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Requesting explanation of particle usage and translation

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okunote
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Posts: 7
Joined: January 3rd, 2008 6:24 pm

Requesting explanation of particle usage and translation

Postby okunote » March 16th, 2010 5:59 pm

I'm just confused about the usage of the particles in these three sentences and their general translations in English. I would be delighted if someone could shine some light on the matter for me.

I've put in parenthesis the areas of focus that I find particularly confusing...

明日から健康診断が始まります。(つきましたは)掲示のポスター(にて)詳細を確認してください。

海におぼれ(でも)したら、大変だ。だからお酒はだめだ。

公園のらくがきをみて子供たちがやった(に)決まっている.

Thank you in advance!

toonygal5459
Been Around a Bit
Posts: 18
Joined: March 12th, 2010 8:06 pm

Postby toonygal5459 » March 17th, 2010 2:54 am

1. 明日から健康診断が始まります。(つきましたは)掲示のポスター(にて)詳細を確認してください。

"Physical examinations start from tomorrow. For more information (regarding the examinations), check the poster on the bulletin board."

This sentence might be less formally written as:
詳細については掲示のポスターにて確認して下さい。

ついては・つきましたは means "concerning" or "with regards to"
にて is a formal/old way of saying で.


2. 海におぼれ(でも)したら、大変だ。だからお酒はだめだ。

In this case でも is giving an example. It might be translated as "or something." Like, "If you were to drown in the ocean or something, it would be terrible."

You can use verb stem + でも in other ways too. Here's an example:

もし彼らの気に入らないことを言いでもしたら大変なことになるだろう。
moshi karera no ki ni iranai koto wo ii-demo shitara taihen na koto ni naru darou.
If I said something that wasn't to their liking or something, things would get ugly.

Sorry I don't have time for number three right now.
Last edited by toonygal5459 on March 17th, 2010 7:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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toonygal5459
Been Around a Bit
Posts: 18
Joined: March 12th, 2010 8:06 pm

Postby toonygal5459 » March 17th, 2010 7:48 pm

Okay.

3. 公園のらくがきをみて子供たちがやった(に)決まっている.

に決まっている is a set phrase that means roughly "there's no doubt" or "it must be."

The subject of this sentence is dropped, but if we assume it's written in the first person it would be translated:

"I saw the graffiti in the park and I figured kids must have done it."

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