some questions on numbers and particles

[pacerier]

thanks alot for the replies, they really do clear up alot of misunderstandings. i think for now i'll stick to using [v]なくてはならない and [v]ないといけない.
As for the word 駄目, is it common to write it in ダメ?


also, i found this sentence in a guide: ボブに電話して買いものに行かなければならない.
Does the sentence mean that "i will call Bob and i must go shopping", or that "i must call Bob and i must go shopping"?


Regarding the てばかり conjugation, does it imply “disapproval”, in other words will ボブ勉強してばかり mean “Bob does nothing but study, and I’m not pleased with it”

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by pacerier

As for the word 駄目, is it common to write it in ダメ?

I think a careful writer would not use the kanji.

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by pacerier

also, i found this sentence in a guide: ボブに電話して買いものに行かなければならない.
Does the sentence mean that "i will call Bob and i must go shopping", or that "i must call Bob and i must go shopping"?

The latter.

Regarding the てばかり conjugation, does it imply “disapproval”, in other words will ボブ勉強してばかり mean “Bob does nothing but study, and I’m not pleased with it”

Exactly. But you need to finish the phrase ボブ勉強してばかり first so I can be sure you know how to use it.

[delacroix01]

As for the word 駄目, is it common to write it in ダメ?

Just adding a little bit. I often see it in Kanji, but as KyleGoetz stated, using Katakana fits better, and the number of times I've seen it in Katakana is the same as in Kanji (and maybe even more).

[pacerier]

oh, i was wondering why ダメ is in katakana and not hiragana. my thinking is that if it is an imported word, then it shouldn't have a kanji equivalent, or is that not true?

But you need to finish the phrase ボブ勉強してばかり first so I can be sure you know how to use it.

hm, i thought it could be used this way: ボブは勉強してばかり, or is it incomplete?


Also, as for はず, in this sentence ボブもいきたいはず does the はず signify "probably" or "supposed to"?:
(1) Bob probably wants to go too
or (2) Bob is supposed to want to go

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by pacerier

oh, i was wondering why ダメ is in katakana and not hiragana. my thinking is that if it is an imported word, then it shouldn't have a kanji equivalent, or is that not true?

Imported from where? It's a 大和言葉, young bloke!

It's often written in kana because it's a colloquial word to start with. It looks kinda too heavy if you write it 駄目. It doesn't look "live" that way, either.

hm, i thought it could be used this way: ボブは勉強してばかり, or is it incomplete?

You didn't use は last time. Besides, you need to add いる/います at the end to call it a complete sentence.

Also, as for はず, in this sentence ボブもいきたいはず does the はず signify "probably" or "supposed to"?:
(1) Bob probably wants to go too
or (2) Bob is supposed to want to go

Why keep calling fractured sentences "sentences"? We say it that way but it isn't a sentence. Add だ/です/である, etc. to call it a sentence.

The meaning is "I'm sure Bob wants to go, too."

[pacerier]

oh, i thought ダメ was taken from another language because it is written in katakana instead of hiragana. is it true that colloquial words are usually written in katakana instead of hiragana?

We say it that way but it isn't a sentence. Add だ/です/である, etc. to call it a sentence.

ok, i'll keep that in mind =D, regarding ばかり, instead of ボブは勉強してばかりいる, will this be acceptable: ボブは勉強するばかりだ, and also this: ボブは勉強ばかりだ


Also, is it true that instead of the "I'm sure [x]" meaning, はず can also mean "ought to/supposed to" ?

If it's so, will ボブは行くはずです mean both "Bob is supposed to go", and "I'm sure Bob will go"

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by pacerier

oh, i thought ダメ was taken from another language because it is written in katakana instead of hiragana. is it true that colloquial words are usually written in katakana instead of hiragana?

First, if you read somewhere that only imported words are written in katakana, then that is plain wrong. Many onomatopoeias are written in katakana. So are many other words that just look better or more natural in katakana because that's how we write them. ダメ is in that last group.

I can't say that colloquial words are usually written in katakana instead of hiragana. They tend to be, but not always. You should already be at the level to know that it's easier to let (important) words visually stand out if you write them in katakana than in hiragana. Surrounding them with hiragana is the way.

ok, i'll keep that in mind =D, regarding ばかり, instead of ボブは勉強してばかりいる, will this be acceptable: ボブは勉強するばかりだ, and also this: ボブは勉強ばかりだ

ボブは勉強するばかりだ is correct if you know what it means and so is ボブは勉強ばかりだ. These sound like the speaker is more criticizing than stating a fact. If you aren't sure you can remember that criticizing part, forget this for now. This stuff is really too early for you. You can end up saying something harsh that you didn't mean.

Also, is it true that instead of the "I'm sure [x]" meaning, はず can also mean "ought to/supposed to" ?

If it's so, will ボブは行くはずです mean both "Bob is supposed to go", and "I'm sure Bob will go"

All true. "to be expected". "to be scheduled."

[pacerier]

is it that ボブは勉強してばかりいる means something like "Bob is always studying (and he's really always studying) and im not pleased with it" whereas ボブは勉強ばかりだ/ボブは勉強するばかりだ means "Bob is a nerd (though bob may not always be studying)".

regarding はず, will it sound weird if we add きっと in front as such: きっとボブは勉強してばかりいる to mean "Both is surely supposed to go" and "I'm very sure Bob will go"?


also, is it true that this sentence (1):今日電車で行ったほうがいい is in the present tense despite 「行った」. if so what will be the difference between (1) and 今日電車で行くほうがいい

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by pacerier

also, is it true that this sentence (1):今日電車で行ったほうがいい is in the present tense despite 「行った」. if so what will be the difference between (1) and 今日電車で行くほうがいい

1. Yes.

2. You will almost never use 行く方がいい (IIRC, we had this discussion a few months ago and I was actually shocked to learn of the present+方がいい form, as I'd never ever learned it). It's an exceptional circumstance when contrasting options, I think. The past form + 方がいい is a set phrase that you do not change.

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Japanese Verbs - Lesson 73