Different ways to refer to many things


1. When referring to a few things amongst many:

a) [や~など] 

机の引き出しの中にペンや紙などがあります
Only use や once.
Can only give two examples.
など emphasizes that there are others than given in the examples.
MNN10.

b) [~とか~とか」
どな音楽を聞きますか?
。。。ジャズとかファンクとか。

Note とか also comes at end 
More casual than や
MNN36

c) [N1とN2とN3...] 
りんごとみかんとオレンジを買った
No と at end.
A list of things (two or more).
enumerates all possibilities (implies no others).
MNN4

2.  When referring to a few actions amongst many:

[たり、~たりする]
土曜日ハイキングをしたり、テレビをみたりしました
Sentence in past tense: means you did (once) at that time.
Sentence present tense: means  you do it as a habit.
Only use two examples. Regardless of the example verbs always end with the する verb.
Verbs are conjugated using the plain past form.
MNN19.

3.When giving a few reasons or when describing a few merits of a given subject.
 [~し] 
いろもきれいだしこのギターをかいました。
Plain form (before し)
Implies other examples exist even if only one し is used
Can chain a few examples together with "、":

空気がきれいだし、長く海外があるし、そのまちはいい所だと思います
MNN28


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