special case of で — language as a means of expression.
Examples

Japanese (language) noun in (language) particle report noun particle verb

I write the report in Japanese.
Pattern 3 · 「X」 は [language] で なん です か
translation requestlanguage で
What is X in [language]? The translation-request pattern — the single most useful sentence a language learner can have.
Examples

the target word noun particle noun particle what noun copula particle

What is "Goodbye" in Japanese?

noun copula

— It’s "sayōnara."
Pattern 4 · [N] は [recipient] に [object] を あげます
recipient にgive あげます
Subject GIVES [object] TO [recipient]. The に particle marks the recipient. Use あげます only when YOU are the giver (or someone else gives outward).
Examples

noun particle Mr. Sato (recipient) noun to (recipient) particle (ni) · recipient noun particle gave (past) verb

I gave chocolate to Mr. Sato.

(my) mother noun particle flowers noun particle verb

I give flowers to my mother.
Pattern 5 · [N] は [giver] に/から [object] を もらいます
source に/からreceive もらいます
Subject RECEIVES [object] FROM [giver]. に marks the source — same particle as recipient in Pattern 4. The VERB decides direction. から also works for the source.
Examples

noun particle Karina (source) noun from (source) particle (ni) · source noun particle received (past) verb

I received chocolate from Karina.

(my) father noun from (alternate) particle (kara) · source alternate noun particle verb

I received a planner from my father. (から for source)
Pattern 6 · もう [object] を V-ました — "already"
もう (already)past affirmative -ました
Subject has ALREADY done V. The adverb もう pairs with the past-affirmative verb.
Examples

already adverb noun particle ticket noun particle verb particle

Have you already bought the bullet-train ticket?

adverb adverb verb

— Yes, I already bought it.
Pattern 7 · まだ です / まだ V-ません — "not yet"
まだ (not yet)present negative
Not yet. Stand-alone まだ です, or paired with present-negative verb. Critical trap: NOT past-negative — uses present-negative.
Examples

adverb noun particle verb particle

Have you already eaten lunch?

adverb not yet adverb copula about to / now adverb (korekara) verb

— No, not yet. I’ll eat soon.
The three jobs of で — same particle, three roles
By L07 you have THREE distinct uses of で. Same particle, different roles, determined by context. (1) Transport (L05): [vehicle] で V-go/come/return — しんかんせん で いきます (by bullet train). (2) Location of action (L06): [place] で [object] を V — えき で あいます (meet at the station). (3) Means / tool / language (L07): [tool/language] で [action] — はし で たべます (with chopsticks), にほんご で かきます (in Japanese). There is no "different particle"; it’s the same で. The noun before it and the verb after it tell you which job is active. Only one reading makes sense in context.
に with give/receive — directionality from the verb
に has been collecting jobs since L04 (time point), L05 (specific date). L07 adds RECIPIENT (give) and SOURCE (receive). Both attach に to a PERSON; the VERB decides direction. わたし は さとうさん に プレゼント を あげました → "I gave a present TO Mr. Sato." わたし は さとうさん に プレゼント を もらいました → "I received a present FROM Mr. Sato." Same に. The verb flips the gloss. Verbs that go OUT (あげます, かします, おしえます) make に mean "to." Verbs that come IN (もらいます, かります, ならいます) make に mean "from."
から as alternative for source
For source-direction verbs (もらいます, かります, ならいます), you can use から instead of に — same role. わたし は ワンさん に ちゅうごくご を ならいました ≈ わたし は ワンさん から ちゅうごくご を ならいました. から is the same から from L04 ("from 9 o’clock"). Same word, applied to a source-person. Some learners prefer から because it has only one meaning. Most native speakers use either freely.
The verb PAIRS — perspective decides which verb
L07 introduces verbs in PAIRS where the direction matters. Choose by WHOSE perspective the sentence is told from. (1) give / receive: あげます (I → other) · もらいます (other → I). (2) lend / borrow: かします (I → other) · かります (other → I). (3) teach / learn: おしえます (I → other) · ならいます (other → I). The subject is always the perspective owner: I am the giver, OR I am the receiver. Pick the verb that matches.
もう / まだ — already / not yet
もう (already) pairs with past-affirmative: もう ひるごはん を たべました (I’ve already eaten lunch). まだ (not yet) pairs with present-negative OR stands alone as まだ です (very common short answer). THE TRAP: "not yet" uses PRESENT-negative, not past-negative. English-thinkers want たべませんでした ("didn’t eat") — but that means a completed non-event. For "haven’t done yet," use まだ V-ません or just まだ です. これから (about to / from now) is the natural follow-up to まだ です. これから たべます = "I’m about to eat."
Family terms — humble (mine) vs polite (yours)
Japanese family vocabulary has TWO complete sets. Use HUMBLE forms when talking about YOUR OWN family to others; use POLITE forms when talking about SOMEONE ELSE’S family. Humble (about your own): ちち father · はは mother · あに elder brother · あね elder sister · おとうと younger brother · いもうと younger sister · りょうしん parents · きょうだい siblings · つま wife · おっと husband · こども child · むすこ son · むすめ daughter. Polite (about theirs): おとうさん · おかあさん · おにいさん · おねえさん · ごりょうしん · ごきょうだい · おくさん · ごしゅじん · おこさん · むすこさん · むすめさん. Note the asymmetry: you REFER to your father as ちち, but you ADDRESS him as おとうさん. Same English logic as "Dad" (address) vs "my father" (reference).
でんわ を かけます — the call expression
"Make a phone call" is でんわ を かけます — literally "hang (a) telephone." The verb かけます has many uses; here, with でんわ, it means dial/place a call. The recipient takes に: やまださん に でんわ を かけます → I call Mr. Yamada.
The home-visit script — load-bearing kaiwa
The Santos/Yamada home-visit kaiwa is a FIXED sequence — memorize as one unit. Guest arrives → Host: はい。→ Guest: [Name] です。 → Host: いらっしゃい。どうぞ おあがり ください。 → Guest: しつれい します。 → Host (offering): コーヒー は いかが です か。 → Guest: ありがとう ございます。 → Host (handing): どうぞ。 → Guest (receiving): いただきます。 → (after eating/drinking) ごちそうさま (でした)。 These set phrases are not negotiable — they ARE the cultural script. Run them with no creative variation until they feel automatic.
The translation pattern — your single most useful sentence
[unknown word] は [target language] で なん です か → "What is [X] in [language]?" Components: 「X」 (the target word) + は (topic) + にほんご で (in the target language — L07 で as language) + なん です か (what is it? — L02). Memorize as a complete unit. Once you have this sentence, you can ask anyone to teach you anything.
Q1 Tap to reveal
Answer I eat rice with chopsticks.
Q2 Tap to reveal
Answer I write reports in English.
Q3 Tap to reveal
Answer What is "Thank you" in Japanese?
Q4 Tap to reveal
Answer I gave chocolate to Mr. Sato.
Q5 Tap to reveal
Answer I received this watch from my father.
Q6 Tap to reveal
Answer Have you already sent the package?
Q7 Tap to reveal
Answer No, not yet. I’ll send it this afternoon.