[MMM]

"Why" is the bane of new learners. "Why" will the barrier to advancing.

To answer question two, In English we say "Turn the volume down" but in Japanese we say "Make the volume smaller". Thinking about it this way it isn't hard to see the difference, but you have to give up the notion that volume us "up" and "down".

Just as you have to give up the notion that soup is something that is "eaten" and pills are something that are "taken". You must clear your mind of all those things that are set in stone and start from scratch.