17606
Currently I'm learning Japanese by discovering vocabulary and new grammars
which I can find in Japanese Windows XP. I have some trouble understanding
these grammar elements in the following examples :

  1. ファイルを保存 (Fairu wo hozon)

  2. 保存するファイル (Hozon suru fairu)

Google translate says their meanings are "Save the file" and "The file to be
saved" respectively. However, I'd like to know which type of grammar are they
using. Could you please explain it in detail and give me some similar
examples?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-30T02:12:05.383
17604
2014-06-30T04:09:17.707
question
grammar
Unclear grammar elements (Verb - Noun)
1. 保存{ほぞん} is a verbal noun. In other words, it's a noun that you can turn into a verb by adding する. 

In your example, however, する has been omitted. To complete the sentence, we
can add it back in:

> _1a._ ファイル **を** 保存 **する**

The combination 保存する can be treated as a single verb meaning "save". It takes
a direct object marked with を, in this case ファイル "file".

In your example, する is implied--nouns don't take direct objects, so even
though する is omitted, we understand the phrase as though it's there. This is
relatively common in certain contexts.

  2. 保存するファイル contains a relative clause. We can treat it as derived from the example above:

> _2a._ [ ファイル **を** 保存 **する** ]  
>  _2b._ [ ＿＿＿＿ **＿** 保存 **する** ] ファイル

Here, ファイルを has been pulled out of the clause ("relativized") and turned into
a head noun, which is modified by the rest of the phrase. Pulling it out
leaves behind a **gap** , indicated with an underline above.

Note that the direct object marker を disappears when you do this. There's
nothing in 2b that tells you ファイル is a direct object. Although the role of
ファイル isn't indicated explicitly, the を role is the only one that makes sense,
so we can understand the phrase anyway.

We form relative clauses in English all the time. If you aren't familiar with
the concept, take a look at the following examples:

> _3a._ [ ボール **を** 蹴{け}った ]  
>  _3b._ [ ＿＿＿ **＿** 蹴った ] ボール
>
> _4a._ [ I kicked **the ball** ]  
>  _4b._ **the ball** [ I kicked **_____** ]

Although ボール and _the ball_ appear outside the relative clauses that modify
them, it's clear what role they play.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-30T04:09:17.707
17606
2014-06-30T04:09:17.707
17604
answer