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Conjugation of Goodan and Ichidan Verbs

This document discusses the conjugation of Japanese verbs. It explains that Japanese verbs have two parts: a stem and a suffix. It divides verbs into three main groups based on their endings: Group 1 are Godan or "u-ending" verbs; Group 2 are Ichidan or "ru-ending" verbs; Group 3 are irregular verbs which only include kuru and suru. The document provides examples of conjugating regular verbs like oyogu (to swim) and nomu (to drink) based on changes to the verb stem and suffix depending on aspects like tense, politeness levels, and affirmative/negative forms. Key rules explained are determining the verb ending, speech context, and how to change the verb form

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Kaneki Ken
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327 views14 pages

Conjugation of Goodan and Ichidan Verbs

This document discusses the conjugation of Japanese verbs. It explains that Japanese verbs have two parts: a stem and a suffix. It divides verbs into three main groups based on their endings: Group 1 are Godan or "u-ending" verbs; Group 2 are Ichidan or "ru-ending" verbs; Group 3 are irregular verbs which only include kuru and suru. The document provides examples of conjugating regular verbs like oyogu (to swim) and nomu (to drink) based on changes to the verb stem and suffix depending on aspects like tense, politeness levels, and affirmative/negative forms. Key rules explained are determining the verb ending, speech context, and how to change the verb form

Uploaded by

Kaneki Ken
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 PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conjugation of Japanese

Verbs
Dr. Lety Chawag
Introduction
 Japanese verbs consists of two parts:
1. The Stem or the beginning part of the verb
2. The suffix (syllable added to the stem)

Example: Dictionary Form/ Verb Stem Verb Suffix


(Plain Form)
iku ( to go ) I ku
taberu (to eat) tabe ru
Group 1. U ending Verbs
[ Godan-doushi or Godan verbs]
This group is also called Consonant-stem verbs . When written in Romaji symbols, they end in sound /u/.

Example: Dictionary /Plain form Stem suffix Polite Forming suffix


hanasu （話す） - to speak han asu hanashimasu
• kaku （書く） - to write kak u kakimasu
• kiku （聞く） - to listen kik u kikimasu
• matsu （待つ） - to wait mats u matshimasu
• nomu （飲む） - to drink nom u nomimasu
Group 2. Ru Verbs
[Ichidan-doushi]
• Group 2 verbs end with either "~iru" or "~ eru". This group is also called Vowel-stem-
verbs or Ichidan-doushi (Ichidan verbs).
Examples of verbs ending in iru :
• kiru （着る） - to wear
• miru （見る） - to see
• okiru （起きる） - to get up
• oriru （降りる） - to get off
• shinjiru （信じる） - to believe
Eru- ending verbs
• akeru （開ける） - to open
• ageru （あげる） - to give
• deru （出る） - to go out
• neru （寝る） - to sleep
• taberu （食べる） - to eat
Exemptions :The following verbs belong to Group 1, though they end
with "~ iru" or "~ eru".

• hairu （入る） - to enter


• hashiru （走る） - to run
• iru （いる） - to need
• kaeru （帰る） - to return
• kagiru （限る） - to limit
• kiru （切る） - to cut
• shaberu （しゃべる） - to chatter
• shiru （知る） - to know
Group 3. Fokisoku Doushi
[Irregular verbs]
• There are only two irregular verbs, kuru (to come) and suru (to do).
• The verb "suru" is used as "to do," "to make," It is also combined with many nouns
(of Chinese or Western origin) to make them into verbs. Here are some examples.
Examples:
• benkyousuru （勉強する） - to study
• ryokousuru （旅行する） - to travel
• yushutsusuru （輸出する） - to export
• dansusuru （ダンスする） - to dance
Rules in the Use of Japanese Verbs
1. Determine the speech context or level of formality of the conversation.
a. Formal conversation requires the Polite Form , not the plain or dictionary
form. This is used when talking to a teacher, employer, older people in
business or academic setting.
b. Informal or casual conversation may use the Plain or Dictionary form.
This is used when talking to friends at home, park , etc.
2. Determine the sense of sentence, whether it
is positive (affirmative) or negative
If the sentence is negative, add the suffix “masen” or imasen”
Example: I will not eat sushi.
Watashi wa sushi o tabemasen . ( Formal /polite present negative)

Do not use “nai” in formal occasion ( Informal/ Plain Negative Form)


Example: Watashi wa sushi o tabenai.
Oyogu (to swim)

You swim. Anata wa oyogu (drop u) Present Positive)


Anata wa oyog + imasu ( use the Masu form for polite conversation)
You do not swim. Anata wa oyog +imasen . ( present negative)
Anata wa oyogimasen.
You swam. Anata wa oyog+ imashita. ( Past positive)

You did not swim. Anata wa oyog + imasen + deshita. ( Past negative )
Anata wa oyogimasen deshita.
Nomu ( drink)
I drink. Watashi wa nomu ( dictionary form)
Watashi wa nom (stem) drop u and retain the stem
Watashi wa nom + imasu ( add “imasu)
Watashi wa nomimasu. ( I drink)
I did not drink. Watashi wa nomimasen.
I drank. Watashi wa nom + imasu ( change su to shita to form the past form)
watashi wa nomimashita.
I drank tea. Watashi wa ocha o nomimashita.
Watashi wa nomimasen deshita. ( I did not drink tea.)
Conjugation Rules for Verbs
Rule #1.

Know the Verb ending. This will


help classify the verb.
e. For verbs ending in eru and iru, change ru tote

Examples:
kaeru (change) kaete
kiru (wear) kite

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