get up -- okimasu (verb without object) go to bed -- nemasu (verb without object) begin -- hajimarimasu (verb without object) finish -- owarimasu (verb without object) leave -- demasu (verb without object) arrive -- tsukimasu (verb without object) be (stay) -- imasu (verb without object) Mr. Tanaka usually goes to bed at 11 o'clock. -- Tanaka-san wa futsuu juu-ichi ji ni nemasu. At what time do you usually get up in the morning? -- Asa ni itsumo nan-ji ni okimasu ka. At what time do you leave your house? -- Nan-ji ni uchi o demasu ka. Around what time do you arrive at your office? -- Nan-ji goro ni kaisha ni tsukimasu ka. At what time did you get up? -- Nan-ji ni okimashita ka. early (adj.) -- hayai early (adverb) -- hayaku late (adj.) -- osoi late (adverb) -- osoku You are early today, aren't you? -- Kyou wa hayai desu ne. (hayai=adj.) You came early today, didn't you? -- Kyou wa hayaku kimashita ne. (hayaku=adverb) School starts at 9:00. -- Ku-ji ni gakkou ga hajimarimasu. NOTE the structure: [Time] ni/or without ni [Thing/Event] ga hajimarimasu/owarimasu. Hajimarimasu or owarimasu do not take a person as a subject. What time will today's conference end? -- Kyou no kaigi wa nan-ji ni owarimasu ka. I leave my house... -- uchi o demasu (o=place to leave marker) I leave my house at 7:30 every day. -- Mainichi shichi-ji han ni uchi o demasu. (o=place to leave marker) I arrive at my office... -- kaisha ni tsukimasu (ni=place to arrive marker) I arrive at my office at 8:30 every day. -- Mainichi hachi-ji han ni kaisha ni tsukimasu. (2nd ni=place to arrive marker) I stay home. -- Uchi ni imasu. (ni=location marker) NOTE: The verb "imasu" (to be) is used to express location or existence of a person. The verb "desu" (to be) is used in different ways.) Where is Mr. Tanaka? At his office. -- Tanaka-san wa doko ni (=location of a person) imasu ka. Kaisha desu. Please note use of imasu and desu. I'm going drinking. -- Nomi ni ikimasu. NOTE: [Verb form which preceeds masu] ni ikimasu/kimasu/kaerimasu. Some verbs can be combined with...ni ikimasu/kimasu/kaerimasu to indicate that you go/come/return in order to do something. Yesterday I went to Roppongi with my friend to drink. -- Kinou tomodachi to Roppongi e nomi ni ikimashita. Compare with: Yesterday I went to Roppongi with my friend. Kinou tomodachi to Roppongi e ikimashita. I went drinking yesterday, so I got home late. -- Kinou nomi ni ikimashita kara, osoku kaerimashita. NOTE: Kara (so/therefore) appears at the end of the clause X which gives a reason to the main clause Y. X kara, Y = X so Y or becuae X, Y. That restaurant is inexpensive and (the food is) delicious, so I often go there. -- Ano resutoran wa yasukute oishii desu kara, yoku ikimasu. Why do you buy (it) at that store. Because it is close and convenient. -- Doushite ano mise de kaimasu ka. Chikakute benri desu kara. NOTE: kara (reason) is often used as a response. I have a meeting, so I came early. -- Kaigi ga arimasu kara, hayaku kimashita. NOTE: reason kara - result / You can change the order of the clause: Hyaku kimashita. Kaigi ga arimasu kara. NOTE: result - reason kara