or plural, are and sore can mean “those” instead of “that.” The same is true of ano and sono.
With reference to something that is not visible to either the speaker or the hearer at the time of speech, are and sore are used as follows. Are is used “when the speaker knows that the hearer, as well as the speaker himself, knows the referent” whereas sore is used “either when the speaker knows the referent but thinks that the hearer does not or when the speaker does not know the referent” (Kuno, p. 283). Compare the following examples:
(3) A: Kinoo Sutaa Woozu to iu eiga o mimashita yo.
Yesterday I saw a movie called Star Wars.
B: Are (not *Sore) wa omoshiroi eiga desu nee.
That’s a fun movie, isn’t it?
(4) A: Kinoo Roshia-elga o mimashita yo.
Yesterday I saw a Russian movie.
B: Sore (not *Are) wa donna eiga deshlta ka.
What kind of movie was that?
In (3), speaker B has already seen the movie, so he refers to it as are. In (4), on the other hand, speaker B does not know what movie speaker A is talking about, so he uses sore instead.
The Japanese equivalent of “Thank you” has variants depending on the tense. If you want to thank someone for something that he is doing, is going to do, or repeatedly does for you, you say Arigatoo gozaimasu. To thank someone for what he has already done for you, however, you say Arigatoo gozaimashita. For example, if someone has just invited you to a party that is to take place next week, you say Arigatoo gozaimasu. After the party, however, you say Arigatoo gozaimashita, meaning “Thank you for what you did for me.” Likewise, as you accept a present from someone, you say Arigatoo gozaimasu, but next time you see him, you thank him again by saying Arigatoo gozaimashita. The difference in usage between these two forms remains even when doomo “very much” is added for emphasis. Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu functions like Arigatoo gozaimasu, and Doomo arigatoo gozaimashita like Arigatoo gozaimashita, except that the versions with doomo are more polite than the ones without.
The informal version Arigatoo (without gozaimasu or gozaimashita) may be used regardless of the time of the event for which you wish to show gratitude. This version, however, cannot be used when speaking to someone higher in status. Since it is difficult for nonnative speakers of Japanese to determine who is higher or lower than they are, the safest thing would be to use Arigatoo only when talking to a child. Otherwise, use the full form Arigatoo gozaimasu (or gozai-mashita), or simply Doomo.
Unlike “Thank you,” Arigatoo gozaimasu and its variants may not be used in response to compliments. If someone compliments you for your “excellent Japanese,” for example, say Mada dame desu “It’s still no good.” Thanking someone for a compliment, to the Japanese way of thinking, is like admitting you deserve the compliment; it is therefore an act of conceit.
Aru means “to be” in the sense of “to exist.” As a rule, the verb is used with inanimate subjects (including plants).
(1) Ishii-san no uchi wa Nagoya ni aru.
Mr. Ishii’s house is in Nagoya.
(2) Go-gatsu no dai-isshuu ni wa kyuujitsu ga futsu-ka aru.
There are two national holidays during the first week of May.
Aru may also be used with reference to animate beings, particularly family members, or other humans comparable to family members, e.g., friends and guests. X ga aru in this usage is very much like X o motte-iru “to have X” in meaning, as in the following examples:
(3) Watashi wa kyoodai ga go-nin aru.
I have five siblings.
(4) Yamamoto-san wa kodomo ga san-nin aru soo da.
I hear Mr. Yamamoto has three children.
(5) Ii tomodachi ga aru kara ii desu ne.
Isn’t it good that you have nice friends!
Although to signify the existence of animate beings, iru (see iru) is the verb that is usually used (e.g., Asoko ni inu ga iru “There’s a dog over there”), aru is sometimes used, especially (a) if the subject is not a specific person or a specific animal, (b) if where the subject exists is irrelevant, and (c) if the noun signaling the subject is preceded by a relative clause, as in
(6) Yoku benkyoo-suru gakusei mo aru shi, asonde bakari iru gakusei mo aru.
There are students who study hard and there are students who fool around all the time.
There is another important use of aru: to refer to happenings or events.
(7) Konban hanabi ga aru soo da.
I hear there will be fireworks tonight.
In this case, aru does not indicate existence, but rather refers to an event. When a location is mentioned, therefore, the particle de (not ni) is required.
(8) Konban Ryoogoku de hanabi ga aru soo da.
I hear there will be fireworks at Ryogoku tonight.
Compare this with sentence (1), where ni is used to indicate location.
Aruku means “to walk.”
(1) Ano hito wa aruku no ga hayai desu nee.
He walks fast, doesn’t he!
When the destination is mentioned, the particle preceding aruku should be made “up to.” When e or ni, both meaning “to,” is used, the verb is changed to aruite iku (lit., “to go walking”) or aruite kuru (lit., “to come walking”).
(2) Itsumo gakkoo made arakimasu.
I always walk to school.
(3) Itsumo gakkoo e (or ni) aruite-ikimasu.
I always go to school on foot.
When the place along or through which the act of walking takes place is mentioned, aruku is preceded by the particle o.
(4) Asoko o aruite-iru no wa dare deshoo.
I wonder who that person is who is walking over there (lit. along that place).
Other verbs of motion such as iku “to go” and kuru “to come” are also used with o in comparable situations.
When walking takes place up or down a steep incline (e.g., stairs), aruku has to be either replaced by another verb (such as noboru “to climb up”) or changed to the -te form
