4.8 Listing Actions

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Overview

Learn how to list actions or states in a loose, non-exhaustive way using ～たり～たりする. This pattern is used to describe typical activities or things that happen among others.

～たり～たりする is used to list examples of actions or states. It implies “things like X and Y”, not a complete list.

、。

On weekends, I do things like watch movies and read books.

The verbs are put into the plain past form (～た) and followed by り. The sentence usually ends with する.

Only the final する changes for tense or politeness.

～たり～たりする contrasts with ～て, which shows sequence.

、、。

I wake up, wash my face, and go out.

Here, the actions happen in order. With ～たり～たりする, the actions are examples among others.

～たり～たりする can also be used with adjectives.

、。

Today it is sometimes hot and sometimes cold.

With な-adjectives and nouns, use だった.

、。

This town is sometimes quiet and sometimes lively.

Dialogue

しゅうまつ週末はいえ家でゆっくりする。えいが映画をみたり見たり、ほん本をよんだり読んだりする。

てんき天気がいいひ日は、こうえん公園にいったり行ったり、かふぇカフェでこうひいコーヒーをのんだり飲んだりする。ともだち友だちとはなしたり話したり、おんがく音楽をきいたり聞いたりもする。

よる夜はてれびテレビをみたり見たり、げえむゲームをしたりする。はやく早くねたり寝たり、おそく遅くまでおきていたり起きていたりするひ日もある。

やすみ休みのひ日のすごし過ごしかた方はいろいろだ。

On weekends, I relax at home. I do things like watch movies and read books.

On days with good weather, I do things like go to the park and drink coffee at a café. I also do things like talk with friends and listen to music.

At night, I do things like watch TV and play games. Some days I go to bed early, and other days I stay up late.

There are many ways to spend a day off.

New words

Grammar

Title	Description
たり～たりする / たり～たり	listing actions or states

4.7 Expressing Desires

4.9 Modifying Nouns

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