TAKOBOTO

explain causes, reasons, grounds
The thing is that my car broke down and I had to come by bus.

"What the hell is wrong with ya?" (what is the matter sweetie?) "Ya ain`t gettin any tonight" (don`t feel well)

"Yo homey, why were you late?" "Damn bus didn`t come on time."

Certainly it isn't (that it's) illegal. But being a system that doesn't easily generate a profit, is sure to go bankrupt, in the same way it's not possible to ban so it's (that it's) overlooked.

I would like to go, but... (i can't)

〜んですね（確認）seeking affirmations or confirmation or agreement.
e.g. A:「ここで受験を申し込むんですね。」
B:「ええ、ここで申し込んでください。」

疑問詞＋んですか（説明を求める）seeking explanation
e.g. : 「何時ごろ学校に集まるんですか」

どうして〜んですか（理由を聞く）asking reason
e.g.: 「どうして勉強しないんですか」

〜んです(理由を説明する）giving reason(s)
e.g. A:「どうして日本語を勉強しているんですか。」
B:「日本の生活を経験したいんです。」
Here please note that one should never use ので、から、だから、ものだから together with んです. んですhere is giving the reason.And whenever one is asked with んですか, one should reply with んです。

〜んですが、どうしたらいいですか（助言を求めるときの前置き）seeking for suggestions,advice,help
e.g.　荷物が着かないんですが、どうしたらいいですか／どうしたらいいんでしょうか

〜んですが、〜ていただけませんか（依頼するときの前置き）requesting or asking others for a favour.
e.g. 日本語を勉強したいんですが、ラジオを小さくしていただけませんか。

誠

んです is short for のです。 Usually there is a が - a but (see ex #3)

dc

See also のです

Amatuka

also i think used for softening questions... 明日行きたいんですが。。。 I would like to go but...

dc

wow. `excellent` examples. Likely to radically result in a transformation toward 99% increased usage by 日本人 in search of new expression. Not to mention the shocking context reinforces memory. oh the danger of genius.... ; >

zero

Note: When used in a question it implies you are seeking an explanation.

Amatuka

How about nandesu? Is nandesu the form of -ndesu that is used with nouns? In other words, it explains causes, reasons, and grounds if it's a noun. Opposed to -ndesu, which seems to always follow a verb. The difference between 食べてるんです and 食事中なんです, or 雨が降ってるんですか and 降雨なんですか. Well, maybe there should be an entry for なん, also?

gtunak85

gtunak85さん、you are quite right. actually there is no need to have a separate entry for なん。Here is the explanation: 動詞：行く／行かない／行った／行かなかった ＋んです い形容詞：高い／高くない／高かった／高くなかった ＋んです な形容詞：元気な／元気じゃない／元気だった／元気じゃなかった ＋ んです 名詞 ：学生な／学生じゃない／学生だった／学生じゃなかった ＋ んです Please refer the な形容詞 and 名詞 above.

誠

トイレに行きたいんですが．．．could mean "I would like to go to the toilet, (could please let me go...)" Here が is just a polite or humble way of asking or saying, instead of the meaning " but " トイレに行きたいんですけど．．．has the same meaning but けどless polite than が. Polite usage of が with んです: ちょっと聞きたいんですが... ”Excuse me, may I ask you / I would like to ask you something...." For example , asking the way to a place.

誠

Should this entry not have a のだ んだ reference in its header for searching? Took me a few rounds to figure that out.

Immacolata