Polite, present form of verb A
18
今日は、会議には出ません。
Today, I cannot attend the meeting.
7
これから試験の勉強を始めます。
After this we'll start studying for the test.
2
学生は書きます。
The students write.
10
お母さんは帰りません。
Mom does not return home.
1
友達は泳ぎません。
My friend does not swim.
-1
私は急ぎません。
I do not hurry.
Getting the sentences
List
Verbs
You’re ready to branch out into conjugating and using other verbs!
Before we look at the rules, though, let’s talk about Japanese verbs in general.
Verb Politeness
Japanese verbs have differing levels of politeness. There are two main ones: polite, and plain/casual.
Japanese verbs have differing levels of politeness. There are two main ones: polite, and plain/casual.
These are used the majority of the time, but we’re going to focus on the polite form today.
You can’t go wrong with using polite forms, and you should stay with them until you are comfortable with casual verbs.
Good news! Unlike English, verbs do not change based on the subject. So “I”, “he”, “you”, etc. all use the same verb.
There are only 2 irregular verbs in the whole language! All other verbs follow one of two patterns.
Verb stems
Verb stems are a chunk of the verb that are used in various verb conjugations.
Verb stems are a chunk of the verb that are used in various verb conjugations.
The rules for verb stems depend on what type of verb it is, and this is most easily identified by looking at the last character of the verb.
You do not need to remember all of these now! You’ll see them again in your mastery schedule.
Additionally, you can study them under Resources > Community Lists > Grammar.
たべる → たべ
あける → あけ
いれる → いれ
There are three kinds of verbs: Ichidan (or ‘1-step’), Godan (‘5-step’), and irregular. The above, たべる, is an example of Ichidan.
There are three kinds of verbs: Ichidan (or ‘1-step’), Godan (‘5-step’), and irregular. The above, たべる, is an example of Ichidan.
The dictionary form always ends in る (but unfortunately, not all verbs that end in る are Ichidan).
They are called ‘1-step’ because it takes just one step to adjust the verb before conjugating.
All you have to do is drop the る, then you have your verb stem!
Here’s another example (to open).
And one more (to put in/insert)!
かく → かき
あう → あい
もつ → もち
かく (to write) is an example of a Godan verb. If a verb doesn’t end in る, it’s Godan.
かく (to write) is an example of a Godan verb. If a verb doesn’t end in る, it’s Godan.
They are called 5-step because they use all 5 ‘steps’ (vowels) during conjugation.
For verb stems, though, we just need one!
か
き
く
け
こ
あ
い
う
え
お
た
ち
つ
て
と
きる → きり
As I noted earlier, there are Godan る (change る to り) verbs and Ichidan る (drop the る) verbs.
As I noted earlier, there are Godan る (change る to り) verbs and Ichidan る (drop the る) verbs.
Here, きる (to cut) is an example of a Godan る verb.
Unfortunately, there is no exact rule to remember which is which. You’ll just pick it up as you study them.
する → し
くる → き
There are only two irregular verbs: する (to do), and くる (to come).
There are only two irregular verbs: する (to do), and くる (to come).
The verb stem of する is し, and the verb stem of くる is き.
Verb stem + ます
The first form is the “ます”-form, or the polite, non-past form.
The first form is the “ます”-form, or the polite, non-past form.
We say “non-past” because it can be used for present or future situations.
All you have to do is take the verb stem we learned before and add ます to it.
たべる → たべます
(Ichidan)
(Ichidan)
いれる → いれます
(Ichidan)
(Ichidan)
かく → かきます
(Godan)
(Godan)
あう → あいます
(Godan)
(Godan)
する → します
(irregular)
(irregular)
くる → きます
(irregular)
(irregular)
This would be (I/he/they/etc) eat/eats.
This would be (I/he/they/etc) eat/eats.
This is (I/he/she) put/puts in.
And this is write/writes.
This is meet/meets.
This is do/does.
Lastly, this is come/comes.
Verb stem + ません
たべる → たべません
(Ichidan)
(Ichidan)
かく → かきません
(Godan)
(Godan)
する → しません
(irregular)
(irregular)
Formed the same way, ません is used to show a polite, negative verb.
Formed the same way, ません is used to show a polite, negative verb.
This would be (I/he/they/etc) don’t/doesn’t eat.
