Pop Quiz

[KyleGoetz]

So what's the difference between 行っておけばよかった and 行けばよかった? Both express regret at not going. Is the former less regretful and the latter more regretful? Nagoyankee, you mention that the first has some implied lack of certainty as to whether he actually should have gone or not. Does the latter have more certainty that it's regretful he didn't go?

Thanks.

Also, then, is this a function of 〜おけばよかった in that something like 食べておけばよかった expresses some regret at not eating, but the speaker still isn't completely sure of that; rather, he's a bit on the fence still? Contrast this with the same form minus おく, in which the speaker sounds more sure that he should have eaten. Right?

[snbzk]

From the explanation, it sounded to me like 行っとけばよかった could be translated as "I should have gone just in case" (or "in case I would have liked the concert"), where おく indicates that the speaker didn't have much to lose by going and would have been going as a precautionary measure to prevent missing out on a good time. Is this right?

[KyleGoetz]

Sounds like it could be considering the definition of おく. But I've learned nothing new since my last question, so my opinion on this matter is pretty worthless.

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

So what's the difference between 行っておけばよかった and 行けばよかった? Both express regret at not going. Is the former less regretful and the latter more regretful? Nagoyankee, you mention that the first has some implied lack of certainty as to whether he actually should have gone or not. Does the latter have more certainty that it's regretful he didn't go?

Thanks.

Also, then, is this a function of 〜おけばよかった in that something like 食べておけばよかった expresses some regret at not eating, but the speaker still isn't completely sure of that; rather, he's a bit on the fence still? Contrast this with the same form minus おく, in which the speaker sounds more sure that he should have eaten. Right?

The difference between 行っておけばよかった and 行けばよかった has more to do with the personality than how much one regrets not going. It's really difficult to say which one regrets more from these short phrases alone.

行っておけばよかった would be said by someone very indecisive not only about this particular event but also about things in general. Saying 行っておけばよかった a day after the concert is of no use. It's like he's still vacillating, which is way too late to do.

行けばよかった is much simpler. Someone tells you the concer was great and you say, "Oh man, I should have gone with you, then." This person probably wouldn't go on thinking about it.

Regarding your next question, it's also hard to say which one shows more regret from the phrases 食べておけばよかった and 食べればよかった alone. The way you say those can change the degrees of regret, too, which is an important factor in spoken language. But generally speaking, I would say that by using おく, you can show more regret. This is because, by using it, you sound like you're criticizing yourself for the bad decision-making.

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by snbzk

From the explanation, it sounded to me like 行っとけばよかった could be translated as "I should have gone just in case" (or "in case I would have liked the concert"), where おく indicates that the speaker didn't have much to lose by going and would have been going as a precautionary measure to prevent missing out on a good time. Is this right?

Exactly!! I myself kinda regreｔted using the word "anyway" instead of "just in case".

"Just in case" と言っておけばよかった。

[minminRW]

In this case おく means preperation of going and indicates the decision in short.

Then 行っておけばよかった is used when the speaker makes a point on the past dicision.
That affection is not saying directly, but include the meaning "I must have made a decision to do in advance."

For example, If people who have gone got special gifts, both sentences are OK.
「プレゼントがもらえるなら、行けばよかった」He regrets he did not go.
「プレゼントがもらえるなら、行っとけばよかった」 He regrets his past decision of not going.

If the speaker had another plan but he finally failed, 行っとけばよかった fits rather than 行けばよかった.
「デートはやめたので、行っとけばよかった」

If the people who did not go were forced to do homework,
「宿題をするくらいなら、行っとけばよかった。」 is more natural.

These feelings are very fine. In all case I wrote, both sentences could be use.

[Nagoyankee]

Another pop quiz! Particles! Please copy and fill in the blanks.

Teacher: みなさん（　）昨日なに（　）しましたか。　昨日（き のう）= yesterday.

Yuri: ダンス（　）レッスン（　）行きました。

Bob: 新宿（　）映画（　）見ました。　新宿（しんじゅく） = a section of Tokyo.　映画（えいが）= a film.

Cindy: 母（　）渋谷（　）買い物（　）して、夜（　）家（　 ）本（　）読みました。母（はは）= mother. 渋谷（しぶや）= section of Tokyo. 買い物（かいもの）= shopping　夜（よる）= night. 読む（よむ）= to read.

Tsuyoshi: ともだち（　）原宿（　）行き、アクセサリー（　）買 いました。夜（　）ぼく（　）家（　）焼肉パーティー （　）しました。　原宿＝はらじゅく. 焼肉（やきにく）= Korean-style BBQ.
_______________

父（ ★　）作るラーメン（　）とてもおいしいです。　父（ ちち）= father. 作る（つくる）= to make.

★ Two possibilities here. Give me both. If you can, tell me which one of the two answers is preferred by more native speakers? And why?

これ（　）昨日私（　）買ったシャツです。　買う（か う）= to buy.

車（　）富士山（　）行きたい。　車（くるま）= car. 　富士山（ふじさん）= Mt. Fuji.

日本語（　）勉強（　）楽しい！　勉強（べんきょう） = studies.

「空」（　）英語（　）何（　）いいますか。　空（そ ら）= sky.

[snbzk]

I wonder if attaching a text file will hide the answers?

Maybe it would be a better idea to attach the answer key in the first place and then people could discuss it if they have problems.

[Nagoyankee]

Thanks for the quick reply, snbzk.

I'd like to add an extra-point question here as no one else has answered yet.

Regarding the question 「父（ ★　）作るラーメン（　）とてもおいしいです。　父（ ちち）= father. 作る（つくる）= to make.

★ Two possibilities here. Give me both. 」, which one of the two answers is preferred by more native speakers? And why?

[Kai13]

Teacher: みなさんが、昨日なにをしましたか。　

Yuri: ダンスのレッスンに行きました。

Bob: 新宿に映画を見ました。

Cindy: 母は渋谷に買い物をして、夜(?)家で本を読みました。

Tsuyoshi: ともだちと原宿に行き、アクセサリーを買いました。夜 （?)ぼくの家で焼肉パーティーをしました。

-----------------

父の作るラーメンはとてもおいしいです。　(not sure)

これは昨日私の買ったシャツです。　(still haven't learned this form, but that's my 2 cents, it's not hard to understand)

車で富士山に行きたい。　　

日本語の勉強は楽しい！　

「空」（　）英語（　）何（　）いいますか。　空（そ ら）= sky. (no clue)