Can You Master Japanese Verb Forms in Minutes?

Hello, welcome to this course. I'm Junko, a Japanese language tutor. I have been teaching Japanese online for several years. I enjoy teaching Japanese to learners from various countries every day. In this course, I will explain various verb forms learned in the beginner level of Japanese. I'll also introduce some grammar using these forms. And I'll explain things slowly for those who don't have English as their first language. About Japanese verb forms. Japanese verbs can change their meaning in various ways with the mass form as the foundation. When learning verbs, something mass represents the polite form of verbs, while friends might not use the polite form with each other. As a Japanese language learner, if you are ever unsure which form to use, opting for the mass form can be a language learning strategy. It's never considered impolite. It's not always necessary to learn verbs starting from the mass form. When dealing with various verb conjugations, it's just that starting from the mass form can often be more straightforward to understand. Japanese verbs can be classified into three groups. Let's take a look at the differences in each one. Let's start with the explanation of group 3. Group 3 verbs in Japanese consist of only two. SHIMASU and KIMASU. However, there are expressions like BENKYOU SHIMASU, SHOKUJI SHIMASU, MOTTE KIMASU, TSURETE KIMASU, which involve noun and then SHIMASU, verb, te-form, and then KIMASU. So don't get confused. For example, TABEMASU is a group 2 verb. You can change the mass part into various forms. For instance, in the te-form, TABEMASU becomes TABETE. TA-form, TABETA. NAI-form, TABENAI. Like it. Finally, group 1 verbs. For example, let's take the verb KAKIMASU and make the negative form. Change the vowel I before mass to a, so KAKI becomes KAKA, and then add NAI to get KAKANAI. In this way, there are several rules for each group of verbs. In this course, you will learn how to make various verb forms. However, when having conversations or writing sentences, it can be time-consuming to construct sentences while using each form. Therefore, for commonly used verbs, it's a good idea to memorize not only the mass form but also other forms. In our lesson, first, I will explain the primary meaning and usage of the form within sentences. Then, I introduce how to make the forms. Finally, I provide an introduction to various grammar points using those forms. Now, let's proceed to learn some grammar using these forms. TE-form is primarily used in sentences when making requests or indicating the continuation of an action. However, this is just a general guideline, and it doesn't cover all possible uses. For example, Please do something is a request. I eat during something indicates that an action is ongoing. So, for this, we use the verb TE-form. Here is the explanation of the TE-form for group 3 verbs. For group 3 verbs, there are only two, SHIMASU and KIMASU. The TE-form of SHIMASU is SHITE, and the TE-form of KIMASU is KITE. There are no specific rules. You should simply memorize them. BENKYOU SHIMASU becomes BENKYOU SHITE. KAIMONO SHIMASU becomes KAIMONO SHITE. MOTTEKIMASU becomes MOTTEKITE. TSURETEKIMASU becomes TSURETEKITE. Here is the explanation for the TE-form in group 2 verbs. To make the TE-form for group 2 verbs, you simply replace MASU with TE. TABEMASU becomes TABETE. MIMASU becomes MITE. OBOEMASU becomes OBOETE. Explanation for the TE-form in group 1 verbs. Group 1 verbs are a bit complex. There are as many as 5 patterns. When the stem before MASU ends in KI, the KI changes to ITE. KAKIMASU, KAITE. KIKIMASU, KIITE. HATARAKIMASU, HATARAITE. While IKIMASU has KI before MASU, it's an irregular case, and it becomes ITE, not IITE. When the stem before MASU ends in GI, the GI changes to IDE. OYOGIMASU, OYOIDE. ISOGIMASU, ISOIDE. When the stem before MASU ends in MI or BI, the MI or BI changes to NDE. YOMIMASU, YONDE. NOMIMASU, NONDE. YOBIMASU, YONDE. ASOBIMASU, ASONDE. Both