Too many tsuku's

[Alan]

There are a lot of very similar useful verbs starting with tsu and I keep getting them mixed up. This isn't an exhaustive list, but hopefully contains the more common variants. For each homonym, I've attempted to put the most frequent usage first.

tsukau (使う) = to use
tsukau (遣う) = to spend (e.g. money or time)

tsukeru (付ける) = to attach (item is the object)
tsukeru (点ける) = to light (a fire), to switch on (a device) (fire/device is the object)
tsukeru (着ける) = to put on (a clothing accessory) (item is the object)

tsuku (付く) = to become attached (item is the subject)
tsuku (点く) = to start burning, to light (fire/device is the subject)
tsuku (着く) = to arrive (intransitive I think, the object requires particle 'ni')

tsukuru (作る) = to make, to form, to grow, to cook
tsukuru (造る) = to manufacture, to build

Ok, I'll just remember the most common meanings for tsukau and tsukuru for the moment (remembering that you can use tsukuru for cooking of course).

However what's really confusing me is the tsuku and tsukeru variants. At first sight, tsukeru should be the potential form of tsuku. So I'd expect 付ける to be 'to be able to become attached'. Indeed rikaichan shows this as a possible meaning. But the more common meaning is 'to attach'. It's the same kanji in each case.

What about 点ける? I'd expect this to be 'to be able to catch fire', and indeed this is a possible meaning. But more commonly it is 'to light (a fire)/switch on (a device)'.

And then there's 着ける. What on earth is going on here. I'd expect 'to be able to arrive', but instead we have 'to put on a clothing accessory'. It's the same kanji in each case.

It kind of looks like tsuku is a passive form of tsukeru. This kind of works even for 着くas 'to be put on' is very close to 'to arrive'. So why tsuku for the passive, rather than tsukerareru? 着けられる is either potential or passive depending on the context. I wonder if it is actually used, or maybe only used for the potential form.

I thought, organising my confused thoughts into a post, would help me get this straight, but it doesn't really seem to have worked. It looks like I'll have to remember tsukeru as a special case & not try to decode it as a potential form of tsuku.

[Bucko]

Ahh, have you looked into transitive and intrasitive yet? A lot of verbs come in pairs. Remember transitive verbs take an object, intransitive do not.

E.g.
開く　（あく）: ドアが開く　= The door will open OR the door opens (door is the subject so it's marked by 'ga', there is no object so no 'wo').
開ける　（あける）:私はドアを開ける = I will open the door OR I open the door (I am the subject so I'm marked by 'ha', the door is the object so it's market by 'wo')

Transitive and intransitive are really nasty, but vitally important. I suggest you tackle them with time though.

Here's another example using つく and つける (note that when talking about switching on a light, usually it's all in hiragana):
つく：電気がついている (the light is switched on)
つける：電気をつけてください (please turn on the light)
In the first sentence 'light' is the subject, there is no object. In the second sentence the person who the request is aimed at is the subject (probably 'you') but the subject has been omitted. 'light' is the object, so marked by 'wo'.

The first example shows an important element about instransitive verbs. That is, when you use the 'te iru' form it describes a current state. So 電車が止まっています is actually "the train is/has stopped" rather than "the train is stopping".

Regarding the potential form, look at the following:
電気をつけますか = Will you turn on the light?
電気をつけられますか = Can you turn on the light?
電気がつきますか = Will the light turn on?
電気がつけますか = Can the light turn on? Notice it's very similarto the first sentence? The only difference is that in the first sentence 'light' is the object, but in the second sentence it's the subject.
電気はつけられます = The light will be turned on. This is passive. Notice the difference in particles between this sentence and the second sentence there.

Hope this helps

[Bucko]

Oh, and for a comprehensive list of transitive and intransitive verb pairs, see the following:

http://www.sljfaq.org/w/Transitive_and_ ... tive_verbs

When you learn a new verb, I suggest you go and find out if it is part of a pair, then learn them both together.

[Alan]

Ah, I didn't think of transitive/intransitive. I know what they are but only know a few easily guessed ones e.g. ageru/agaru. That list you found is going to be useful.

Thanks
Alan