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GP02Sample-Grammar

This document explains verb conjugations in Japanese, focusing on the differences between short and long forms to control politeness and formality. It outlines how to identify verb groups (ru-verbs, u-verbs, and irregular verbs) and provides rules for converting verbs to their long forms. Understanding these conjugations is essential for constructing appropriate speech in various social contexts.

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3 views

GP02Sample-Grammar

This document explains verb conjugations in Japanese, focusing on the differences between short and long forms to control politeness and formality. It outlines how to identify verb groups (ru-verbs, u-verbs, and irregular verbs) and provides rules for converting verbs to their long forms. Understanding these conjugations is essential for constructing appropriate speech in various social contexts.

Uploaded by

ericfritzc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grammar Point 2 - Verb Conjugations

I. Short Forms vs. Long Forms


In the previous chapter, we learned how to use a
variety of particles to form grammatically correct
sentences. In this chapter, we will learn how to
control politeness and formality levels, tense, and
polarity (whether a sentence is affirmative or
negative). With this knowledge, we will be able to
turn the sentences we have already learned to
construct into speech appropriate to formal
situations.

I-1. Controlling Levels of Politeness and Formality


In Japanese, levels of politeness and formality are primarily controlled by changing the verb form at the end of
sentence. Pay attention to the endings of the sentences below.

1. わたしは としょかんに いく*。


[watashi-wa toshokan-ni iku.] *The verb いく “to go” is in its short form.
2. わたしは としょかんに いきます*。
[watashi-wa toshokan-ni ikimasu.] *The verb いく “to go” is in its long form.

Both sentences mean “I go to the library,” but the second sentence is a more polite way of speaking than the
first. Put practically, the first might be used when speaking to a friend, while the second one would be more
appropriate when talking to a teacher.
Verbs are usually listed by their non-past affirmative short forms in Japanese dictionaries. (This form is, in fact,
commonly referred to as the “dictionary form.”) So, if you want to speak in a casual manner—if you are, for
instance, speaking with a friend in an informal situation—you can use the verbs as they are, like in example 1
above. Ending a sentence in dictionary form would be too casual, however, for more formal situations—for
example, when talking with a stranger, someone you don’t know very well, your teacher, your boss, etc. In
these situations, it is important that you increase the level of politeness by changing the verbs at the end of your
sentences into their long forms, as in example 2 above. 1

I-2. Changing verbs into their long forms


To change a verb into its long form, follow the two steps below.
1. Check the group of the verb.
2. Follow the formation rule for the appropriate group.

1
Formality in writing works somewhat differently from politeness in speech. In addition to casual writings (emails, texts,
and other messages to friends and family members, etc.), some formal works such as newspaper articles and research
papers are also usually written using short forms. In other cases, either short or long forms may be used.
1. Check the verb group.
Japanese verbs are separated into three groups: “ru-
verbs”, “u-verbs”, and “irregular verbs.” In order to
determine which group a verb belongs to, we check
the ending of the verb in its dictionary form; in the
end, the most important distinction is whether or
not the verb ends in the sounds /-iru/ or /-eru/.

● There are two and only two “irregular


verbs:” する [suru] “to do” and くる
[kuru] “to come.”
● All verbs not ending in る [ru] are “u-verbs.” (e.g., うたう [utau] “to sing,” よむ [yomu] “to read”)
● Regular verbs ending in る can be either “u-verbs” or “ru-verbs.” For the most part, their group can be
determined by checking whether or not they end in the sounds /-iru/ or /-eru/.
○ Those not ending in the sounds /-iru/ or /-eru/ are all “u-verbs.” (e.g., ある [aru] (to exist), す
わる [suwaru] (to sit down), うる [uru] (to sell), のる [noru] (to ride))
○ Those ending in the sounds /-iru/ or /-eru/ are almost all “ru-verbs.” (e.g., いる [iru] “to exist;
be,” ねる [neru] “to (go to) sleep”)
○ Note, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule: a few verbs that end in the sounds /-
iru/ or /-eru/ still belong to the “u-verb” group. For example, despite ending in the sound /-eru/,
かえる [kaeru] “to go back; return” is an “u-verb”. Make sure to take special note when you
come across an “u-verb” that ends in /-iru/ or /-eru/.

Ending in /-iru/ or /-eru/ Ending in anything other than /-iru/ or /-eru/

Ru-verbs U-verb Irregular-verbs

e.g., e. g., e.g., e.g.,


いる [iru] to exist; be はいる うたう [utau] to sing する [suru] to do
おきる [okiru] to wake up [hairu] to のむ [nomu] to drink べんきょうする
みる [miru] to see; watch enter いく [iku] to go [benkyou suru] to study
かえる くる [kuru] to come
おしえる [oshieru] to teach よむ [yomu] to read
[kaeru] to go
たべる [taberu] to eat back; return
かう [kau] to buy
ねる [neru] to (go to) sleep ある [aru] to exist; be
おりる [oriru] to get off/out of すわる [suwaru] to sit down
[a vehicle] うる [uru] to sell
のる [noru] to ride
2. Follow the long form formation rules for the appropriate group.
In order to conjugate the verbs from each group, follow the rules below. As you can see, long form verbs end in
/-masu/, so this form is also called masu-form.

Rules to Change Verbs from the Dictionary Form to the Long Form
Group Rule Example

いる [iru] (to exist; be) → います [imasu]


Ru-verb Change the final /-ru/ to /-masu/.
おしえる [oshieru] (to teach) → おしえます [oshiemasu]

うたう [utau] (to sing) → うたいます [utaimasu]


かく [kaku] (to write) → かきます [kakimasu]
つくる [tsukuru] (to make) → つくります [tsukurimasu]
U-verb Change the final /-u/ to /-imasu/. おどる [odoru] (to dance) → おどります [odorimasu]
はなす [hanasu] (to speak) → はなします [hanash*imasu]
まつ [matsu] (to wait) → まちます [mach*imasu]
*For information on consonant changes, see p.5.

These verbs have irregular する [suru] (to do) → します [shimasu]


Irregular-
conjugations. Memorize them
verb くる [kuru] (to come) → きます [kimasu]
individually.

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