Language/Japanese/Grammar/Verb-Conjugation

Japanese Grammar → Hiragana Basics → Verb Conjugation

As a Japanese language teacher with 20 years of experience, I understand the importance of learning verb conjugation in Japanese. In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate verbs in present and past tense, as well as positive and negative forms.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Particles に and で & Particles も and しか.

Types of Verbs

• 1. godan verbs: any verb that does not end with -る (-ru), verbs that end with (consonant) + a / u / o + る (except the irregular verbs), some other verbs that end with -る (-ru)

• Examples: 書く (kaku, to write), 休む (yasumu, to rest), 有る (aru, to be (at a place, only used for inanimate nouns)), 撮る (toru, to take (a picture)), 走る (hashiru, to run)

• 2. ichidan verbs: verbs that do not belong to the other types

• Examples: 見る (miru, to see), 食べる (taberu, to eat)

• 3. 来る (kuru, to come): an irregular verb of its own type
• 4. する (suru, to do): an irregular verb of its own type

Present Tense

In Japanese, present tense verbs are often used to describe habitual or ongoing actions. To conjugate a verb in the present tense, you simply remove the -ます ending and add the appropriate ending based on the final vowel sound of the verb. Here are the different verb endings for present tense conjugation:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べる	taberu	to eat
飲む	nomu	to drink
見る	miru	to see

• Verbs that end with -う：Change the -う to -います for polite/formal situations, or -う for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -く：Change the -く to -きます for polite/formal situations, or -く for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -ぐ：Change the -ぐ to -ぎます for polite/formal situations, or -ぐ for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -す：Change the -す to -します for polite/formal situations, or -す for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -つ：Change the -つ to -ちます for polite/formal situations, or -つ for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -ぬ：Change the -ぬ to -にます for polite/formal situations, or -ぬ for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -ぶ：Change the -ぶ to -びます for polite/formal situations, or -ぶ for a more casual tone.

• Verbs that end with -む：Change the -む to -みます for polite/formal situations, or -む for a more casual tone.

• Godan verbs that end with -る：Change the -る to -ります for polite/formal situations, or -る for a more casual tone.

• Ichidan verbs：Drop the -る ending and add -ます for polite/formal situations, or -る for a more casual tone.

• 来る: Use 来ます (きます) for polite/formal situations, or 来る (くる) for a more casual tone.

• する: Use します for polite/formal situations, or する for a more casual tone.

Past Tense

In Japanese, past tense verbs are often used to describe completed actions. To conjugate a verb in the past tense, you need to know the final vowel sound of the verb. Here are the different verb endings for past tense conjugation:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べた	tabeta	ate
飲んだ	nonda	drank
見た	mita	saw

• Verbs that end with -au：Change the -au to -atta.

• Verbs that end with -iu：Change the -iu to -itta.

• Verbs that end with -ou：Change the -ou to -otta.

• Verbs that end with -ru：Change the -ru to -tta.

• Verbs that end with -su：Change the -su to -shita.

• Verbs that end with -ku：Change the -ku to -katta.

• Verbs that end with -gu：Change the -gu to -gatta.

• Verbs that end with -mu or -nu：Change the -mu or -nu to -nda.

• Verbs that end with -bu：Change the -bu to -nda.

Positive and Negative Forms

In Japanese, verbs can be in positive or negative form. To make a verb negative, you add ない (nai) after the stem. Here are the different verb endings for positive and negative forms:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べる	taberu	to eat
食べない	tabenai	to not eat

• To make verbs that end with -う negative, change the -う to -わ and add ない.

• To make verbs that end with -く negative, change the -く to -か and add ない.

• To make verbs that end with -ぐ negative, change the -ぐ to -が and add ない.

• To make verbs that end with -す negative, change the -す to -さ and add ない.

• To make verbs that end with -つ negative, change the -つ to -た and add ない.

• To make verbs that end with -る negative, drop the -る and add ない.

Examples

Here are some examples of verb conjugation in different forms:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べます	tabemasu	I eat
食べません	tabemasen	I don't eat
食べました	tabemashita	I ate
食べませんでした	tabemasen deshita	I didn't eat

Tips

• Practice makes perfect. Try to speak and write in Japanese as much as possible to get familiar with the verb conjugation.

• Listen to Japanese music, watch anime, or read manga to get a better understanding of how verbs are used in different situations.

• Pay attention to the different verb endings and try to memorize them by practicing with different verbs.

Sources

• Japanese Verb Conjugation Rules: An Ultra Guide
• Japanese Verb Conjugation Groups
• The Ultra Handy Japanese Verb Conjugator
• Japanese Verbs: U-verbs, Ru-verbs and Conjugation

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

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Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

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Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

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Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

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Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

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Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

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Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

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Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

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Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

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Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Other Lessons

• Questions
• How to Use Have
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Adjectives 形容詞
• Negation
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Feminine 女性
• Particles も and しか
• Nouns 名詞
• Questions 質問