GI09 · Start and finish: 〜はじめる

Before you start

The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• GI01say something is excessive
• GI02say whether something is easy or hard to do
• GI03say what you do something for
• GI04say what you do to avoid something
• GI05pass on what you've heard
• GI06say what seems to be so
• GI07say something has just happened
• GI08say what point of an action you're at

What you learn

〜はじめます／〜おわります

• はじめましたstarted …ing
• おわりましたfinished …ing

はじめる (start) and おわる (finish) attach to the ます stem: よみはじめました (I started reading), たべおわりました (I finished eating). They work as a new verb: よみはじめます, よみはじめません…

• 本ほんを 読よみはじめました。hon o yomihajimemashita.I started reading the book.
• 雨あめが 降ふりはじめました。ame ga furihajimemashita.It started to rain.
• 昼ひるご飯はんを 食たべおわりました。hirugohan o tabeowarimashita.I finished my lunch.
• 資料しりょうを 読よみおわりました。shiryou o yomiowarimashita.I finished reading the materials.
• 日本語にほんごを 習ならいはじめました。nihongo o naraihajimemashita.I started learning Japanese.
• 手紙てがみを 書かきおわりました。tegami o kakiowarimashita.I finished writing the letter.

Practice

A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.