YOMIMASU and YOBIMASU, when in the TE-form, becomes YONDE. When the stem before MASU ends in I, CHI or RI, the I, CHI or RI changes to ITE. AIMASU, ATTE. KAIMASU, KATTE. TETUDAIMASU, TETUDATTE. MATSHIMASU, MATTE. MOCHIMASU, MOTTE. KAERIMASU, KAETTE. OWARIMASU, OWATTE. When the stem before MASU ends in SHI, the SHI changes to SHITE. HANASHIMASU, HANASHITE. KAESHIMASU, KAESHITE. KESHIMASU, KESHITE. Group 1 and group 3 SHIMASU, SHITE are often confused. Please don't get confused. A very important point for TE-form in group 1. It can be confusing to determine whether a word belongs to group 1 or group 2, but you will have to memorize them one by one. One hint is that if the character before MASU is not KI, GI, MI, I, I, CHI, or I, it is often in group 2. Also, for example, OKIMASU, get up, is in group 2, and OKIMASU, put on, belongs to group 1. They are different group of verbs with different meanings. Grammar using the verb TE-form. Barabute kudasai. Please do something. Koko ni namae wo kaite kudasai. Sumimasen. Tetsudatte kudasai. Nihongo de hanashite kudasai. Sore wo totte kudasai. Paspouto wo misete kudasai. Asa desu. Okite kudasai. Benkyou shite kudasai. Koko ni kite kudasai. Barabute kudasai is a polite expression. If you want to say it casually, you can remove kudasai. Benkyou shite. Koko ni kite. Sore wo totte. Barabute wa ikemasen. Must not do something. Koko de tabako wo sutte wa ikemasen. Mada kaite wa ikemasen. Toshokan de tabete wa ikemasen. Terebi wo tsukete wa ikemasen. Kouen de golf wo shite wa ikemasen. Koko ni kite wa ikemasen. Barbute mo ii desu ka? May I do something? Heya ni haitte mo ii desu ka? Soto de asonde mo ii desu ka? Mado wo akete mo ii desu ka? Hajimete mo ii desu ka? Kore wo kopii shite mo ii desu ka? Kite mo ii desu ka? Two or more sentences can be joined together using barabute. Tense is indicated by change it at the end of the sentence. Beginner say Kinou toshokan ni ikimashita. Soko de kon wo kaimashita. Soshite kaerimashita. You can say it in one sentence using barabute, barabute structure like this. Kinou, toukyou ni itte, kon wo katte, kaerimashita. Ofuro ni haitte, ha wo migaite, nemasu. Tomodachi ni atte, kaimono shite, karaoke ni ikimashita. Kotoshi no natsu wa kawa ni itte, sakana wo tsutte, sore wo tabetai desu. Sentence 1 barabute kara sentence 2 The phrase is used when taking the action in sentence 2 after the action in sentence 1. Souji wo shite kara kaimono ni ikimasu. Denki wo keshite kara ie wo demasu. Sukoshi yasunde kara dekakemasu. Oyoide kara aisukurimu wo tabemasu. Barabute imasu. It indicates that something is ongoing or continuous. It's doing something. Ima ame ga futte imasu. Gohan wo tabete imasu. Tomodachi wa denwa wo kakete imasu. To show a state. Kekkon shite imasu. Nihon ni sunde imasu. Watashi wa Yamada-san wo shitte imasu. Shitte imasu is a te-form of shirimasu and is typically used to express I know. On the other hand, shirimasen is used to indicate I don't know. And it's important to know that it's usually used in its masu form. You wouldn't say shitte imasen to mean I don't know. Instead, you'd use shirimasen for the purpose. Shitte imasu. Shirimasen. Shitte imasu ka? Shirimasen ka? To show a habitual action. Mai asa, jogging wo shite imasu. Mai ban, hon wo yonde imasu. Toyota wa, kuruma wo tsukutte imasu. Konbini de, mizu wo utte imasu. Otto wa, Google de hataraite imasu. Nihongo no gakkou ni kayotte imasu. Intransitive verb te imasu. Used to describe the state of noun. This grammar requires a bit of attention. It used intransitive verbs rather than transitive verbs. I won't go into detail about intransitive and transitive verbs here. The case is where verbs belong to different groups, such as intransitive and transitive verbs exit. Let's list some examples of intransitive and transitive verbs. Akemasu. Akimasu. Kesimasu. Kiemasu. Orimasu. Oremasu. Doa ga aite imasu. Inu ga nete imasu. Tomodachi ga waratte imasu. Verb te arimasu. The intransitive