When practicing your Japanese listening comprehension, it is a good strategy to listen for key words. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to catch everything at this stage of your Japanese learning, but you only need to get the gist to keep up with most conversations.
In this dialogue, you will begin to hear the casual, short form of certain words used. We will learn more about these short forms in Chapter 8, but you may notice that it sounds like Mary’s friend is using the dictionary form of certain verbs in this dialogue. This is one of the conjugations that we will later learn to refer to as the ‘short form,’ which is what you should search for if you would like to learn more about it. You don’t need to worry about these short forms yet, but keep an ear out for them as you practice your listening comprehension—the casual register of Japanese speech is a very important aspect of the language that is used in daily Japanese as much if not more than the polite forms of words you are learning now.
After Mary has turned down her friend’s invitation to go to a coffee shop, he responds that it is now eight (‘いま、八時ですよ’), using the tag ‘よ’ to emphasize that it is still early. The answer is ‘a.’

After Mary has turned down her friend’s invitation to go to a coffee shop, he responds that it is now eight (‘いま、八時ですよ’), using the tag ‘よ’ to emphasize that it is still early. The answer is ‘a.’

When practicing your Japanese listening comprehension, it is a good strategy to listen for key words. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to catch everything at this stage of your Japanese learning, but you only need to get the gist to keep up with most conversations.
In this dialogue, you will begin to hear the casual, short form of certain words used. We will learn more about these short forms in Chapter 8, but you may notice that it sounds like Mary’s friend is using the dictionary form of certain verbs in this dialogue. This is one of the conjugations that we will later learn to refer to as the ‘short form,’ which is what you should search for if you would like to learn more about it. You don’t need to worry about these short forms yet, but keep an ear out for them as you practice your listening comprehension—the casual register of Japanese speech is a very important aspect of the language that is used in daily Japanese as much if not more than the polite forms of words you are learning now.
The first line of this dialogue contains the information we need to answer this question. In it, Mary’s friend asks her if she will have coffee at a coffee shop (‘きっさてんでコーヒーをのみませんか’). The answer is ‘a.’

The first line of this dialogue contains the information we need to answer this question. In it, Mary’s friend asks her if she will have coffee at a coffee shop (‘きっさてんでコーヒーをのみませんか’). The answer is ‘a.’

When practicing your Japanese listening comprehension, it is a good strategy to listen for key words. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to catch everything at this stage of your Japanese learning, but you only need to get the gist to keep up with most conversations.
In this dialogue, you will begin to hear the casual, short form of certain words used. We will learn more about these short forms in Chapter 8, but you may notice that it sounds like Mary’s friend is using the dictionary form of certain verbs in this dialogue. This is one of the conjugations that we will later learn to refer to as the ‘short form,’ which is what you should search for if you would like to learn more about it. You don’t need to worry about these short forms yet, but keep an ear out for them as you practice your listening comprehension—the casual register of Japanese speech is a very important aspect of the language that is used in daily Japanese as much if not more than the polite forms of words you are learning now.
After initially expressing some interest (likely to be polite), Mary says that she will be going home (‘いえにかえります’). Much later in our studies, we will learn a special verb form to more directly express obligation or need—for now, the verb form you have learned will suffice. Her friend insists, so she explains that she will study tonight (‘こんばん、べんきょうします’). The answers are ‘a’ and ‘c.’

After initially expressing some interest (likely to be polite), Mary says that she will be going home (‘いえにかえります’). Much later in our studies, we will learn a special verb form to more directly express obligation or need—for now, the verb form you have learned will suffice. Her friend insists, so she explains that she will study tonight (‘こんばん、べんきょうします’). The answers are ‘a’ and ‘c.’

When practicing your Japanese listening comprehension, it is a good strategy to listen for key words. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to catch everything at this stage of your Japanese learning, but you only need to get the gist to keep up with most conversations.
In this dialogue, you will begin to hear the casual, short form of certain words used. We will learn more about these short forms in Chapter 8, but you may notice that it sounds like Mary’s friend is using the dictionary form of certain verbs in this dialogue. This is one of the conjugations that we will later learn to refer to as the ‘short form,’ which is what you should search for if you would like to learn more about it. You don’t need to worry about these short forms yet, but keep an ear out for them as you practice your listening comprehension—the casual register of Japanese speech is a very important aspect of the language that is used in daily Japanese as much if not more than the polite forms of words you are learning now.
After telling her friend that she needs to study, her friend asks her to speak (practice) Japanese together at a café (‘きっさてんでにほんごをはなしませんか’). When she turns him down, he asks if she would like to have lunch tomorrow at school (‘あした、がっこうでひるごはんをたべませんか’). The answers are ‘b’ and ‘c.’

After telling her friend that she needs to study, her friend asks her to speak (practice) Japanese together at a café (‘きっさてんでにほんごをはなしませんか’). When she turns him down, he asks if she would like to have lunch tomorrow at school (‘あした、がっこうでひるごはんをたべませんか’). The answers are ‘b’ and ‘c.’