JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Verbs:
All verbs have dictionary forms ending in one of the syllables from the line of the kana chart. The possible endings are , , , , , , , , . Japanese verbs can be divided into two main groups according to how they conjugate. These groups are known as Ichidan verbs (Weak verbs) and Godan verbs (Strong verbs). Weak verbs in the dictionary form end in either eru or iru. The possible endings for weak verbs are . Verbs of this group are often called ru verbs, as the final ru of the Romanized dictionary form is dropped before other endings are added. Verbs with other endings in the dictionary form (, , , , , , , , ) are classified as strong verbs, except for two irregular verbs . There are some strong verbs ending in iru, eru. The strong verbs are also called U ending verbs, as the final U of the Romanized dictionary form is dropped before other endings are added. All strong verbs with the same ending conjugate in the same way. Strong verbs which look like Weak verbs: The following common verbs end in iru or eru but are strong verbs, and conjugate regularly according to their group.
) To be necessary To go home, to return To be limited To cut To know To enter To run To speak, to chatter To kick To slip, to ski

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To come, to go, to visit

JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Irregular Verbs: and Irregular verbs are and .

Verb

(Volitional form)

form of verbs:
form of strong verbs: The method of making the form depends on the final kana of the dictionary form. There are four groups: verbs ending in , , ; verbs ending in , , ; verbs ending in ; verbs ending in , . Verbs ending in The final kana of the dictionary form is dropped, and is added: Dictionary form
, To meet To think To wait To hold, to have To take To ride, to travel(on/by) To ask, to enquire To entreat, to beg

Meaning

form

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Verbs ending in , , The final kana of the dictionary form is dropped, and is added: Dictionary form To read Meaning form

To smile To fly To rejoice, to be delighted To die

Verbs ending in The final of the dictionary form is dropped, and is added: Dictionary form Meaning To lend To speak form

Verbs ending in , The final of the dictionary form is dropped, and is added. The final is replaced by . Dictionary form Meaning To write To work To hurry To smell, to sniff form

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

An important exception is the verb to go, which has the irregular form . form of Weak verbs: The final of the dictionary form is replaced with : Dictionary form Meaning To see, to watch To get up To eat To turn on, to light form

form of and : The form of is . The form of is . form of Adjectives & Nouns : ending Adjective

Change Stem

form

Meaning s.t. is expensive and.

ending Adjective

Change Stem

form

Meaning s.t. is quiet and.

Noun

Change (Noun Copula) Noun

form

Meaning s.o. is a teacher and.

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

The uses of the form: The form functions, in part, to link sentences. Ive drunk too much wine and have a headache. The meaning of the form varies according to context but generally, it corresponds to and or ing in participial constructions. When the form links two predicates, the relationship between the two is often one of the following:
(NoteA1: the action or state expressed by the first predicate; A2: the action or state expressed by the second predicate)

a) To show the sequence of actions (A1 and A2 occur sequentially), as:

Taking off my coat, I hung it on a hanger. b) To show two states of the same thing (A1 and A2 are two states of someone or something), as: My father is a teacher and teaches English at a senior high school.

Yumiko is a junior at college now and her major is Japanese Literature. c) To show a reason or cause (A1 is the reason for or the cause of A2), as:

Ms Morioka had a traffic accident and injured her leg. (This usage of the form is very common) d) To show manner of an action (A1 is the means by which someone does A2 or the manner in which someone does A2): I went home on foot.

Kenji ate his meal in a hurry. e) To mark contrast (A1 is contrasted with A2): Men work outside and women work inside. http://www.translation-anindya.blogspot.com 5

JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

f) A2 is unexpected in terms of A1 Tom plays around, yet he always does well on tests. The form can be repeated more than once in a clause. Just like the particle to makes an exhaustive listing of nouns, the form can list verbs and adjectives exhaustively. Amy is pretty, cheerful and kind to people. form verbs are also used with such expressions a be doing, after and must not do .