And this is don’t/doesn’t write.
Lastly, this is don't/doesn't.
わたし は たべます。
かれ は かきます。
Let’s take our AはBです sentence and swap out です for our new verbs.
Let’s take our AはBです sentence and swap out です for our new verbs.
This would be “I eat.”
And this is “He writes.”
We’ll get to adding things like direct objects, locations, etc., in the next lesson!
I know this seems like a lot, but these two verb tenses will take us a long way.
I know this seems like a lot, but these two verb tenses will take us a long way.
As I mentioned before, in addition to your mastery schedule, check out the “Verb Conjugation” quizzes under Resources > Community Lists > Grammar.
1. Determine if it's a godan or ichidan verb
How do I determine the type of the verb?
2. Conjugating the verbs
Godan verbs
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'i' form.
む (mu) => み (mi)
す (su) => し (shi)
う (u) => い (i)
ぬ (nu) => に (ni)
つ (tsu) => ち (chi)
ぶ (bu) => び (bi)
く (ku) => き (ki)
ぐ (gu) => ぎ (gi)
る (ru) => り (ri)
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'i' form.
む (mu) => み (mi)
す (su) => し (shi)
う (u) => い (i)
ぬ (nu) => に (ni)
つ (tsu) => ち (chi)
ぶ (bu) => び (bi)
く (ku) => き (ki)
ぐ (gu) => ぎ (gi)
る (ru) => り (ri)
Ichidan verbs
1. Remove the る from the end of the verb.
1. Remove the る from the end of the verb.
Special cases
1a. する (to do) is changed to し.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to き.
1a. する (to do) is changed to し.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to き.
2a. Add ます to make the positive form.
2b. Add ません to make the negative form.
2b. Add ません to make the negative form.
Conjugation examples
Let's conjugate the godan verb 書く/かく (to write):
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: かく
1. かく -> かき
2a. かき -> かきます (write)
2b. かき -> かきません (don't write)
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: たべる
1. たべる -> たべ
2a. たべ -> たべます (eat)
2b. たべ -> たべません (don't eat)
Where this grammar is found
User notes
Level:
(4 years ago)
In semi-formal/semi-polite speech, instead of verb stem + ます/ません, the plain form/negative form + っす construction can be used.
You could, for instance, use 食べるっす and 食べないっす instead of 食べます and 食べません.
This also works with state-of-being (e.g., きれいっす/きれいじゃないっす).
This construction is usually used by males but is sometimes also used by females.
You could, for instance, use 食べるっす and 食べないっす instead of 食べます and 食べません.
This also works with state-of-being (e.g., きれいっす/きれいじゃないっす).
This construction is usually used by males but is sometimes also used by females.
0
宮本勝利
Level: 1
(14 years ago)
There is a way to tell some of the ichidan and godan verbs apart.
If the verb ends in -る and the sound that precedes it is either あ、お、or う, then it is always a godan verb (-うverb).
例 (Example):
やる y/aru = godan verb (○ やります | × やます)
つまる tsum/aru = godan verb (○ つまります | × つます)
ほる h/oru = godan verb (○ のります | × のます)
のぼる nob/oru = godan verb (○ のぼります | × のぼます)
ぬる n/uru = godan verb (○ ぬります | × ぬます)
つる ts/uru = godan verb (○ つります | × つます)
If the verb ends in -る and the sound that precedes it is either い or え, then those are the ones that you have to memorize as they could either be a ichidan or godan verb.
If the verb ends in -る and the sound that precedes it is either あ、お、or う, then it is always a godan verb (-うverb).
例 (Example):
やる y/aru = godan verb (○ やります | × やます)
つまる tsum/aru = godan verb (○ つまります | × つます)
ほる h/oru = godan verb (○ のります | × のます)
のぼる nob/oru = godan verb (○ のぼります | × のぼます)
ぬる n/uru = godan verb (○ ぬります | × ぬます)
つる ts/uru = godan verb (○ つります | × つます)
If the verb ends in -る and the sound that precedes it is either い or え, then those are the ones that you have to memorize as they could either be a ichidan or godan verb.
14
Discussion about this grammar
めぐ___
Level: 53
I just want to thank you so much for this good lesson and for the good explanation I really love this app so much and it's very helpful 
4
1 year ago
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