週末にしたことCompleted Past Events
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe weekend events, errands, visits, and meals using vocabulary for common past-time activities.
- Form and use the plain past (た-form) affirmative and negative for verbs, in addition to the polite past you have already practiced.
- List two or more activities using 〜たり〜たりします without implying a complete or exhaustive list.
- Give a reason for a past action using から.
- Introduce a contrast between two ideas using でも at the start of a sentence.
- Omit recoverable subjects and objects naturally when narrating a short sequence of past events.
- Read and write short diary-style accounts that connect several weekend activities.
- Recognize and read the ten new kanji introduced in this chapter, with furigana support where required.
Communication Scenario
It is Monday morning, and Tom and his classmate Yuki are back at the university. Over coffee before class, they talk about what they did over the weekend: errands, a visit to a friend's house, a meal out, and a bit of rest. Aki, who is still getting used to the neighborhood, listens and asks questions about what everyone did. This chapter opens Unit IV by moving from present-tense routines into connected accounts of things that have already happened.
- This chapter begins Unit IV. It expands the plain past introduced receptively in Chapter 14 and reviewed in Chapter 15 into a productive system for narrating completed events.
- By the end of the chapter, you will be able to describe what you did last weekend, connect several actions naturally, give simple reasons, and introduce a contrast, in both speech and writing.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter's vocabulary supports weekend events, errands, visits, meals, emotions, and short diary accounts.
Time Words for Narration
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 昨日 | きのう | yesterday |
| 朝 | あさ | morning |
| 昼 | ひる | daytime; noon |
| 夜 | よる | night; evening |
| 〜の間に | 〜のあいだに | during 〜; in the course of 〜 |
Weekend Activities
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 友だちの家に行きました | ともだちのいえにいきました | went to a friend's house |
| 買い物をしました | かいものをしました | did shopping |
| お店で食べました | おみせでたべました | ate at a shop/restaurant |
| 映画を見ました | えいがをみました | watched a movie |
| 家に帰りました | いえにかえりました | returned home |
Feelings and Reactions
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 楽しかったです | たのしかったです | it was fun |
| 疲れました | つかれました | got tired |
| よかったです | よかったです | it was good |
Most content vocabulary in this chapter's examples is recycled from Units II and III: shopping, food, transportation, and health words already learned. The new material here is primarily grammatical, allowing you to talk about familiar topics in the past.
Script and Kanji Focus
This chapter introduces ten new kanji connected to time of day and weekend narration. Furigana appears on each new kanji and is gradually reduced as these words return in later chapters.
買 and 帰 were introduced for recognition in earlier chapters through the words 買い物 and the verb 帰ります. This chapter activates them for handwritten and typed production, along with the eight kanji connected to time of day and enjoyment.
れんしゅう — Practice: Write each of the ten kanji three times, then use each one in a short phrase from this chapter's vocabulary tables.
Pronunciation Focus
Many plain past forms end in a short, crisp た or だ mora. Be careful not to lengthen this final vowel, since vowel length can distinguish meaning elsewhere in Japanese even though it does not change meaning here. Practice contrasting the plain past ending with the polite past ending in rhythm and length.
- 行った いった — went (plain past, geminate っ before た)
- 見た みた — saw; watched (plain past, single mora た)
Also review the falling intonation typical of a completed statement, and the slightly rising, softening intonation often used before でも when introducing a contrast in conversation.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This section introduces the plain past for productive use, the たり pattern for listing activities, reason-giving with から, contrast with でも, and natural omission in short narratives.
1. The plain past (た-form)
Purpose: to state that an action was completed, using the plain style that also supports patterns such as たり and から.
- 友だちの家に行った。I went to my friend's house.行く→行った [Group 1]
- 映画を見た。I watched a movie.見る→見た [Group 2]
- 昨日は勉強しなかった。I didn't study yesterday.plain past negative
The plain past follows the same base as the て-form you already know: verbs that form 行って also form 行った, and verbs that form 食べて also form 食べた.
2. Listing activities with たり〜たりします
Purpose: to mention two or more activities from a weekend or period of time without claiming the list is complete.
- 週末は買い物をしたり、映画を見たりしました。Over the weekend, I did things like shopping and watching a movie.
- 友だちの家で話したり、食べたりしました。At my friend's house, we did things like talking and eating.
Unlike a plain list with と, たり signals that other unmentioned activities may also have happened.
3. Giving a reason with から
Purpose: to explain why a past action happened.
- 疲れていたから、早く寝た。Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
- 天気がよかったから、公園に行った。Because the weather was nice, I went to the park.
4. Contrast with でも
Purpose: to introduce a sentence that contrasts with the idea just stated.
