テレビがつかないんですが・・・ The TV won't turn on…

To tell someone that something is wrong, add "n desu ga" to the verb's NAI-form. The NAI-form is a negative form. The combination suggests you're troubled because something you expected isn't happening. "-n desu ga" is used to explain your situation to someone and prompt that person to respond.

Subject-marker particle "ga":
The particle "ga" in "Terebi ga tsukanai" or "The TV won't turn on" indicates that TV is the subject of the verb "tsuku" or "turn on."

Try saying something is wrong

1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?

Excuse me. The key won't unlock.

lock | open

かぎ | 開く（→開かない）

kagi | aku（→akanai）

2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

Excuse me. [subject] won't XXX…

すみません。【subject】が～ないんですが・・・。

Sumimasen. 【subject】ga ～nain desu ga...

summer kimono's size | fit

浴衣のサイズ | 合う（→合わない）

yukata no saizu | au（→awanai）

3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

Excuse me. [subject] won't XXX…

すみません。【subject】が～ないんですが・・・。

Sumimasen. 【subject】ga ～nain desu ga...

air conditioning | work

エアコン | 効く（→効かない）

eakon | kiku（→kikanai）

This polite phrase is used when asking hotel guests or customers to wait. The dictionary form of the verb is "matsu," meaning "to wait."

uta (song)