Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 1
The third year begins
〜て以来 ・ いよいよ ・ 〜つつ ある ・ 一気に
In this lesson, you will learn to say what has been true ever since something happened with 〜て以来, that a big moment you have been waiting for has come at last with いよいよ, that a change is under way with 〜つつ ある, and that something happened all at once or in one go with 一気に. It is April of Lisa's third year, and she runs the newspaper club's table at the spring club fair as its new editor.
By the end you will be able to say
日本に 来て以来、毎日 日本語を 使って います。Ever since I came to Japan, I've used Japanese every day.
いよいよ 就活が 始まります。At last, job hunting is about to begin.
留学生を 採用する 企業が 増えつつ あります。More and more companies are hiring foreign students.
桜が 一気に 咲きました。The cherry blossoms came out all at once.
新聞部は 新しい 部員を 募集して います。The newspaper club is recruiting new members.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜て以来 — ever since (something happened) — A verb's て-form (or a noun) + 以来 says something has been true from that point right up to now.
- いよいよ — at last (the big moment is here) — いよいよ says a big moment you have been waiting for is arriving now or has just begun.
- 〜つつ ある — is in the middle of changing — A verb's ます-stem + つつ ある says a change has started and is still going on.
- 一気に — all at once; in one go — 一気に says something happens in one burst, without a pause, or very fast.