Dialogue

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Lesson Transcript

Do you know how to talk about what didn’t happen with the negative past tense in Japanese?
Welcome to Three Step Japanese Practice by JapanesePod101.com. In this lesson, you will practice how to talk about what did or didn’t happen.
Let’s look at the main dialogue.
Two people are having a conversation.
いえ､ ざんねんです。けいやくは できませんでした｡(Ie, zannen desu. Keiyaku wa dekimasen deshita.)
No, unfortunately. We couldn’t secure the contract.
え?どうしてですか｡ わたしたちのプレゼンはせいこうしましたよね｡ わたしたち何かしっぱいをしましたか｡(E? Doushite desu ka. Watashitachi no purezen wa seikou shimashita yo ne. Watashitachi nani ka shippai o shimashita ka.)
Huh? Why? Our presentation was successful, right? Did we make some mistake?
This
means “couldn't do,” but because it's used in this situation, it gets translated to "couldn't secure."
The past tense negative form できませんでした (dekimasen deshita) comes from the verb する (suru). する is an irregular Class 3 verb, so できませんでした is formed from the irregular potential form of できる (dekiru) instead of する (suru).
Let’s practice with this grammar more in this lesson.

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