A detour through town

The idea

工事のため gives the reason the usual bridge cannot be crossed. 歩けば expresses a condition: walking along the river makes crossing the next bridge possible. ものの contrasts the extra distance with the route’s usefulness.

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Examples

• ミカさんは駅えきから図書館としょかんへ歩あるいていました。Mika was walking from the station to the library.
• いつもの橋はしに着つくと、工事こうじのため通とおれませんでした。When she reached her usual bridge, she could not cross because of construction.
• ミカさんは近ちかくの店みせの人ひとに、別べつの道みちがあるか聞ききました。Mika asked someone at a nearby shop whether there was another route.
• 「川かわに沿そって歩あるけば、次つぎの橋はしを渡わたれますよ」と店みせの人ひとは言いいました。“If you walk along the river, you can cross the next bridge,” the shopkeeper said.
• その橋はしは少すこし遠とおいものの、図書館としょかんまで行いけるそうです。Although that bridge was a little farther away, she was told it led to the library.
• ミカさんはお礼れいを言いい、教おしえてもらった道みちを進すすみました。Mika thanked the shopkeeper and followed the route she had been given.
• 予定よていより遅おくれましたが、無事ぶじに図書館としょかんに着つきました。She arrived safely at the library, later than planned.

Watch out

The next bridge is farther away; it is not the closed bridge. そうです reports what Mika was told, rather than something she has already confirmed.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the answer from the story: いつもの橋はしを通とおれなかったのはなぜですか。（工事こうじ／雨あめ）

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   工事 / こうじ

   工事: construction prevents passage over the usual bridge.

2. Choose the answer from the story: 店みせの人ひとはどこに沿そって歩あるくように言いいましたか。（川かわ／線路せんろ）

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   川 / かわ

   川: the shopkeeper says to walk along the river to the next bridge.

3. Choose the answer from the story: ミカさんは最後さいごにどうなりましたか。（図書館としょかんに着ついた／駅えきに戻もどった）

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   図書館に着いた / としょかんについた

   図書館に着いた: Mika reaches the library safely, although later than planned.

Use it today

Retell the obstacle, the directions and the outcome in your own words, using Japanese where you can.