verb te imasu grammar express the state of the noun. On the other hand, the transitive verb te arimasu grammar used transitive verbs to also describe the state of the noun, but with a nuance that someone did it intentionally. What is the difference between doa ga aite imasu and doa ga akete arimasu? Doa ga aite imasu simply indicates that the door is in an open state. It doesn't specify who opened it or whether it opened on its own. Doa ga akete arimasu, on the other hand, implies that the door has been intentionally opened either by the speaker or someone else. Tsukue ni pasokon ga oite arimasu. Karenda ni yotei ga kaite arimasu. Kagi ga kakete arimasu. Verb te shimaimasu. Verb te shimaimashita. It is used when an action is completed at a specific point in time or has already ended. Completed at a specific point in time or has already ended. Kyoujuu ni kadai wo yatte shimaimasu. Okashi wo zenbu tabete shimaimashita. Mou yonde shimaimashita ka? The speaker, when experiencing regret or disappointment. Paspouto wo nakushite shimaimashita. Fuku ga yaburete shimaimashita. Tomodachi ga kuni e kaette shimaimashita. It is used when a necessary action or task will be completed by a specific time. Kore kara sakka wo shimasu kara, mizu wo nonde okimasu. Ryokou no mae ni, hotel wo yoyaku shite okimasu. Jugyou no mae ni, fukushuu shite okimasu. The grammar verb te okimasu with okimasu referring to the group 1 verb to put. So, when used with please verb te kudasai, it becomes verb te oite kudasai. To get up, okimasu is a group 3 verbs. Don't get confused. Koko ni oite oite kudasai. Koko ni oite okimasu. When the action isn't yet completed, we use verb te imasen. Mada verb te imasen. Mada desu. Mou gohan wo tabemashita ka? Mada tabete imasen. There are also other grammatical structures that are used with te form. Here, I've introduced 10 of them. Ta form. It's privately used to express past actions, events that have been completed, or states that existed in the past. This is just a rough idea. Not an exhaustive list. The ta form is made in the same way as the te form. Shimasu, shita, kimasu, kita. To make the ta form for group 2 verbs, you simply replace masu with ta. Tabemasu, tabeta, oboemasu, oboeta. Sutemasu, suteta. Explanation for the te form in group 1 verbs. As we learned with the te form in group 1, it can be a bit confusing with 5 different patterns. When the stem before masu ends in ki, the ki changes to ita. Okimasu, oita. Hatarakimasu, hataraita. Ugokimasu, ugoita. Similarly to the te form, ikimasu is irregular. And it becomes itta in its te form. It is not iita. When the stem before masu ends in gi, the gi changes to ita. Oyogimasu, oyoida. Isogimasu, isoida. When the stem before masu ends in mi or vi, the mi or vi changes to nda. Yomimasu, yonda. Nomimasu, nonda. Yobimasu, yonda. Asobimasu, asonda. When the stem before masu ends in ichi or ri, the ichi or ri changes to ita. Kaimasu, katta. Tetsudaimasu, tetsudatta. Tsukaimasu, tsukatta. Kachimasu, katta. Machimasu, matta. Tachimasu, tatta. Tsukurimasu, tsukutta. Owarimasu, owatta. Magarimasu, magatta. When the stem before masu ends in shi, the shi changes to shita. Hanashimasu, hanashita. Dashimasu, dashita. Kashimasu, kashita. When the stem before masu ends in shi, the shi changes to shita. Hanashimasu, hanashita. Dashimasu, dashita. Kashimasu, kashita. Similar to the te-form for the ta-form, let's use the following hint. If the verb doesn't end in ki, gi, mi, bi, i, chi, ri, or shi before masu, it is often in group 2. Grammar using the verb ta-form. The ta-form of verbs such as itta is used to casually express the past or completion of an action in Japanese. For example, ikimashita is a polite form while itta is a casual form. Kaimashita, katta, wakarimashita, wakatta, mimashita, mita, tabemashita, tabeta, benkyoushimashita, benkyoushita. Verb ta-koto ga arimasu is used to indicate that you've had the experience of a past action. Nihongo wo naratta koto ga arimasu. Fuji-san