FREE N4 READING · PREPARING FOR A FRIEND’S VISIT
友達が来る前に
Getting Ready for Mika
Read once, check the English, then switch style and reread. Dotted words open help, which closes when you scroll or tap outside.
日曜日に、町を離れて働いている友達のさんが、初めて私のアパートに来るでした。
土曜日は夜まで仕事があるので、部屋のは金曜日の夜にませておきました。
さんはが多いと言っていたので、かばんを置けるように、入口の近くも片付けました。
飲み物はコーヒーでいいか聞くと、「はコーヒーを飲まないから、おがうれしいな」とが来ました。
そこで仕事の帰りにおとお菓子を買い、日曜日の朝には使うコップもテーブルに並べておきました。
日曜日、電車が少しれたため、さんはの時間より三十分れてきました。
さんは疲れていましたが、をすぐに置いて座ると、「もうちいたよ」と笑いました。
前にをしておいたので、私も台所でしくせず、ゆっくり友達と話すことができました。
Read for meaning
私が金曜日の夜にしておいたことは、何ですか。
English translation
My friend Mika, who works away from our town, was planning to visit my apartment for the first time on Sunday. Since I had work until late on Saturday, I finished cleaning the room on Friday night in preparation. Mika had said she would have a lot of luggage, so I also cleared the area near the entrance so she would have somewhere to put her bags. When I asked if coffee would be all right to drink, she replied, “I do not drink coffee these days, so I would be happy with tea.” So I bought tea and snacks on my way home from work, and on Sunday morning I also set out the cups we would use on the table. On Sunday, the train was a little delayed, so Mika arrived thirty minutes after our agreed time. She was tired, but after putting down her luggage right away and sitting down, she smiled and said, “I feel settled now.” Because I had prepared in advance, I was able to chat leisurely with my friend without being busy in the kitchen.
Useful vocabulary
- plan; scheduled arrangement
- cleaning
- to finish; to get something done
- luggage; bags
- to tidy up; to clear away
- reply
- to arrange; to set out
- preparation
Grammar in context · to do something in advance for a later purpose
～ておく
Attach おく to a verb’s te-form to describe preparation for a later situation. Here, cleaning was finished on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s visit because Saturday would be busy. The past polite form is ておきました, and the plain past form is ておいた.
土曜日は夜まで仕事があるので、部屋のは金曜日の夜にませておきました。
ALSO NOTICE · A SECOND USEFUL PATTERN
～ようにso that; aiming for an outcome
置ける is the potential form of 置く. With ように, it gives the intended outcome of clearing the entrance: Mika will be able to put her bags there. This is purpose, not 'as though' or reported information.
FROM THIS STORY · POLITE
さんはが多いと言っていたので、かばんを置けるように、入口の近くも片付けました。English: Mika had said she would have a lot of luggage, so I also cleared the area near the entrance so she would have somewhere to put her bags.
Compare styles: 置けるように stays unchanged; 片付けました becomes 片付けた.