Meaning
Used to give an incomplete list of actions or states. The list is only representative, not exhaustive.
Formation
- た form + り on each action, with する at the end: 読んだり聞いたりします
- Only the final する carries tense and politeness
When to use it
- Core use
- Do this and that, among others
Example
日曜日は洗濯したり掃除したりします
On Sundays I do things like laundry and cleaning.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.