An Integrated Approach To Intermediate Japanese Chapter 12 - Grammar

Front 1

ろくに～ない

Back 1

not much; not enough

Hint 1

This expression is always followed by a negative form of a predicate.

Front 2

～せいか

Back 2

perhaps because ~

Hint 2

せい, without か, gives a reason or a cause. [S1 せいか、S2］gives a possible reason for some undesirable situation in S2, meaning 'Perhaps because S1, S2 holds.' せい is a noun. So, it is preceded by Nの, な-adjective な, or plain forms of い-adjectives and verbs. When S2 represents a dersirable situation, おかげで is used.

Front 3

Vてごらんなさい

Back 3

try V-ing

Hint 3

This is a polite form of Vてみなさい. Since ～なさい is a form used by someone higher in status to give a command to someone lower in status, ～ごらんなさい cannot be used by a person lower in status. Vてごらん（e.g.,見てごらん) is a more informal variant of Vてごらんなさい, and is used, for example, by mothers in talking to children.

Front 4

～ぐらい

Back 4

indicates a minimum level, degree, etc...

Hint 4

Nぐらい, in this case, indicates that N is the minimum level, degree, etc. (e.g., easiest, lightest, etc.) ぐらい　is often replaced by くらい.

Front 5

～に越したことはない

Back 5

nothing can be better than ~

Hint 5

This expression is most frequently used with non-past plain forms of verbs.

Front 6

思うように

Back 6

as one wishes

Front 7

～がち

Back 7

to tend to ~; to be apt to ~; to be prone to ~

Hint 7

This suffix follows certain verbs (stem of ます-form) and nouns, and expresses the idea that one tends to do something, something is more likely to hapen, etc. It is negative in its implication.