Nihongo de Asobo!

[xsakux]

英語でいいですか (eigo de ii desu ka) - Is English ok?



eigo mo ii desu ka also works

[strawberritheEGLwaffo]

Wow, great thread! I am new here, and this really helps me. I like printing out phrases because they always help. Thank you for posting!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by xsakux

Nihongo ga dekimasen = I dont Speak Japanese.(Japanese is not possible)


wouldnt it be nihongo wo hanaseru de wa nai or nihongo wo hanaserimasen

What you are trying to say is "Nihongo wo hanasu koto ga dekimasen" or "Nihongo wo shyaberemasen"... which is the same as "Nihongo ga dekimasen"

Though if you say that, everyone will think that you can speak Japanese...

[MMM]

Originally Posted by xsakux

英語でいいですか (eigo de ii desu ka) - Is English ok?



eigo mo ii desu ka also works

I would say

英語でもいいですか？

Is English OK?

英語もいいですか？
eigo mo ii desu ka?

could have several meanings from

"Can I also speak English?"

to

"Have you had enough of English?"

depending on the situation and intonation.

[xsakux]

Originally Posted by MMM

What you are trying to say is "Nihongo wo hanasu koto ga dekimasen" or "Nihongo wo shyaberemasen"... which is the same as "Nihongo ga dekimasen"

Though if you say that, everyone will think that you can speak Japanese...

well my book told me that with -su verbs such as hanasu can be changed be changed by replacing u with eru to make hanaseru=can speak so wouldnt can not speak be hanasemasen



nihongo ga joozu wo hanasu koto ga dekimasen

[MMM]

Originally Posted by xsakux

well my book told me that with -su verbs such as hanasu can be changed be changed by replacing u with eru to make hanaseru=can speak so wouldnt can not speak be hanasemasen



nihongo ga joozu wo hanasu koto ga dekimasen

Yes, that also works. There are two ways to say "can't do" something.

dictionary form of verb + koto ga dekimasen

and the form you mentioned, which is a little trickier, but is important to know, as most native speakers will go that route.

[SaginumaEki]

Well, you can say nihongo o hanasukotaga dekinai

but you can also just say nihongo o hanasenai (hanasemasen). Essentially, in potential form, the verb becomes a ru verb.

[SaginumaEki]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound repetitive. I didn't see MMM's response.

[AnimeFan15]

Places
byou-in=hospital
kouban=police box
yubinkyoku=post office
toshokan=library
ginkou=bank
kuukou=airport
eki=station
kouen=park
ie=house
mise=shop

[Risako]

i don't know if this counts but name endings might help -sama (formal) -san (casual) -chan (someone younger than you) i watch to much anime