Godan verbs (1st group) have their last vowel (u) change to conjugate in different forms. This table shows which forms uses which vowel to be conjugated.
| Vowel Column | Form Name | Example (kaku) | Use / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Negative | kaka+nai | I don’t write / won’t write |
| Passive | kaka+reru | Something is written | |
| Causative | kaka+seru | Make/let someone write | |
| I | Masu-form | kaki+masu | I write |
| While | kaki+nagara | While writing | |
| Desire | kaki+tai | I want to write | |
| Te-form | kai+te* | Write (and...) / Please write | |
| Past | kai+ta | I wrote | |
| Provisional | kai+tara | If/when/after write | |
| U | Dictionary | kaku | To write |
| E | Imperative | kake | Write! |
| Potential | kake+ru | I can write | |
| Conditional | kake+ba | If (I) write | |
| O | Volitional | kako+u | Let’s write / I’ll write |
*The -te form construction is specific to the end of each godan verbs. See the flashcard about the -te form for more information. The -te form is also the stem for the past (-ta) form.
Japanese verbs are categorized into three groups, which affect how they're conjugated:
| Group | How to Identify | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Godan) | Verb ends in a u-sound (not る) | のむ, かう, ある |
| Group 2 (Ichidan) | Verb ends in -iru and -eru | たべる, みる |
| Group 3 | Only two: する and くる | する, くる |
- Some verbs ending in る are not Group 2
- Group 3 has only two true irregulars: する (to do) and くる (to come).
Godan verb exceptions:
hairu, hashira, iru, kaeru, kagiru, kiru, shiru, shaberu
-u (casual)
| 1st | root + う | のむ | nom |
| 2nd | root + る | たべる | taber |
| suru | - | する | s |
| kuru | - | くる | k |
-masu (polite)
| 1st | root + います | のみます | nom |
| 2nd | る → ます | たべます | tabe |
| suru | - | します | sh |
| kuru | - | きます | k |
-masu is the polite form. To be used by default.
毎日水をのむ。
Mainichi mizu o nomu.
I drink water every day.
-nai (casual)
| 1st | root + If ends in | nom | nom |
| 2nd | る → ない | tabe | tabe |
| suru | - | - | sh |
| kuru | - | - | k |
-masen (polite)
| 1st | root + いません | のません | nom |
| 2nd | る → ません | たべる | tabe |
| suru | - | します | sh |
| kuru | - | きません | k |
- -masen is the polite form. To be used by default.
- You could use the negative form + ka to extend an invitation.
彼はお酒をのません。
Kare wa osake o nomimasen.
He doesn’t drink alcohol.
いっしょに映画を見ませんか？
Issho ni eiga o mimasen ka?
Would you like to watch a movie together?
The -te form mainly expresses a request or an instruction. It's also a base and a reference in other forms.
Group 1 (-u)
| Final syllabus | Construction | Verb | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| む, ぶ, ぬ (mu, fu, nu) | んで (-nde) | nomu | no |
| く(ku) | いて (-ite) | kaku | ka |
| ぐ(gu) | いで (-ide) | oyogu | oyo |
| す(su) | して (-shite) | hanasu | hanas |
| る, う, つ (ru, u, tsu) | って (-tte) | motsu | mo |
Group 2 (-iru / -eru)
| Te form | Construction | Verb | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| -te | ru → te | tabe | tabe |
Group 3 (suru / kuru)
| Te form | Result |
|---|---|
| -ite | sh |
The -te form is also used to connect multiple verbs in a sentence. (cause and effet, following actions or simultaneous actions)
野菜をたべてください。
Yasai o tabete kudasai.
Please eat vegetables.
The first negative -te form is used to link negative actions or explain reasons/causes for something.
Formed by replacing -nai with -nakute.
- Use this form to explain reasons or connect negative verbs. Not for commands or polite requests.
- Works with both past and present/future contexts.
あさごはんをたべなくて、おなかがすいた。
Asagohan o tabenakute, onaka ga suita.
I got hungry because I didn’t eat breakfast.
がっこうにいかなくて、せんせいにおこられた。
Gakkou ni ikanakute, sensei ni okorareta.
I got scolded for not going to school.
にくをたべなくて、さけものまなかった。
Niku o tabenakute, sake mo nomanakatta.
I didn't eat meat and also didn't drink alcohol.
This form is used to express "without doing" something or "don't do and...".
Formed by adding -de to the -nai form.
- Say “instead of doing...” or “without doing...”
- Link actions where one is not done
- Give negative commands gently
テレビを見ないで、べんきょうしてください。
Terebi o minaide, benkyou shite kudasai.
