List actions among others (たり…たりする)
Take the plain past た-form of two or more verbs, add り to each, and finish with する to list sample activities.
JLPTN5
[verb-た] + り、[verb-た] + りする~tari ~tari suru
List representative actions: do things like A and B
When describing activities on a weekend or holiday, using 〜て (te) links them in a strict chronological sequence ('I did A, then B, then C'). But if you want to say 'I did various things, such as A and B', use 〜たり〜たりする (tari tari suru):
1. Form the plain past た-form (ta-form) of each verb. 2. Add り (ri) to each: 読んだり (reading, etc.), 見たり (watching, etc.). 3. Finish the sentence with する (suru) (casual) or します (shimasu) / しました (shimashita) (polite).
- 休みの日は 本を 読んだり 映画を 見たり します (On days off, I do things like read books and watch movies.)
- 昨日は 買い物を したり 散歩を したり しました (Yesterday I did things like shopping and walking.)