Verbs: Forms (introduction)

In this lesson we will look at recognizing verb groups. All verbs fall into one of three groups. The verbs in
each group (except the irregular group) are conjugated in the same way. Before you are able to
conjugate, however, you must recognize which verbs are related to which group.

*If you know the dictionary form, you can make other usages:

There are only 3 basic verb groups.

1) The ~u Group (group 1 verbs): -u: ends in -u, -ru, -tsu, -bu, -su, -mu, -nu, -ku, but not -eru or -iru (with few exceptions)
Also called godan doushi or strong verbs (not important, but it may be helpful when reading grammar books)

kaku (to write) ENDS IN k U

hanasu (to speak) ENDS IN s U
oyogu (to swim) ENDS IN g U
kau (to buy) ENDS IN U

2) The ~ru Group (group 2 verbs): -ru: ends in -eru or -iru

Also called ichidan doushi or weak verbs

miru (to see) ENDS IN IRU

taberu (to eat) ENDS IN ERU
oshieru (to teach) ENDS IN ERU

3) The irregular Group (group 3 verbs): There are ONLY 2 verbs to worry about.

suru (to do) This is the most important verb! But, alas, another day.
kuru (to come) Another very useful verb
 Verbs: Forms (Dictionary-form to Nai-form Negative form)

Rules for Changing dictionary-form to nai-form

For this section you will learn how to change dictionary-form (Plain Present Affirmation) to nai-form (Plain Present Negative). The following
are the rules for the 3 groups of Japanese verbs.

Group 1 Verbs

To change group 1 verbs from dictionary-form to nai-form, change the u-sound to a-sound in the last word. After that append (nai)
to the changed words and you will get the nai-form of the verb.
For example, this group 1 Japanese verb (kaku) ends up with (ku). If you change the u-sound to a-sound, (ku) becomes
(ka). Adding (nai) at the end, you will get (kakanai).
However there is one exception. For group 1 verbs end up with the word (u), instead of changing it to (a), you need to change it to
(wa). For example, this group 1 verb (kau) ends up with (u). Therefore you need to change (u) to (wa). Adding
(nai) at the end, you will get (kawanai).

Group 2 Verbs

Group 2 verbs are much simpler. You just need to change (ru) to (nai) and you will get the nai-form Japanese verbs.

Group 3 Verbs

Group 3 verbs are irregular verbs. You just need to memorize them. The nai-form of (kuru) is (konai) and the nai-form of
(suru) is (shinai).
In summary, the following diagram shows the rules when changing dictionary-form to nai-form for Japanese verbs.
 Verbs: Forms (Dictionary-form to Ta-form Past tense form)

How to Make Japanese Verbs -form (ta-form)?

Group 1 Verbs

For Group 1 verbs which end up with the words (u), (tsu) or (ru), replace these words with (tta).
For those verbs which end up with the words (mu), (nu) or (bu), replace the words with (nda).
For group 1 verbs which end up with the word (ku), change the word to (ita). For those which end up with
the word (gu), change it to (ida). And for those which end up with the word (su), change it to
(shita).
However, there is one exception. For the Japanese verb (iku) which means "to go", the ta-form is (itta).

Group 2 Verbs

Group 2 verbs always end with the word (ru), you just need to replace (ru) with (ta).

Group 3 Verbs

For group 3 verbs, the ta-form of (suru) is (shita) and the ta-form of (kuru) is (kita).
Continue.

The following diagram shows the summary of how to change from dictionary-form to ta-form for Japanese verbs.
 Verbs: Forms (nakatta-form)
How to Make Japanese Verbs -form (nakatta-form)?

Let's see some examples of changing Japanese verbs from dictionary-form to ta-form, nai-form and nakatta-form .

Group 1 Verbs

dict-form Meaning ta-form nai-form nakatta-form

(aaru) Exist (Thing) (aatta) (nai) (na katta)
(kakaru) Hang/Take (kakatta) (kakaranai) (kakarana katta)
(yomu) Read (yonda) (yomanai) (yomana katta)
(kiku) Listen/Ask (kiita) (kikanai) (kikana katta)
(aasobu) Play (aasonda) (aasobanai) (aasobana katta)
Group 2 Verbs
(iru) Exist (Human
(ita) (inai) (ina katta)
/Animal)
(taberu) Eat (tabeta) (tabenai) (tabena katta)
(miru) See (mita) (minai) (mina katta)
(deru) Appear/Leave (deta) (denai) (dena katta)
(aageru) Give/Offer/
(aageta) (aagenai) (aagena katta)
Raise

Group 3 Verbs

(kuru) Come/Arrive (kita) (konai) (kona katta)
(suru) Do/Execute/
(shita) (shinai) (shina katta)
Play
(benkyou (benkyou (benkyou shinai) (benkyou shina katta)
Study
suru) shita)
 How to make potential verb (

Convert last word into e to eru

to meet
to go
1st group to drink

Remove last word add

to eat
to see
2nd group to go out

Learn as it is mentioned

to come
3rd group to do