ni nobotta koto ga arimasu. Natto wo tabeta koto ga arimasu. Koko ni musume wo tsurete kita koto ga arimasu. Iro ni tsuite kenkyuu shita koto ga arimasu. Kekkon shite ita koto ga arimasu. What's the difference? Verb te, verb te, something. Verb tari, verb tari, shimasu. Kinou wa, terebi wo mite, heya no souji wo shimashita. This sentence, there is no other information for the listener to imagine. Kinou wa, terebi wo mitari, heya no souji wo shitari shimashita. It suggests that there were other actions in addition to watching TV and cleaning, mentioning two or three activities among them. What's the difference? Verb te, verb te, something. Verb tari, verb tari, shimasu. Kinou wa, terebi wo mite, heya no souji wo shimashita. This sentence, there is no other information for the listener to imagine. Kinou wa, terebi wo mitari, heya no souji wo shitari shimashita. It suggests that there were other actions in addition to watching TV and cleaning, mentioning two or three activities among them. Jugyou no ato, tomodachi to toshokan ni ittari, shabettari shimashita. Korekara izakaya de, nondari tabetari shimasu. Kotoshi wa, kuruma wo kattari, hikkoshi shitari shimashita. Daishuu wa, yama ni nobottari, tsuri wo shitari shitai desu. Verb, tara ii desu ka? This is used simply when you want advice or explanation about a specific action. Michi ni mayoimashita. Dou shitara ii desu ka? Chiketto ga hoshii desu. Doko de kattara ii desu ka? Ashita kara nani wo motte kitara ii desu ka? Iriguchi ga wakarimasen. Doko kara haittara ii desu ka? Verb, tara ii desu. It's used when you have advice or recommendations. If verb, tara ii desu is just advice. Then, verb, tahou ga ii desu, simply that it's not good to not take the action. The phrase, it's plural to verb, after used with yo added at the end of the sentence, emphasizes non-mechanical conversation and impressions. Kaze desu ka? Kusuri wo nonda hou ga ii desu. Shuumatsu wa, hito ga ooi desu. Depaato wa, heijitsu ni itta hou ga ii desu yo. Mousugu yoru no juu-ni-ji desu. Hayaku neta hou ga ii desu yo. Ashita wa testo desu. Denkyou shita hou ga ii desu. Verb, ta touri ni. It's used when you request the same thing you've shown or mentioned. Mita touri ni, kanji wo kaite kudasai. Naratta touri ni, karei wo tsukurimasu. Sensei kara kiita touri ni tsutaemasu. In addition to using the verb ta form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Sen no touri ni, kono kami wo kitte kudasai. Setsumeisho no touri ni, kumitatemashou. Verb, ta ato de, verb to. It indicates that after verb one happened, verb two occurred. There is a similar expression, verb one, te kara verb two. Verb one, te kara verb two implies that the action of verb one is a pre-request or a condition for verb two. On the other hand, verb, ta ato de, has a weaker sense of such meaning and simply presents information that something happened after some action. In actual conversation, both are often used within our Korean distinction. Hashitta ato de, shabaa wo abimasu. Heya wo souji shita ato de, nakushita mono ga mitsukarimashita. Tomodachi ni, denwa wo kaketa ato de, ie wo demasu. In addition to using the verb ta form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Shigoto no ato de, eiga wo miniikimasen ka? Taifuu no ato, haremashita. Verb, ta bakari desu. It indicates something happened immediately after a sudden action. Tatta ima, kaetta bakari desu. Yonda bakari no hon wo, uritai desu. Naratta bakari no tango, mou wasurete shimaimashita. Undoushita bakari de, keiki wo tabete shimaimashita. Motte kita bakari no wain wo, mou nonde shimaimashita ka? There are also other grammatical structures that use the ta form. Here, I've introduced seven of them. Nai form Using the nai form with verbs indicates negation. It's a casual form of verb something masen. So, for example, a casual form of tabemasen is tabenai. Group 3 Shimasu, shinai. Kimasu, konai. It's not kinai. It becomes Group 2 It becomes change masu to