Language/Japanese/Grammar/Future-Tense

Japanese Grammar - Future Tense

Hi Japanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the Japanese future tense. In English, we use the auxiliary verb “will” to indicate future actions. However, in Japanese, the future tense is expressed without an auxiliary verb, making it a bit different from English. But don't worry, we will explain everything in detail!

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: How to Use Be & Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice.

Formation of the Future Tense

To form the future tense, we add 「- う」(u) or 「- る」(ru) to the stem of verbs. However, there are some exceptions in which an entirely different verb will be used instead. Let's take a look at some examples below.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べる (taberu)	ta-be-ru	will eat
見る (miru)	mi-ru	will see
言う (iu)	i-u	will say
来る (kuru)	ku-ru	will come
する (suru)	su-ru	will do

As you can see, the Japanese future tense is relatively simple. Additionally, please note that the verb ending 「-る」(ru) changes to 「- り」(ri) when used in the future tense for verbs with the stem ending in 「た」(ta), 「ち」(chi), 「つ」(tsu), 「ま」(ma), 「み」(mi), 「ぬ」(nu), 「ね」(ne), or 「る」(ru).

Examples

Now that you have a general understanding of how the Japanese future tense works, let's practice some examples to solidify your knowledge.

• Person 1: 明日、友達と映画を見ます。 (Ashita, tomodachi to eiga wo mimasu.) ([Translation] Tomorrow, I will watch a movie with my friend.)
• Person 2: いいね、どの映画を見ますか？(Iine, dono eiga wo mimasuka?) ([Translation] Nice, which movie will you watch?)

• Person 1: 来週、旅行に行きます。 (Raishuu, ryokou ni ikimasu.) ([Translation] Next week, I will go on a trip.)
• Person 2: 本当ですか？どこに行きますか？(Hontou desuka? Dokoni ikimasuka?) ([Translation] Really? Where will you go?)

Exceptions

We previously mentioned that there are a few exceptions to the rule of forming the future tense using 「- う」(u) or 「- る」(ru), and that entirely different verbs are used instead. Let's take a look at some of the most commonly-used ones below.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
行く (iku)	i-ku	will go
来る (kuru)	ku-ru	will come
する (suru)	su-ru	will do
ほしい (hoshii)	ho-shi-i	will want

Please note that in the case of 「ほしい」(hoshii), it is technically not a verb. But it is still used in the same way as other Japanese verbs in this context.

Cultural Insight

In Japan, it is not uncommon to see posters or signs that say 「次回予告」(jikai yokoku) before the start of a movie or TV drama. This phrase can be translated into English as “preview of the next episode”. Japanese people consider it an essential part of the viewing experience, and not providing a preview of the next episode is considered a significant lack of respect towards the audience. Therefore, producers in Japan always make sure to provide a short teaser for the upcoming episode.

If you are interested in learning more about Japanese culture and customs, the Polyglot Club is a great place to start! Find native speakers and ask them any questions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Japanese future tense is relatively straightforward to understand. Simply add 「- う」(u) or 「- る」(ru) to the stem of verbs, or use one of the exceptions mentioned above, to indicate future actions. Practicing grammar in real-life conversations is the best way to make it stick. So, don't be afraid to practice even small talk with native Japanese speakers.

If you want to delve deeper into Japanese Grammar, please check out our Grammar page.

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• The Japanese Future Tense, or How to Fake It | FluentU Japanese
• Actually, Japanese has future tense! Kind of… | Tae Kim's Blog
• Learn How to Conjugate Japanese Verbs

Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Adjective Conjugation & How to Use Have.

Other Lessons

• Adjectives
• Adjectives (形容詞)
• Feminine 女性
• How to Use Be
• Questions
• Nouns
• Negation 否定
• Nouns 名詞
• Adverbs 副詞
• Plurals