Read once for the situation, then trace the clues to the ending.

The idea

Follow the clues in order: There is a note in the shop saying “There are no tomatoes.” Mika buys two carrots. The topic marker は and polite verb endings such as ます help you follow who does what.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
メモnote
にんじんcarrot
スープsoup

Read the text

今日きょう、ミカさんは八百屋やおやへ行いきます。店みせに「トマトはありません」というメモがあります。店みせの人ひとは「今日きょうはにんじんが安やすいです」と言いいます。

ミカさんはにんじんを二本にほん買かいます。それから、ミカさんは家いえへ帰かえります。家いえでにんじんのスープを作つくります。

Examples

  • 今日きょう、ミカさんは八百屋やおやへ行いきます。Today Mika goes to the vegetable shop.
  • 店みせに「トマトはありません」というメモがあります。There is a note in the shop saying “There are no tomatoes.”
  • 店みせの人ひとは「今日きょうはにんじんが安やすいです」と言いいます。The shopkeeper says, “Carrots are cheap today.”
  • ミカさんはにんじんを二本にほん買かいます。Mika buys two carrots.
  • それから、ミカさんは家いえへ帰かえります。Then Mika goes home.
  • 家いえでにんじんのスープを作つくります。At home, Mika makes carrot soup.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not assume the first situation is the ending. Check the names, places and numbers in the final sentences.

Try it yourself

  1. Use the story to fill the gap: 店みせに「＿はありません」というメモがあります。（トマト／にんじん）

    Show answer or example answer

    トマト

    The relevant sentence says: There is a note in the shop saying “There are no tomatoes.”

  2. Use the story to fill the gap: ミカさんは＿を二本にほん買かいます。（トマト／にんじん）

    Show answer or example answer

    にんじん

    The relevant sentence says: Mika buys two carrots.

  3. Use the story to fill the gap: 家いえでにんじんの＿を作つくります。（スープ／サラダ）

    Show answer or example answer

    スープ

    The relevant sentence says: At home, Mika makes carrot soup.

Use it today

Retell the problem, the clues and the ending in your own words, using some Japanese phrases.