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Formal Verbs Present/Future Tense Past Tense Progressive Tense Negative Present/Future Negative Past Tense Command Form Negative Command Potential Form
= can/ able to
(U-Verbs) (RU-Verbs)
Informal Verbs Present/Future Tense Past Tense Progressive Tense Negative Present/Future Negative Past Tense Command Form
(U-Verbs) Usually considered rude! (RU-Verbs)
Verb Usages
+ + + + + + + + + +
If...
+ + +
+ + +
DOUBLE MEANING
If not... + +
+ + +
WA - Topic Marker
Marks the topic of a sentence. (non-grammatical relationship) Contrasts one option or thing against others. (A vs. B, C, D) Used when elaborating on things already known to the listener.
DAKE
Marks a limited amount or extent of something. (not more than) Used with (and other potential-form verbs) to mean as ~ as possible
Please write it as quickly as you can. Please write as much as you can.
Must/have to...
After...
Negative Command Potential Form Want to... Dont want to... Lets...
Shall we.../Shall I ~ for you?
(U-Verbs) (RU-Verbs)
+ + + + +
DOUBLE MEANING
Passive Form
= to be ~ed
+ + + + + +
+ + + + +
Before... Because... In order to... While... (at the same time) Even if/when... (permissible) May... to attempt & check the result Try to...
to make an effort
(U-Verbs) (RU-Verbs)
(U-Verbs) (RU-Verbs)
Causative Form
= to allow/force someone to ~
+ +
+ +
Must not... To do in advance... To do too much... To do... and so on. To (irreversibly) do...
Combination Verb Chaining Phrases
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + VERB 2 + PHRASE 2
GA - Subject Marker
Marks the subject of a verb. (grammatical relationship) Distinguishes one option or thing from others. (A vs. ???) Used when adding new things/information to a conversation. Used when describing specific things with adjectives. Marks objects of potential-form verbs. (can/able to) (Used as an conjunction [between phrases]) : ..., but... or even though ..., ...
SHIKA
Marks a firm extent/limit (usually one which presents a problem for the speaker). Emphasizes the negation of anything beyond the extent/limit. Therefore, is always is used with a negative verb form.
HODO
Marks a degree or extent of something. (not small) Marks an approximate number or length of time. Marks the greater element in a negative comparison. (not as ~ as)
YORI
Marks the lesser element in a positive comparison. (more than) From ~ (when closing a private letter)
O - Object Marker
Marks the object of a verb. With verbs of motion, shows where the motion occurs.
DEMO
Marks a possibility or suggestion. Turns interrogative words into any~ words. (Used as an conjunction [before a phrase]) : even so/but/however, ...
Conjugating Verbs
Hiragana
RU-VERB U-VERB TE/TA ENDINGS . Final Kana of Verb . , , . , , . . Shift final sound . according to Hiragana chart. . (to go) in TE/TA-form becomes / EXCEPTIONS ending for verbs ending in is: The (to need), (to enter), (to know), (to cut) U-VERBS (THAT LOOK LIKE RU-VERBS) (to go home), (to slide), (to kick)
Forms of (to be)
Always use these endings.
U-VERB . . . . .
A I U E O KA GA SA KI GI SHI ZA TA DA NA HA BA JI CHI JI NI HI BI PA MA YA RA WA
PI MI
RI N
KU GU SU ZU TSU ZU NU FU BU PU MU YU RU
NI - The Aiming Particle Marks an indirect object (the person/thing an action is done for/directed toward) Marks a destination, direction or specific place for an action. (to/at) Marks a specific point in time (ie. Monday / 3pm / 1972 / July) Marks a period of time that something repeats in. (ie. twice a week) Marks direct objects for: (to become), (to meet), (to ride)
Lets go to the park on Saturday. (I) drink 2 cups of coffee a day.
KURAI
(speaker feels that the stated number/extent is a fair and/or reasonable estimate)
KE GE SE ZE TE DE NE HE BE PE ME
RE
Means only, or to the exclusion of other things Informally, can be pronounced / / for emphasis.
KO GO SO ZO TO DO NO HO BO PO MO YO RO WO
Katakana
Caution!
A I U E O KA GA SA KI GI SHI ZA TA DA NA HA BA JI CHI JI NI HI BI PA MA YA RA WA
When quoting, can become (informal) TO - The Glue Particle Marks a person that an action is done with. Links nouns to create a complete and group. Marks quoted speech or phrasal objects: (to think), (to write) Shows a natural/predictable if-then relationship between clauses. Marks onomatopoeic words. (words that mimic sounds)
Phrasal object
BAKARI
KARA
Marks a starting place or time. Marks a source of information. Marks a reason when used after Marks an ending place or time. When followed by , means by/before
And group
FORMAL
Present Tense Past Tense Probable Negative Present Tense Negative Past Tense Negative Probable
INFORMAL
SO
PI MI
RI N
to speak in whispers
MADE
TSU SHI
KU GU SU ZU TSU ZU NU FU BU PU MU YU RU
KE GE SE ZE TE DE NE HE BE PE ME
RE
KA
DE - The Enabling Particle Marks a place, area, or length of time inside which something occurs. Marks a method, tool or circumstance under which something happens. Marks a material or substance; composition.
Comparison
Give/Receive
Superior/Outsider
KO GO SO ZO TO DO NO HO BO PO MO YO RO WO
Marks the greater element in a positive comparison ( marks the lesser element). Can take past tense verbs even for non-past sentences.
Give
Subject
Receive
is very direct. If youre unsure, it is safer to use When nominalized (converted to a noun) changes to before , and before
(103 in all)
MO - Even/Also Marker
Used with other particles to add a meaning of also/too or even.
( replaces , , and completely, but follows all other particles)
Adjective Conjugation
i-ADJECTIVES
. . . . . . . . . .
NOUN FORM ADVERB FORM
NA-ADJECTIVES
NOUN FORM ADVERB FORM
tree
back river
learn
Whether or not
Informal Humble
Insider/Familiar
fast speed quickly fast and... was fast not fast wasnt fast if fast if not fast too fast
person
up
child down
man left
woman
right foot
sun in
moon
out
fire inside
year
money
big
small half
eye
hand friend
ear
Yen
book
front
few car
street
About/Regarding
Adjectives that end in are i-Adjectives, except where the final is part of a kanji.
mouth father
go
now
store
north
east
understand
west rest
mother
come drink
see
noon say
week language
what
buy
Marks a sentence as a question. Links nouns to create an or group. Turns interrogative words into some~ words. (who) + = (someone) Shows possession. ( = my/mine) Combines two nouns.
Note: the final noun becomes the primary meaning. = the company car = a car company
Conjunctions
(between phrases)
In order to
Conjunctive Adverbs
(start a sentence)
hear
meet name
new
read
write safety
each
eat station
school
live
stand
high
sky
long fish
Drop from NA-Adjectives if followed by a form of (good) always conjugates as It is possible (but uncommon) to add to a NA-Adj. when useing it as a noun (ie. )
: Noun-able form (a form that can be nominalized with or )
interval
rain
previous white
NO
YA
company country
electricity heaven
spirit
Also, ... Therefore (so), ... However (but), ... However (but), ... However (but), ... However (but), ...
: also marks objects of (understand), (want), and (like). : (and ) groups list all their members, only lists some.
: Relative time words, like (today), (tomorrow), (yesterday), (next month) etc. do not take . : marks the grammatical subjects of potential-form verbs.