Introduction
In this blog post, we will learn about a useful Japanese grammar pattern: -たり-たりする (tari-tari suru). This pattern helps you list activities or events as examples without implying a specific order.
What It Means
The -たり-たりする (tari-tari suru) form is used to mention activities as examples, implying that these are not the only things being done, and they do not have to be in a specific order.
When You Use It
Use -たり-たりする (tari-tari suru) when you want to:
- Mention various activities without setting a specific order.
- Give examples of things you did or will do.
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use -たり-たりする (tari-tari suru):
Example 1: 東京で買い物をしたり、晩ご飯を食べたりします。
(Tōkyō de kaimono o shitari, bangohan o tabetari shimasu.)
In Tokyo, I will do such things as shopping and eating dinner.
Example 2: 週末は、映画を見たり、友達とテニスをしたりしました。
(Shūmatsu wa, eiga o mitari, tomodachi to tenisu o shitari shimashita.)
I watched a film and played tennis with my friends, among other things, over the weekend.
Example 3: 踊ったり、歌ったりするのが好きです。
(Odottari, utattari suru no ga suki desu.)
I like dancing, singing, and so forth.
Note
To form the -たり (tari) part, take the past tense short form of a verb and add り (ri). For example:
- する (suru) becomes した (shita) + り = したり (shitari)
- 食べる (taberu) becomes 食べた (tabeta) + り = 食べたり (tabetari)
The tense of the sentence is indicated by the helping verb する (suru) at the end. Here is an example:
Present Tense:
東京で買い物をしたり、晩ご飯を食べたりします。
Past Tense:
東京で買い物をしたり、晩ご飯を食べたりしました。
Conclusion
The -たり-たりする (tari-tari suru) pattern is a flexible and convenient way to list activities or events without implying a strict order.
