GI10 · Doing things: 〜たり〜たり

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
• GI09say you start or finish something

What you learn

〜たり、〜たり します

• りthings like… (〜たり〜たり)

The た-form + り lists some actions, not all and not in order: ほんを よんだり、えいがを みたり します (I read, watch films…). します goes at the end. With two opposite verbs it says something alternates: あめが ふったり やんだり します.

• 週末しゅうまつは 本ほんを 読よんだり、映画えいがを 見みたり します。shuumatsu wa hon o yondari, eiga o mitari shimasu.At weekends I read, watch films and so on.
• 日曜日にちようびは 掃除そうじを したり、洗濯せんたくを したり します。nichiyoubi wa souji o shitari, sentaku o shitari shimasu.On Sundays I clean, do the laundry and so on.
• 夏なつは 海うみに 行いったり、山やまに 登のぼったり します。natsu wa umi ni ittari, yama ni nobottari shimasu.In summer I go to the beach, climb mountains and so on.
• 雨あめが 降ふったり 止やんだり します。ame ga futtari yandari shimasu.It rains on and off.
• 家いえで 音楽おんがくを 聞きいたり、テレビを 見みたり します。ie de ongaku o kiitari, terebi o mitari shimasu.At home I listen to music, watch TV and so on.
• 週末しゅうまつは 友達ともだちに 会あったり、公園こうえんで 遊あそんだり します。shuumatsu wa tomodachi ni attari, kouen de asondari shimasu.At weekends I meet friends, have fun in the park and so on.

Practice

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