nai. Karimasu, karinai. Orimasu, orinai. Dekimasu, dekinai. Group 1 Change the vowel before masu to ei and add nai to it. Kakimasu, kakanai. If the vowel before masu is i, it becomes wa. Kaimasu, kawanai. Torimasu, toranai. Yakuni tachimasu, yakuni tatanai. Dashimasu, dasanai. Iimasu, iwanai. Omoimasu, omowanai. Suimasu, suwanai. Arimasu is a group 1 verb, but it doesn't become aranai. The negative form of arimasu is nai. The dictionary form learned later is also nai. Chi might be pronounced as chi. But when thinking about the forms, let's make each form from ti. Grammar using the nai form The nai form is used to express the negative form. Ikimasen or ikanai desu is a pluriform of ikanai. Watashi wa ikanai. Verb nai de kudasai. The expression is used when asking someone not to do something. Koko de tabako wo suwanai de kudasai. Abunai desu kara, osanaide kudasai. Mada tsukaimasu kara, sutenaide kudasai. Kouen de golf wo shinaide kudasai. Kokuban ni memo wo shinaide kudasai. Gakkou ni keitai wo motte konaide kudasai. When speaking casually, you can omit kudasai. Ikanaide. Renshuu wo yamenaide. Sawaranaide. Verb nakereba narimasen. When you must do something, you use verb nakereba narimasen. It's a very formal expression, often used by news anchors, politicians, teachers, and such. In spoken language, you'd often use verb nakya or verb nakucha instead. It's commonly used for addressing others, but in casual form, it's often used for oneself as well. Verb nakereba narimasen. When you must do something, you use verb nakereba narimasen. It's a very formal expression, often used by news anchors, politicians, teachers, and such. In spoken language, you'd often use verb nakya or verb nakucha instead. It's commonly used for addressing others, but in casual form, it's often used for oneself as well. Verb nakutemo ii desu. When you want to convey that there is no need to do something. Verb nakutemo ii desu. When you want to convey that there is no need to do something. Verb naihou ga ii desu. When you're giving advice in negative sentences, you use verb naihou ga ii desu. In positive sentences, you use verb tahou ga ii desu to give advice. Shoumi kigen ga sugimashita. Tabenaihou ga ii desu. Sore wa kichou desu. Uranaihou ga ii desu. Tsukue wa yogorete imasu. Koko ni okanaihou ga ii desu. Kono hen wa fuben desu. Sumanaihou ga ii desu. Yarinaoshi ga dekimasen. Shippai shinaihou ga ii desu. Kichouhin wa motte konaihou ga ii desu. There are also other grammatical structures that use the nai form. Here, I've introduced six of them. Jisho form. The dictionary form is used when you want to speak casually. The base form of a verb listed in a dictionary. When you want to speak casually. Tabemasu. Taberu. Group 3. Shimasu. Suru. Kimasu. Kuru. Annaishimasu. Annaisuru. Setsumeishimasu. Setsumeishuru. Motte kimasu. Motte kuru. Tsurete kimasu. Tsurete kuru. Group 2. It becomes changed masu to bu. Shirabemasu. Shiraberu. Wasuremasu. Wasureru. Kaemasu. Kaeru. Group 1. Changes a verb before masu to yu. Kakimasu. Kaku. Kaimasu. Kau. Hikimasu. Hiku. Erabimasu. Erabu. Hajimarimasu. Hajimaru. Maniaimasu. Maniau. Chigaimasu. Chigau. Tetsudaimasu. Tetsudau. Dictionary form. Koto ga dekimasu. It is used for actions one is capable of doing or actions. There are situationally allowed. This can be expressed using the potential form which I'll explain chapter of potential verb. Watashi wa natto wo taberu koto ga dekimasu. Eigo to nihongo wo hanasu koto ga dekimasu. Jugyou de iPad wo tsukau koto ga dekimasu. Oyako de sanka suru koto ga dekimasu. Ketto mo tsurete kuru koto ga dekimasu. Ensoku ni okane wo motte kuru koto ga dekimasu. In addition to using the verb dictionary form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Group 3 is noun suru. Therefore, noun ga dekimasu and verb dictionary form koto ga dekimasu have exactly the same meaning. Oyako de sanka ga dekimasu. Oyako de sanka suru koto ga dekimasu. Piano ga dekimasu. Piano wo hiku koto ga dekimasu. Hitori de dekimasu. Hitori de suru