About This Lesson
Use Checking a table-setting list to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
リストを見ましょう。
ree-SOO-toh oh mee-mah-SHOH. Let's look at the list.
B
ここにあります。
KOH-koh nee ah-ree-MAHSS. I have it here.
A
カップは準備できていますか。
KAH-poo wah joon-bee deh-KEE-teh ee-MAHSS kah? Are the cups ready?
B
私は全部洗いました。
wah-TAH-shee wah ZEN-boo ah-RAH-ee-mah-SHEE-tah. I washed them all.
A
何か足りませんか。
NAH-nee-kah tah-ree-mah-SEN kah? Is anything missing?
B
まだスプーンが一つ必要です。
mah-DAH soo-POON gah hee-toh-tsoo hee-tsoo-YOH dehss. We still need one spoon.
A
私がもう一つ取ってきます。
wah-TAH-shee gah moh hee-toh-tsoo toh-TTEH kee-MAHSS. I can get another one.
B
では、テーブルの準備ができました。
deh-WAH, TAY-boo-roo noh joon-bee gah deh-KEE-mah-SHEE-tah. Then the table is set.Word by Word
リスト
「リスト」 means “list” here—the list they are checking for setting the table. It is a commonly used loanword for a written list of items. You can place it before を when it is the thing someone looks at, as in 「リストを見ましょう」.
を
In 「リストを見ましょう」, 「を」 marks 「リスト」 as the thing being looked at. It commonly follows the object of an action. The action word here is 「見ましょう」.
見ましょう
「見ましょう」 means “let’s look” here and invites the other person to look at the list together. It is the polite form used to make a suggestion with the verb 見る, “to look” or “to see.” A reusable pattern is an activity followed by 「見ましょう」 when suggesting that people look at something together.
ここ
「ここ」 means “here,” referring to the place where the list is located. In 「ここにあります」, it identifies the location of the thing being shown or held. It can be used when directing someone’s attention to a nearby place.
に
In 「ここにあります」, 「に」 marks the place where something is located. It follows a place expression before 「あります」. This same location pattern can describe where an object is.
あります
In 「ここにあります」, 「あります」 says that the item is located or available there, so the whole line means “I have it here.” It is used for the existence or location of an inanimate thing. A reusable pattern is a place followed by 「にあります」.
カップ
「カップ」 means “cup,” referring to the cups being prepared for the table. It is a common loanword used for a cup or cups. In this line, it is followed by 「は」 because the cups are the topic of the question.
は
In 「カップは準備できていますか」, 「は」 marks 「カップ」 as the topic being checked. It sets the topic before the information or question about it. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by 「は」 when asking about or describing that topic.
準備
「準備」 means “preparation” in 「準備できています」. Together with 「できています」, it expresses that the preparation is complete and the cups are ready. It is commonly used when talking about preparing an event, place, or item.
できています
In 「準備できています」, 「できています」 expresses the current state that the preparation is complete, so the cups are ready. The exact form describes readiness in the question 「カップは準備できていますか」. It can be reused after a preparation-related expression when checking whether something is ready.
か
At the end of 「カップは準備できていますか」, 「か」 marks the sentence as a question. It turns the statement about the cups’ readiness into a polite question. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
私
「私」 means “I,” identifying the speaker as the person who will do the washing. In 「私は全部洗いました」, it is followed by 「は」 to make the speaker the topic. It can be used when explicitly stating who performed an action.
全部
「全部」 means “all of them” here, referring to all the cups. In 「私は全部洗いました」, it shows that the washing applied to the complete group. It can be placed before an action to show that the action was done to everything in the group.
洗いました
「洗いました」 means “washed” here, referring to washing all the cups. It is the polite past form of 洗う, “to wash,” and reports an action already completed. A reusable pattern is an object followed by 「洗いました」 when reporting that it was washed.
何か
In the question 「何か足りませんか」, 「何か」 means “anything,” asking whether there is an unspecified missing item. It refers to one or more possible things without naming one. A common reuse pattern is 「何か」 before a verb in a question about whether something exists or is needed.
