6.2 The Particle に (ni) for Time References
In this module, we will explore how to use the ます (masu) form to incorporate time references into your sentences and how to use the particle に (ni) to indicate specific times.
Introduction to time references
Time references play a crucial role when using the ます form in Japanese to specify when an action occurs. They help differentiate between present and future contexts in a language where the future tense isn’t distinctly marked. Here are some commonly used time references:
1. Specific points in time
- 四時 （よじ: yo-ji）: four o’clock
- 月曜日 （げつようび: getsu-youbi）: Monday
- 九月 （くがつ: ku-gatsu）: September
These time references indicating specific points in time are followed by the particle に in sentences.
For information on how to ask and tell time, please see Module 7.2. For more details on the days of the week and months, please refer to Module 8.3.
2. Relative time frames
- 今日 （きょう: kyou）: today
- 明日 （あした: ashita）: tomorrow
- 毎日 （まいにち: mai nichi）: every day
- 朝 （あさ: asa）: morning or in the morning
- （お）昼（ひる: [o]hiru）: noon or at noon
- 夜（よる: yoru）: night or at night
- 毎朝 （まいあさ: maiasa）: every morning
- 毎晩 （まいばん: maiban）: every night
- 今週（こんしゅう: konshuu）: this week
- 来週 （らいしゅう: raishuu）: next week
- 週末 （しゅうまつ: shuumatsu）: weekend
- 毎週（まいしゅう: maishuu）: every weekend
These relative time frames generally do not require particles before them in sentences.
Time reference words related to the past, such as ‘yesterday’ and ‘last week’, will be introduced alongside past tenses in Chapter 12.
Now, let’s explore the grammatical rules in more detail.
Usage in sentences
Here’s a sentence pattern that you can use in ます forms:
Topic は + Time reference (に) + Place で + Object を + Verb + ます。
Time reference words usually come after the topic and the appropriate topic particle.
For example, to say ‘I drink coffee at a café’ in Japanese, you use the ます form of 飲（の）む (nomu: to drink), which is 飲みます (nomi masu), like this:
| Topic | Time reference | Place | Object | Verb |
| 私は | 毎朝（まいあさ） | カフェで | コーヒーを | 飲みます。 |
Watashi wa maiasa kafe de koohii o nomi masu.
I drink coffee at a café every morning.
Exercise 1