koto ga dekimasu. Dictionary form mae ni. It is used when talking about an action that precedes another action. Oyogu mae ni sutorechi shimasu. Urete shimau mae ni katte okimasu. Michi ga komu mae ni hayaku kaeritai desu. Sotsugyou suru mae ni minna to shashin wo totte okimasu. Shitsumon suru mae ni kangaete okimasu. Tomodachi ga kuru mae ni heya wo katadukemasu. In addition to using the dictionary form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Nyuugaku shiki no mae ni kami wo kirimasu. Shokuji no mae ni te wo araimasu. Dictionary form tsumori desu. Dictionary form tsumori desu indicates the speaker's intention. When is a nai form? You learnt it in the form of verb nai tsumori desu in 10-2. Ashita wa jimu ni itte kaimono ni iku tsumori desu. Jidensha wo naosu tsumori deshita ga yamemashita. Daigaku ni kayou tsumori deshita ga shuushoku shimasu. Igirisu ni ryuugaku suru tsumori deshita ga mada wakarimasen. Kasa wo motte kuru tsumori deshita ga wasurete shimaimashita. Dictionary form yotei desu. When you talk about just plans with no strong sense of relamination, it's a bit more flexible than verb tsumori desu and signifies simply a plan. Konshuu made ni biza wo toru yotei desu. Kuni e kaeru yotei desu. Ashita wa kore wo kite iku yotei desu. Daigetsu sotsugyou suru yotei desu. Tomodachi wa rainen kekkon suru yotei da to kiite imasu. Goko kara tomodachi ga uchi ni kuru yotei desu. In addition to using the verb dictionary form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Chichi wa youroppa ni shuchou no yotei da to itte imashita. Ima kara gojikan benkyou no yotei desu. Dictionary form tame ni. It is used when talking about taking an action for a purpose or benefit. Shikaku wo toru tame ni, juku ni kayoimasu. Petto wo kau tame ni, iroiro junbi shimasu. Hon wo kaesu tame ni, toshokan ni ikimasu. Ie wo souji suru tame ni, kazoku wo okoshimashita. Tasha wo houmon suru tame ni, suutsu wo kimasu. Koko ni, prezento wo motte kuru tame ni, housou shimashita. In addition to using the verb dictionary form, you can also express the same thing using a noun. Party no tame ni, kaimono ni ikimasu. Shiai no tame ni, kyou wa hayaku neru tsumori desu. There are also other grammatical structures that are used in the dictionary form. Here I've introduced six of them. Potential verbs. Potential verbs inherently include the meaning of potential in the verb itself. You learned verb dictionary form Koto ga dekimasu. With potential verbs, you don't need additional grammar. The verb itself implies the ability. Group 3. Shimasu. Dekiru. Kimasu. Korareru. Dekimasu. Dekiru is group 2 verb. But the potential verb for Shimasu in group 3 is also Dekimasu. Dekiru. Suru Koto ga Dekimasu and Dekiru is same meaning. Shuuri Suru Koto ga Dekiru. Shuuri Dekiru. Shokuji Suru Koto ga Dekiru. Shokuji Dekiru. In casual spoken language, the Ra in Koraremasu is often omitted and spoken as Koremasu. Koreru. Group 2. Masu becomes Raremasu. Tabemasu. Taberaremasu. Nigemasu. Nigeraremasu. Tsutaemasu. Tsutaeraremasu. This is also commonly used with the Ra omitted similar to Kam in group 3. Tabemasu. Taberaremasu. Taberemasu. Group 1. The vowel before Masu becomes I. Ikimasu. Ikemasu. Tobimasu. Tobemasu. Hanashimasu. Hanasemasu. Kaimasu. Kaemasu. Aimasu. Aemasu. Moraimasu. Moraemasu. The potential form of Wakarimasu is not Wakaremasu. Wakaru already implies a possibility. Let's check the tenses for each potential verb. Past. Use ta form. Negative. Nai form. Past. Negative. Nakatta. Past. Use ta form. Dekimasu. Dekita. Koraremasu. Korareta. Taberaremasu. Taberareta. Kakeremasu. Kakereta. Haraemasu. Haraeta. Negative. Use nai form. Dekimasu. Dekinai. Koraremasu. Korarenai. Taberaremasu. Taberarenai. Kakeremasu. Kakerenai. Haraemasu. Haraenai. Past. Negative. Nakatta. Dekimasu. Dekinakatta. Koraremasu. Korarenakatta. Taberaremasu. Taberarenakatta. Kakeremasu. Kakerenakatta. Haraemasu. Haraenakatta. Watashi wa Eigo wo hanasu koto ga dekimasu. Watashi wa Eigo ga hanasemasu. They