Volitional form:
The volitional form is primarily used to propose an action, or to suggest doing something with one or more others, and in this sense it is often translated as Lets It is also in situations relating to decisions. Volitional form of Strong verbs: Dictionary form Meaning To say To go To speak To wait To read To take Change in final kana Volitional form

Volitional form of Weak verbs: The volitional form of weak verbs is made by removing the last kana of the dictionary form and adding http://www.translation-anindya.blogspot.com 6

JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Final kana dropped Volitional form

Dictionary form

Meaning To eat To go to bed, to sleep To get up To see, to watch

Volitional form of and verbs: The volitional of is . The volitional of is . The uses of the volitional form: a) The volitional form shows the speakers proposed intention:

Theres a coffee shop in front of the station. Lets meet there. Shall we go? b) The polite-style equivalent of the volitional is , and this is very common, especially for offers: Well, what shall we talk about? Right, shall we (start to) eat? c) The volitional is often used with , literally I think Ill. It can sometimes be translated into English as have decided:

Ive decided to study hard this year. d) When the intention of the speaker is less fixed, the particle can be used before : http://www.translation-anindya.blogspot.com 7

JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

I am wondering to go to Japan next summer.

form:
This is the negative form, and is made by adding the auxiliary to a verb stem. Making the form of Strong verbs: The final kana of the dictionary form of strong verbs changes form the line to the line before adding . Verbs ending in in their dictionary form change this to (rather than ). There is one very important irregularity: the verb has the form of (rather than ). Dictionary form Meaning To meet To receive To write To hurry To lend To speak To wait To die To fly To read To take To do ones best To exist, to be, to have Change in final kana (irregular) form

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Making the form of Weak verbs: The final of the dictionary form of weak verbs is replaced with Dictionary form Meaning To see, to watch To get up To eat To attach, to turn on, to light form

The form of Irregular verbs: The form of is . The form of is . Conjugation of conjugates by dropping the final before adding endings to mark the past tense and other forms, such as and . I didnt say anything. If the letter doesnt come tomorrow, I will telephone. Use of the form: This form is used for negative sentences in the plain style. The trousers and jacket dont match. Like the dictionary form, the form can also be used in a modifying clause in complex sentences: Please ask me when you dont understand (something).

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

Transitive and intransitive verbs:

The direct object of the transitive verb is marked with the particle , while the intransitive verb has a subject marked with the particle . A transitive verb usually follows which indicates a direct object and sometimes follows which indicates an indirect object. I opened the window. The door opened slowly. Lets begin the meal. The film begins at 8 oclock.

Both transitive and intransitive verbs can sometimes appear without the particles or where context makes the meaning clear. They may also have the particles or which suppress or . I collect foreign stamps as well. Its before the sales, so the prices wont drop yet.

There are three types of transitive / intransitive verbs: 1. Absolute intransitive verbs: (used solely as intransitive verbs): etc.

2. Absolute transitive verbs: (used solely as transitive verbs): etc.

3. Intransitive verb / Transitive verb pairs: Transitive English equivalent To open Intransitive English equivalent To open

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

To rise To collect, to gather To enter, to come in To be sold To wake up To drop, to fall

To raise To collect To put in To sell To wake (someone) up To drop

Whoever finds this kitten should telephone us straight away. I will continue tennis lessons this year.

The gerund:
/
Transitive verbs followed by indicate action in progress and are always translated as the gerund. Im writing a letter. He is putting in water. He is opening the window. Mr. Tanaka is in Tokyo (after having gone there). He is going to Japan (underway). [Compare: Hes going to Japan (in the future)] Hes coming over (underway). [ Compare: Hes coming over(in the future)] I always drink tea in the morning (Its a habit I have). [Compare: I always drink tea in the morning (Its something I do)].

Transitive verbs followed by indicate state of being , and can be translated with the perfect.

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JLPT GRAMMAR GUIDE: Level - IV

SAKURA ACADEMY, Kolkata

The characters have been written with a brush. A letter has been written. The water is put in. The window is open.

Intransitive verbs are always followed by (never by ) and indicate action in progress(which is translated as the ing form or gerund) or state of being(which is translated as the grammatical perfect) depending upon the meaning of the verb. Action in progress: (It) is walking. (It) is flying. State of being: (It) is in.. (It) is understood. (I understand it) (It) is late. (It) is sleeping. Asleep. (It) is open. (It) is dead. (It) is standing. Stands (It) is alive. (It) is running.

An intransitive verb plus and its equivalent transitive verb plus carry the same meaning. Though the latter form is more commonly used.
The window is open There is water in (it) The cake is made The house is built. The house stands. The books are in a row.

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