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I’ve heard this both ways, but what is the difference between “何してる？” and “何してるんだ？”
Kinda confused…is it formal v informal or something else?
Kinda. According to my textbook, んだ (or んです) creates “harmony and shared atmosphere”, though doesn’t really explain why – it kind of seems like it creates harmony simply because everyone knows that’s what it means.
It’s also used to elicit or give further information – for example, あまり食べないんですね means “you don’t eat much”, but also implies “and why not?” without being so crass as to ask directly. In question words, like 何してるんですか or どうしたんですか it acts to soften the question and make it more friendly.
In text (and occasionally in speech) it becomes のだ/のです, and sometimes even just の, as in どこ行くの?
AnonymousYeah Joel is right. For some reason I absolute LOVE using this type of grammar, hehe. Probably because I can make use of the casual form of words while still sounding polite. XD
By the way, if you’re using this type of grammar after a NOUN, you have to add a な between the noun and the んです.
For example:
I am a student. 私は学生です。
I am a student. 私は学生なのです。
I am a student. 私は学生なんです。Those explanations make sense, thanks! :) I’ll have to listen for these uses.
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