The market closes early

The idea

The notice uses 閉まります for the market closing; ので gives the reason, and いつもより早く means earlier than usual. Compare the closing time with Mika’s clock to infer why she needs another shop.

Read the text

Examples

• ミカさんは夕方ゆうがた、市場いちばへ野菜やさいを買かいに行いきました。Mika went to the market in the evening to buy vegetables.
• 入口いりぐちに「今日きょうは午後ごご三時さんじに閉しまります」と書かいてありました。At the entrance a notice said, “Today we close at 3 p.m.”
• 強つよい雨あめが降ふるので、いつもより早はやく閉しまるのです。Because heavy rain was falling, the market was closing earlier than usual.
• ミカさんが時計とけいを見みると、もう三時さんじ十分じゅっぷんでした。When Mika looked at the clock, it was already 3:10.
• 店みせの人ひとは、駅えきの近ちかくのスーパーがまだ開あいていると教おしえてくれました。A shopkeeper told her that the supermarket near the station was still open.
• ミカさんはスーパーへ行いき、晩ばんご飯はんの野菜やさいを買かいました。Mika went to the supermarket and bought vegetables for dinner.

Watch out

Three o’clock is the closing time, not Mika’s arrival time: her clock shows 3:10.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the answer from the story: 市場いちばは何時なんじに閉しまりますか。（三時さんじ／五時ごじ）

   Show answer or example answer

   三時 / さんじ

   三時 is correct: the entrance notice says the market closes at three.

2. Choose the answer from the story: どうして早はやく閉しまりますか。（雨あめ／雪ゆき）

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   雨 / あめ

   雨 is correct: strong rain is the reason given before ので.

3. Choose the answer from the story: ミカさんはどこで野菜やさいを買かいましたか。（スーパー／市場いちば）

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   スーパー

   スーパー is correct: the shopkeeper directs Mika there, and she buys the vegetables there.

Use it today

Retell why Mika changes her plans and where she buys dinner vegetables, using some Japanese.