足りません
「足りません」 means “is missing” or “is not enough” here. In 「何か足りませんか」, it asks whether anything needed for the table is lacking. It is the polite negative form related to 足りる, “to be enough,” and can describe an insufficient amount or missing requirement.
まだ
「まだ」 means “still” here, showing that the need for a spoon remains. In 「まだスプーンが一つ必要です」, it comes before the statement about what is needed. It is commonly used before an ongoing need or unfinished situation.
スプーン
「スプーン」 means “spoon,” referring to the utensil still needed for the table. It is a common loanword for a spoon. In this line, it is followed by 「が」 because it is the item that is needed.
が
In 「スプーンが一つ必要です」, 「が」 marks 「スプーン」 as the item that is needed. With 「必要です」, the needed thing commonly comes before 「が」. This pattern identifies what is necessary.
必要
「必要」 means “necessary” or “needed” here. Together with 「スプーンが一つ」 and 「です」, 「一つのスプーン is needed」 is expressed. A reusable pattern is a needed item followed by 「が必要です」.
です
In 「必要です」, 「です」 gives the statement a polite form and completes the meaning “is needed.” It follows 「必要」 in this dialogue. It is commonly used after a noun-like description in a polite statement.
もう
In 「もう一つ」, 「もう」 adds the meaning “another” or “one more.” It shows that the speaker will get one additional spoon beyond the one already available. It is commonly placed before a quantity expression when asking for or adding one more item.
取ってきます
「取ってきます」 means “I will go and get it” here, with the intention of bringing the additional spoon back. The form expresses going to obtain something and return with it. It is useful when offering to fetch an item for someone in the same situation.
では
「では」 means “then” here and introduces the result after the additional spoon is obtained. In 「では、テーブルの準備ができました」, it connects the previous action with the conclusion. It is commonly used at the beginning of a sentence when moving to the next step or result.
テーブル
「テーブル」 means “table,” referring to the table being prepared for the meal. It is a common loanword for a table. In 「テーブルの準備」, it is followed by 「の」 to specify what the preparation is for.
の
In 「テーブルの準備」, 「の」 links 「テーブル」 with 「準備」 and means that the preparation is for the table. It connects two nouns by showing their relationship. A reusable pattern is noun + 「の」 + noun.
できました
In 「テーブルの準備ができました」, 「できました」 says that the table preparation is now complete, so the table is set. It is the polite past form of できる in this completed-result use. A reusable pattern is a completed task followed by 「ができました」 when announcing that it is finished.
Grammar Points
〜ています
準備ができています
joon-bee gah deh-KEE-teh ee-MAHSSbe ready; be prepared
〜ています can describe a current state or condition, not only an action happening now.
〜てきます
取ってきます
toh-TTEH kee-MAHSSI’ll go and get it; I’ll bring it
〜てきます shows going somewhere to do something and then returning.
Japanese Vocabulary
ある
verb
AH-roo
be; exist
あります
ここにあります。
カップ
noun
KAH-poo
cup
カップは準備できていますか。
ここ
adv
KOH-koh
here
ここにあります。
スプーン
noun
soo-POON
spoon
まだスプーンが一つ必要です。
まだ
adv
mah-DAH
still
まだスプーンが一つ必要です。
リスト
noun
ree-SOO-toh
list
リストを見ましょう。
何か
pron
NAH-nee-kah
anything; something
何か足りませんか。
見る
verb
MEE-roo
look at
見ましょう
リストを見ましょう。
準備できている
phrase
joon-bee deh-KEE-teh ee-ROO
be ready
準備できています
カップは準備できていますか。
洗う
verb
ah-RAH-oo
wash
洗いました
私は全部洗いました。
全部
adv
ZEN-boo
all
私は全部洗いました。
足りる
verb
tah-REE-roo
be enough; be sufficient
足りません
何か足りませんか。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
wash
Show Answer
洗いましたbe ready
Show Answer
準備できていますbe; exist
Show Answer
ありますlook at