From the very earliest stages of study until far into the intermediate
level, students of the Japanese language are continually scratching
their heads over the usage of verbs. It is no wonder that they should
feel the need for a solid reference book, one they can continually turn
to throughout their studying careers. The Handbook of Japanese Verbs
is just that book.
The Introduction takes the first step toward comprehension by pointing
out the features of Japanese verbs that stand in contrast to their
English counterparts, such as tense, politeness level, auxiliaries, and
transitive and intransitive forms.
Part 1 shows through tables and concise commentary how Japanese verbs
are categorized, conjugated, and combined with auxiliaries. Each form is
followed by a short exercise, reinforcing the points just made.
Part 2 takes up the forms described in the first part and shows how they
function in full-fledged sentences. Each discussion is followed by
examples and exercises, ensuring that the student has understood the
forms under discussion.
In the appendices, the student is offered a number of look-up methods,
including an English-Japanese verb dictionary. This completes the
apparatus necessary for a solid handbook on Japanese verbs, a book
students can rely on for many years to come.
