There are several ways to control a tense in Japanese and it’s a little complicated. But this lesson notes tells you the easiest way to control the tense by changing the tense in the clause.

“I think Aiko said…” would be 　
「（私は）アイコがsomething と言ったとおもう」”(Watashi wa) aiko ga something to itta to omou.”
“Aiko thinks I said…” would be
「アイコは私がsomething と言ったと思っている」”Aiko wa watashi ga something to itta to omotteiru.”
“Aiko thinks Aya said …” would be
「アイコはアヤがsomething と言った （or 言っていた）と思っている」”Aiko wa Aya ga something to itta (or itteita) to omotteiru.”
Since “itteita to omotteiru” is a kind of hard to say, it’s usually said “itta to omotteiru.”

I hope this helps. I think you need to remember that the subject in a clause has to be marked by particle “ga”. →See more detail in Particle Lesson 20.

aiko san wa “somethig”to iu to omou
or
aiko san wa “somethig”to iu to omotte iru
or
aiko san wa “somethig”to iimashite iru to omou
or
aiko san wa “somethig”to iimashite iru to omotte iru

doumo arigatou gozaimasu.

Hope this helps.

I think satou san will be in time.
or
satou thinks san will be in time.
how I KNOW the difference
if I THINK or SOMEONE OTHER THINKS

Thanks
Siva

先生
　出口　が　３つ　あります。　入り口　が　１つ　しかない　もの　は　なん　ですか？

　本
２．２・　いくら　切っても、　切らない　もの　は　なんどすか？

水

Sivasakthivel

嵐山はいいところですね。

１．　いくら　よんでも　返事　を　しない　もの　は　なんですか？
２・　いくら　切っても、　切らない　もの　は　なんどすか？

１．　日本　へ　来たら、　帰る時　まりもっこり　お土産　を　買う　と　おもいます。　まりもっこり　は　いい　お土産だと　思います
２．　日本　へ　　行くと　あらしやま　を　みる　こと　が　いい　と　思います

Jack-san
After listening to JPOD since the beginning and preparing for the JLPT tests, I am convinced now that one could listen to JPOD for a lifetime and still fail the simplest JLPT tests… I think you might learn very useful Japanese, but for the test you need to focus on specific material… There are plenty of checklists on the web to prepare grammar and Kanjis.

also, I often find the lower intermediate series to be be comprehendible, but other times I find them very difficult. because of the nonlinear format of these lessons, I don’t really know when I’ve covered all the material required to progess to the next level. how many lessons are contained within each level if you exclude repeat episodes of the same or relatively same grammar? or, how many lessons should I master before I can be confident I haven’t missed a crucial grammar point?

thanks,

jack

You could make a number of sentences like this, and still not be able to use the expression like a native. The only way to get close to such a thing is to gain a solid understanding followed by repeated exposure to real-life Japanese. Obviously, putting a similar amount of effort into speaking is just as important, especially since your friends can correct your mistakes and explain them in real-time.

Nevertheless, as long as this sort of thing was presented separately in the bonus material, I don’t see a problem with it. I’m happy with the current format, and have never been a fan of the five-second pause stuff, but I can understand the needs of other listeners.

I realise that you have to supplement the lessons with your own material, but still, getting students to form their own sentences, rather than just providing examples, is fundamental. After all, you get this a lot if you go to a physical language class.

You mention the beginner classes Nigel but I’ve never heard any material like this in these classes.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the lessons, otherwise I wouldn’t pay for a subscription, but I think that this is a feature which is required. Plus, it’s regarded by language experts as one of the most powerful tools when it comes to language learning, hence, I think it’s required.

Cheers,

Rich