Page 71 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

something happens or has happened, except when statements include kyō
“today”, ashita “tomorrow”, kinō “yesterday”, ima “now” and -goro “about”.
Nichi-yōbi ni I’ll return on Sunday.
kaerimasu.

Shichi-ji goro I’ll go home around seven.
kaerimasu.

GRAMMAR NOTE The Particles ni “At”, kara “From”, made
“Until”, and made ni “By”

The particle kara “from” indicates when something starts, the particle made
“until” indicates when something ends, and the particle made ni “by” indicates
the time limit within which something happens.

San-ji ni shimasu. I’ll do it at three.
San-ji kara shimasu. I’ll do it from three.

San-ji made shimasu. I’ll do it until three.
San-ji made ni shimasu. I’ll do it by three.

The particles wa (contrast) and mo (addition) can be added to these particles.
Ka-yōbi ni shimasu. Sui-yōbi ni wa shimasen.
I do it on Tuesday. I don’t do it on Wednesday.
Ka-yōbi ni shimasu. Sui-yōbi ni mo shimasu.
I do it on Tuesday. I do it on Wednesday, too.

Kara and made can be also used with expressions other than time expressions.

Waseda made onegai-shimasu. To Waseda, please. (in a taxi)
Amerika kara kaerimasu. I’ll be coming back from
America.

Note: Desu can directly follow kara and made phrases, e.g., Kaigi wa san ji
kara yoji made desu. “The meeting is from three to four.” When these phrases
modify another noun, particle no is required between them, e.g., Amerika kara
no ryūgakusei “an exchange student from America”.

PATTERN PRACTICE 5

Cue: Ikimasu yo. I’ll go.