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Question to Teacher: What is the difference between TE and TA form?
Course 3 Lesson 12: Atsuko's Letter (Grammar)

Jay-san

Post Date: 2010-08-20 15:25:13

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2009 May 05

Questions: 6
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Just wanted to know why would you use the "te" forms instead of the "ta" forms. I thought that a sentence like:

"uchi ni kaetta kara, denwa wo shimasu".

Was the correct way? Just need some clarification. Thanks

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JFZ_George

Post Date: 2010-08-31 12:42:05

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1997 Aug 25

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Great question! The TE and TA forms are totally different in meaning.

TE forms are the "command" forms and TA forms are the past tense informal verb form.

For example:

1. Sushi o tabete.
Eat sushi. (command)

2. Sushi o tabeta.
I ate sushi. (past tense informal)

Let's look at your example sentence:
1. Uchi ni kaetta kara, denwa wo shimasu.
Because I returned home, I will call.

2. Uchi ni kaette kara, denwa wo shimasu.
After I go home, I will call.

It gets tricky because the changing of the verb changes what the KARA is doing in the sentence. A TE KARA construction is always "after I do this verb" construction.

Whereas a TA KARA means "after I do this verb".

Does this answer your question?

Jay-san

Post Date: 2010-09-01 20:53:55

member since
2009 May 05

Questions: 6
Comments: 5

Thanks for answering my question. I sort of get it now, I guess it's just one of those rules that I need to learn and remember LOL.