- 土曜日は忙しかった。でも、楽しかった。Saturday was busy. But it was fun.
- 買い物に行きたかった。でも、時間がなかった。I wanted to go shopping. But I didn't have time.
Once a time frame such as 週末は or 土曜日の朝 has been established, later sentences in the same account normally omit the subject if it remains the speaker. Repeating 私は in every sentence of a diary-style account sounds unnatural; the connected examples above omit it after the first mention.
Error: *映画を見たりしました。 (with only one activity mentioned and no other implied)
Correction: 映画を見た。 or 映画を見たり、買い物をしたりしました。 — Use plain たり with at least two listed activities, or use a simple plain or polite past sentence when only one activity is being described.
Grammar Practice
- Change a polite past sentence you already know into the plain past.
- Write a sentence listing two weekend activities with たり〜たりしました.
- Write a sentence giving a reason for a past action with から.
- Write two short sentences connected by でも.
- Write a three-sentence account of a recent day, omitting the subject after the first sentence.
Model Dialogue
Setting: Tom, Yuki, and Aki talk before class on Monday morning about their weekends.
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- What did Tom do on Saturday, and what did he do on Sunday?
- Why did Tom watch a movie on Sunday instead of going out?
- What did Yuki do over the weekend, and how did she describe it?
Guided Practice
タスク１ — List your weekend. Write two sentences using たり〜たりしました to describe things you did recently, even if you must imagine a typical weekend.
タスク２ — Explain and contrast. Write one sentence giving a reason with から for something you did, and one sentence using でも to introduce a contrasting idea.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud at a clear, moderate pace.
きくタスク — Yuki's weekend
ゆきさんはしゅうまつ、あまりでかけませんでした。どようびのあさ、うちでほんをよんだり、りょうりをしたりしました。ひるはすこしつかれていたから、やすみました。よるはともだちにでんわをしました。にちようびはてんきがよかったから、こうえんにいきました。たのしかったです。
聞くタスク — Listening task: Note what Yuki did on Saturday morning, why she rested at noon, and what she did on Sunday and why. Compare your notes with a partner or check them against the passage.
Speaking Practice
コントロールされた練習 — Controlled practice: Quick answers
- 昨日、何をしましたか。
- 週末、どこに行きましたか。
- 昨日の夜、何を食べましたか。
コミュニケーションタスク — Weekend interview
With a partner, take turns asking and answering about last weekend. Use at least one たり sentence, one から reason, and one でも contrast each.
ひとりでもできる練習 — Solo practice: A recorded account
Record yourself describing your most recent weekend in at least five connected sentences, omitting the subject naturally after the first sentence.
Reading Practice
Read the following diary entry and short message, then answer the questions below.
日記 — Aki's diary entry
昨日は土曜日でした。朝、近くの店で買い物をしたり、公園を歩いたりしました。昼はトムさんと会って、いっしょに食べました。夜は少し疲れていたから、早く家に帰りました。でも、とても楽しかったです。
メッセージ — A short message
週末はどうでしたか。私は忙しかったから、あまり休まなかった。でも、日曜日の夜は映画を見たり、家族と話したりした。今週も頑張りましょう。
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- According to Aki's diary, what did she do in the morning, at noon, and at night on Saturday?
- Why did Aki return home early, and how did she describe the day overall?
- According to the message, why didn't the writer rest much, and what did they do on Sunday night?
Writing Workshop
In this workshop you will write a short diary-style account of a recent day or weekend.
- Choose a day. Pick yesterday, last Saturday, or a typical recent weekend.
- List your ideas in English first. Note two or three activities, one reason, and one feeling or contrast.
- Write an opening sentence naming the day using a time word such as 昨日 or 週末.
- Write a sentence listing two activities using たり〜たりしました.
- Write a sentence giving a reason for something you did, using から.
- Write a sentence introducing a contrast using でも.
- Write a closing sentence giving your overall feeling about the day.
- Revise and check using the checklist below before finalizing your work.
チェックリスト — Editing checklist:
- I named the day clearly at the start of my account.
- I used たり〜たりしました correctly with at least two activities.
- I gave a reason accurately using から.
- I introduced a contrast using でも.
- I omitted the subject naturally after the first sentence where appropriate.
- I used this chapter's kanji correctly, with furigana where still required.
- I ended each sentence with 。 and used consistent style within the passage.
Culture and Communication
Asking about someone's weekend is a common way to open a casual conversation among classmates, colleagues, and friends in many Japanese-speaking settings, much as it is in many communities worldwide. Responses are often brief and modest rather than highly detailed, with more information shared if the listener shows continued interest.
