Past Presumptive
Production Rules:
|
Rule |
Meaning |
Plain Affirmative |
[た-stem] & だろう [ta-stem] & darou |
X probably [did], X probably has/had [done] |
Polite Affirmative |
[た-stem] & でしょう [ta-stem] & deshou |
Plain Negative |
[あ-stem] + なかった & だろう [a-stem] + nakatta & darou |
X probably didn't [do], X probably hasn't/hadn't [done] |
Polite Negative |
[あ-stem] + なかった & でしょう [a-stem] + nakatta & deshou |
Note that the presumptive is formed by simply adding だろう (darou)
for the plain case or でしょう (deshou) for the polite case to the
plain forms of the past indicative.
Inflection Examples:
|
Plain Affirmative |
Polite Affirmative |
Plain Negative |
Polite Negative |
食べる taberu (to eat) |
食べただろう tabeta darou |
食べたでしょう tabeta deshou |
食べなかっただろう tabenakatta darou |
食べなかったでしょう tabenakatta deshou |
話す hanasu (to speak) |
話しただろう hanashita darou |
話したでしょう hanashita deshou |
話さなかっただろう hanasanakatta darou |
話さなかったでしょう hanasanakatta deshou |
歩く aruku (to walk) |
歩いただろう aruita darou |
歩いたでしょう aruita deshou |
歩かなかっただろう arukanakatta darou |
歩かなかったでしょう arukanakatta deshou |
泳ぐ oyogu (to swim) |
泳いだだろう oyoida darou |
泳いだでしょう oyoida deshou |
泳がなかっただろう oyoganakatta darou |
泳がなかったでしょう oyoganakatta deshou |
呼ぶ yobu (to call) |
呼んだだろう yonda darou |
呼んだでしょう yonda deshou |
呼ばなかっただろう yobanakatta darou |
呼ばなかったでしょう yobanakatta deshou |
飲む nomu (to drink) |
飲んだだろう nonda darou |
飲んだでしょう nonda deshou |
飲まなかっただろう nomanakatta darou |
飲まなかったでしょう nomanakatta deshou |
死ぬ shinu (to die) |
死んだだろう shinda darou |
死んだでしょう shinda deshou |
死ななかっただろう shinanakatta darou |
死ななかったでしょう shinanakatta deshou |
作る tsukuru (to make) |
作っただろう tsukutta darou |
作ったでしょう tsukutta deshou |
作らなかっただろう tsukuranakatta darou |
作らなかったでしょう tsukuranakatta deshou |
待つ matsu (to wait) |
待っただろう matta darou |
待ったでしょう matta deshou |
待たなかっただろう matanakatta darou |
待たなかったでしょう matanakatta deshou |
洗う arau (to wash) |
洗っただろう aratta darou |
洗ったでしょう aratta deshou |
洗わなかっただろう arawanakatta darou |
洗わなかったでしょう arawanakatta deshou |
Irregulars:
|
Plain Affirmative |
Polite Affirmative |
Plain Negative |
Polite Negative |
する suru (to do) |
しただろう shita darou |
したでしょう shita deshou |
しなかっただろう shinakatta darou |
しなかったでしょう shinakatta deshou |
来る kuru (to come) |
来ただろう kita darou |
来たでしょう kita deshou |
来なかっただろう konakatta darou |
来なかったでしょう konakatta deshou |
Usage Notes & Examples:
- This form is used to express some doubt or conjecture on the part
of the speaker, similar to interjecting "probably" in English. Without
combining it with another form like the progressive, the meaning is similar
to the past indicative, expressing a conjecture about action that may have
already taken place or a state that may have existed. In Japanese one
doesn't speak of someone else's presumptive actions (desires, etc.) with
any certainty, so among other ways, this form can be used to add the
necessary uncertainty.
- 三週間前送って、いままでにそこに
届いただろう。
san shuukan mae okutte, ima made ni soko ni
todoita darou.
I sent it three weeks ago and it's probably gotten there by now.
- 一時間以上遅れたので、彼は待たなかっただろう。
ichi jikan ijou okureta no de, kare wa
matanakatta darou.
We're over an hour late so he might not have waited.
- This form is also used to solicit agreement or soften the tone of
a statement by using a conjectural question.
- The plain forms using だろう (darou) can sound somewhat
abrupt or assertive, even when talking to equals. You
may want to use the polite forms even in friendly contexts.
It is acceptable to use the plain forms when talking to yourself,
or to people you would otherwise be on informal terms with about
impersonal third-party subjects. Of course, this is all a matter
of degree. An all-male group of friends, or
a superior speaking to an inferior would not be likely to
use the polite forms.
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