I had a question about suffixes. I may have asked this before but I often see, in anime, the suffix =tachi.
I know it’s generally understood as pluralizing a noun. For example: Atashi-tachi or something similar.
Yet, when asked, in the context of a Japanese class in college. My professor marked it wrong when the question called for a plural. I don’t remember what the question was, nor what I put. However, maybe those that live out in Japan can guess as to why?
Thanks in advance.
The question asked is important. たち is used for pluralizing things like pronouns and people.
私たち = we
あなたたち = you (plural)
けいこたち = Keiko and the others
You can’t pluralize, for example, book by saying 本たち.
Maybe you should ask your professor?
My grammar dictionary says -tachi can only be used to pluralize human nouns and pronouns. So you can have 私たち (we)、or 子供たち (children)、but not 猫たち (cats). Non-human plurals can be indicated by repeating the word, or else the context makes it clear. (Internet sources disagree, though. with one suggesting that a specific group of dogs could be 犬たち , but dogs in general are just 犬。Ask your professor.)
@seanblue Everything has its own counter.
@kewms It’s been too long. I doubt she’d remember. I do remember she was very traditional, though. Even had one guy decide not to take M102 because he didn’t like her.
Sorry, I couldnt offer better information, but at least I know what it’s for, I guess.
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