What people typically do on weekends varies by region, generation, occupation, and personal circumstance. The activities in this chapter's dialogue and readings are representative examples for practicing the target grammar, not a description of how all Japanese speakers spend their weekends.
Notice that Yuki and Tom use plain-style sentences with each other in casual conversation, while diary entries and messages to a broader audience may mix plain and polite style depending on the writer's habits. This chapter introduces plain past production for grammar building and for informal peer conversation; it does not require learners to abandon the polite style as their general default in mixed or unfamiliar company.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: *買い物と映画を見たりしました。 (mixing と and たり in the same list)
Correction: 買い物をしたり、映画を見たりしました。 — Use たり consistently on each listed activity rather than combining it with と in the same construction.
Error: *昨日、勉強しないだった。
Correction: 昨日、勉強しなかった。 — The plain past negative replaces the final い of the plain negative with かった, rather than adding だった after ない.
Error: Using でも at the start of nearly every sentence in an account, regardless of whether a contrast is actually present.
Correction: Reserve でも for moments where the following idea genuinely contrasts with what was just said, as in the model dialogue and readings.
Chapter Review
Section A — ごい (Vocabulary)
1. Give at least four vocabulary items related to weekend activities or time of day from this chapter.
Section B — もじ (Script)
1. Write any six of this chapter's ten kanji from memory, with their readings.
Section C — ぶんぽう (Grammar)
1. Change three polite past sentences into the plain past.
2. Write a sentence listing two activities with たり〜たりしました.
3. Write a sentence with から and a sentence with でも.
Section D — どっかいりかい (Reading comprehension)
1. Look again at Aki's diary entry in the Reading Practice section. Write two sentences summarizing her Saturday.
Section E — かくこと (Writing)
1. Write a short diary-style account of a recent day, following the Writing Workshop steps.
Section F — はなすこと (Speaking)
1. With a partner or instructor, interview each other about last weekend, using たり, から, and でも at least once each.
Practical Performance Task
パフォーマンスタスク
週末にしたこと — A connected account of a recent weekend
You will produce a connected spoken and written account of a recent weekend or day, using the systems introduced in this chapter.
- Written: Write at least eight sentences describing a recent weekend, including at least one たり〜たりしました sentence, one から reason, one でも contrast, and natural omission of the subject after the first sentence.
- Spoken: Tell a partner or instructor about your weekend aloud, using at least one plain-style sentence appropriate to a casual conversation with a peer.
- Interaction: Answer at least two follow-up questions from a partner about your account.
- Script check: Hand-write at least six of this chapter's ten kanji from memory, and read aloud a short diary entry furnished by your instructor.
Assessment focus: accurate plain past formation; correct use of たり for listing, から for reason, and でも for contrast; natural omission in a connected account; accurate use of this chapter's vocabulary and kanji; and an appropriately chosen register for the situation.
Answer Key
Grammar Practice
1. Model: 見ました→見た / 行きました→行った / 食べませんでした→食べなかった 2. Model: 買い物をしたり、映画を見たりしました。 3. Model: 疲れていたから、早く寝た。 4. Model: 忙しかった。でも、楽しかった。 5. Open-ended; check that the subject is stated once and then naturally omitted.
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- On Saturday, Tom went shopping and to a friend's house, and ate at a restaurant in the evening. On Sunday, he watched a movie at home and studied a little in the afternoon.
- Tom was tired, so he stayed home and watched a movie instead of going out.
- Yuki read and cooked at home over the weekend and described it as good.
Listening task — Model summary
Saturday morning: shopping and reading at home. Noon: rested because she was a little tired. Sunday: went to the park because the weather was nice; it was fun.
Reading — Comprehension
- Morning: shopping and a walk in the park. Noon: met Tom and ate together. Night: went home early because she was a little tired.
- She returned home early because she was tired; she described the day overall as very fun.
- The writer was busy and didn't rest much; on Sunday night they watched a movie and talked with family.
Chapter Review — Section A
Open-ended; check against the vocabulary tables above.
Chapter Review — Section B
Open-ended; check against the kanji grids above.
Chapter Review — Section C
Open-ended; models follow the patterns shown in the Grammar and Sentence Patterns section above.
Chapter Review — Section D
Model answer: 朝、買い物をしたり、公園を歩いたりしました。夜は疲れていたから、早く帰りました。 (Other accurate answers accepted.)
Chapter Review — Section E and F
These are open-ended production tasks. Evaluate written work against the Writing Workshop checklist above, and evaluate spoken work against the Practical Performance Task assessment focus.
Looking Ahead
いまできること — What you can do now
You can describe a recent weekend or day using the plain past, list activities naturally with たり, give reasons with から, introduce contrasts with でも, and write a short connected account that omits the subject appropriately after its first mention.