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27 Grammatical reasons for alternations of particles Certain types of grammatical constructions allow multiple choices of particles. One type, with little consequence in the meaning, is given below: { } watashi-{ga/no} itta koto “what I said” The alternation is possible because watashi “I” may be analyzed either as the subject of the modifying sentence, as in the following: [ ] [watashi-ga itta] koto “what I said” or as the modifier of the noun phrase itta koto “what (someone) said,” as in the following: [ ] watashi-no [itta koto] “what I said” A similar phenomenon is observed in the following, in which the noun sushi “sushi” may be treated as the direct object of tabe “eat,” as in the first example, or as the grammatical subject of the complex, intransitive verb tabetai “want to eat,” as in the second: [ ] [Sushi-o tabe]tai. “I want to eat sushi.” [ ] Sushi-ga [tabetai]-naa. “I really want to eat sushi.” There is a subtle difference in the meaning of the second example. The first option expresses a controlled desire, while the second expresses a much stronger desire. The emotive particle -naa is more natural with the second option. 64 A similar phenomenon occurs in the following construction, in which hon “book” may be treated as the direct object as in the first example, or as the subject of a complex, intransitive verb as in the second: [ ] [Hon-o oite]-aru. “I have placed a book. (I intend to keep it there.)” [ ] Hon-ga [oite-aru]. “There is a book. (The person who placed it there is not around.)” Notice that the bracketed part in the first option has a transitive verb oku “to place.” Its implicit subject, therefore, is a person, with the implication that the one who placed the book somehow controls the situation. The second option, on the other hand, has the book as the grammatical subject of the intransitive verb; this reduces the role of the person who placed it there. Checking your comprehension: Explain why all of the following noun phrases are grammatical: Tanizaki-no shoosetsu-o oite-aru tana “the shelf where I have placed novels by Tanizaki” Tanizaki-no shoosetsu-ga oite-aru tana “the shelf where novels by Tanizaki have been placed” Tanizaki-no shoosetsu-no oite-aru tana “the shelf where novels by Tanizaki have been placed” How about the following, then? kimuchi-no tabetai hito “the person who wants to eat kimchi” 65 For related topics, see also Units 26 and 60. ...

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