have the same meaning but let's focus on particles. In noun or transitive verb, the particle wo becomes ga and the other particle remain unchanged. Watashi wa tomodachi ni au koto ga dekimasu. Watashi wa tomodachi ni aemasu. Kitori de kaijou made ikemasu ka? Hai, daijoubu desu. Kitori de densha ni mo noremasu. Ima doko desu ka? Sugu ni jimusho ni modoremasu ka? Sumimasen, mada owaremasen kara mousukoshi kakarimasu. Ima doko desu ka? Sugu ni jimusho ni modoremasu ka? Sumimasen, mada owaremasen kara mousukoshi kakarimasu. Sanji made ni koko ni koraremasu ka? Ikeru kamo shiremasen ga, mada wakarimasen. Imperative form You want expressions for making requests using verb TE kudasai. I explained that if you omit kudasai and simply say verb TE, it becomes a more casual way of speaking. The imperative form carries a stronger tone and is often used by men. Women tend to use verb TE more frequently than the imperative form. However, it can vary depending on the situation and the individual. Group 3 Shimasu Shiro Kimasu Koi Group 2 Masu becomes Ro Oshiemasu Oshiero Matomemasu Matomero Okimasu Okiro Group 1 The vowel before masu changes to ii Kakimasu Kake Hanashimasu Hanase Machimasu Mate Kuruma ga kita Kiyotsukero Hayaku kaese Sore wa watashi no da Suware! Mae ga mienai Heya ga kitanai Souji shiro Sore ga iru Kocchi ni motte koi Another form of imperative expression is samusui nasai. It's a softer expression than imperative verb and it's often used by parents with their children and teachers with their students. Group 3 Shimasu Shinasai Kimasu Kinasai Group 2 and 1 Masu becomes nasai Tabemasu Tabenasai Kakimasu Kakinasai Suwarimasu Suwarinasai Machimasu Machinasai Prohibitive verb This is used when giving advice or prohibiting certain actions. It's an expression more commonly used by men. Many women use verb naide, don't do something. Group 3 Shimasu Suruna Kimasu Kuruna Group 2 Add na to the dictionary form Nigemasu Nigeruna Akiramemasu Akirameruna Shimemasu Shimeruna Group 1 Like group 2, add na to the dictionary form Toorimasu Tooruna Okimasu Okuna Kesimasu Kesuna Abunai kara konohashi wo wataruna Urusai Sawaguna Kattemi sawaruna Sore wa daijina mono da Kore ijou zangyou suruna Karada wo kowasu zo Chikoku suruna Kaigi wa kuji kara da Gakkou ni omocha wo motte kuruna Volitional form We use a volitional form for the casual way of suggesting something mashou. Shall I do something? Group 3 Shimasu Shiyou Kimasu Koyou Group 2 Masu becomes yo Tsuzukemasu Tsuzukeyou Kangaemasu Kangaeyou Oboemasu Oboeyou Group 1 Change the vowel before masu to ou and add u Kakimasu Kakou Aimasu Aou Sagashimasu Sagasou Volitional form The casual way of suggesting verb mashou Formal style Isshoni ohirugohan wo tabemashou Casual style Isshoni ohirugohan wo tabeyou Michi ni mayotta Komatta na Dareka ni kikou Nodo ga kawaita Mizu wo kaini ikou yo Kono ato, eiga minai? Ii ne, miyou Kono kanji no imi ga wakaranai Jyaa, issho ni shirabeyou yo Ame ga agatta ne Tenisu shiyou Kono restoran oishikatta ne Mata koko ni koyou yo Volitional form Question sentences Formal style Atsui desu ne Mado wo akemashou ka? Casual style Atsui ne Mado wo akeyou ka? Ten wasureta no? Watashi ga kasou ka? Daijoubu? Tetsudaou ka? Omosou da ne Motou ka? Isogashii? Watashi ga kopii shiyou ka? Ashita mo hima dakara Koko ni koyou ka? Adding KA at the end of sentence in Japanese turned it into a question. However, when you use it with narrowed rising intonation at the end of sentence, it simply expresses intention or volition. Gohan ga dekita yo Tabeyou Onaka ga suita Sorosoro gohan wo tabeyou Issho ni ongaku wo kikou Aa, hima da na Ongaku demo kikou Grammar using the volitional form Volitional form To omotte imasu I'm thinking of doing something Shigoto no ato Nakama tachi to nomi ni ikou to omotte imasu Ashita koso wa taijuu wo hakarou to omotte imasu Barbeque shiyou to omotte imashita ga Taifuu no tame chuushi ni narimashita Benkyou ni tsuite chuui shiyou to omotte imashita ga Wasuremashita