Please study instead of watching TV.
くすりを飲まないで、ねました。
Kusuri o nomanaide, nemashita.
I went to sleep without taking medicine.
ゲームをしないでください。
Geemu o shinaide kudasai.
Please don’t play games.
-ta (casual)
| 1st | te-form・ | のんだ | nond |
| 2nd | te-form・ | たべた | tabet |
| suru | - | した | sh |
| kuru | - | きた | k |
-mashita (polite)
| 1st | root + | のみます | nom |
| 2nd | ru → | たべました | tabe |
| suru | - | しました | sh |
| kuru | - | きました | k |
-(i)mashita is the polite form. To be used by default.
昨日ラーメンをたべた。
Kinō rāmen o tabemashita.
I ate ramen yesterday.
-nakatta (casual)
| 1st | nai-form・ | のまなんかった | nom |
| 2nd | nai-form・ | たべなかった | tabe |
| suru | - | しなかった | sh |
| kuru | - | こなかった | k |
-masen deshita (polite)
| 1st | masen-form + | のませんでした | nom |
| 2nd | masen-form + | たべませんでした | tabe |
| suru | - | しませんでした | sh |
| kuru | - | きませんでした | k |
-masen deshita is the polite form. To be used by default.
昨日、朝ごはんを食べませんでした。
Kinō, asagohan o tabemasen deshita.
Yesterday, I did not eat breakfast.
Used to express desire for an action (want to). It conjugates like an い adjective. (verb + -tai as if it たい was an adjective)
Present Positive
| 1st | root + | のみたい | nom |
| 2nd | ru → | たべたい | tabe |
| suru | - | したい | sh |
| kuru | - | きたい | k |
Present Negative
| 1st | tai-form ・ | のみたくない | nom |
| 2nd | tai-form ・ | たべたくない | tabe |
| suru | - | したくない | shi |
| kuru | - | きたくない | k |
Past Positive
| 1st | tai-form ・ | のみたかった | nom |
| 2nd | tai-form ・ | たべたかった | tabe |
| suru | - | したかった | shi |
| kuru | - | きたかった | k |
Past Negative
| 1st | tai-form ・ | のみたくなかった | nom |
| 2nd | tai-form ・ | たべたくなかった | tabe |
| suru | - | したくなかった | shi |
| kuru | - | きたくなかった | k |
- -tai is only for first-person (I) or asking about someone’s desire. To talk about someone else’s desires, use -tagaru (e.g., 彼はゲームをしたがる → "He wants to play a game").
- -tai verb form no longer behaves like a verb but like an adjective, so it uses が instead of を. In speech however people may stll say を.
1.ラーメンが食べたい。
Rāmen ga tabetai.
I want to eat ramen.
2.日本に行きたい！
Nihon ni ikitai!
I want to go to Japan!
The Progressive form, also called Continuous form is used to describe an ongoing action (like "I am eating") or a resulting state (like "The door is open" → Has happened and is true now.).
It conjugates using the te-form + -iru which conjugates like an Ichidan verb.
Present Positive
| -te iru | te-form + いる | している | shi |
| -teru | te-form + る | してる | shi |
| -te imasu | te-form + います | しています | shi |
Present Negative
| -te iru | te-form + いない | していない | shi |
| -teru | te-form + ない | してない | shi |
| -te imasu | te-form + いません | していません | shi |
Past Positive
| -te iru | te-form + いた | していた | shi |
| -teru | te-form + た | してた | shi |
| -te imasu | te-form + いました | していました | shi |
Past Negative
| -te iru | te-form + いなかった | していなかった | shi |
| -teru | te-form + なかった | してなかった | shi |
| -te imasu | te-form + いませんでした | していませんでした | shi |
For verbs that describe instantaneous actions (like arriving, entering, buying, etc.), ～ている means that the action has been completed, but its result is still true.
If you want to say "I am going," you'd use むかっている (from むかう which means "to head toward").
本を読んでいる。
hon o yonde iru.
I am reading a book.
日本に行っている。
Nihon ni shitte iru.
I went to Japan and am there now. (I am in Japan)
The potential form expresses ability or possibility ("can do").
| Group | Construction | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | u → | kaku | kak |
| 2nd | ru → | taberu | tabe |
| suru | dekiru | ||
| kuru | korareru |
- For ichidan verbs, potential and passive can look the same (e.g., 食べられる) — you’ll need context to tell whether it means “can eat” or “be eaten”.
- In casual speech, ichidan verbs often drop the ら: e.g., 食べれる instead of 食べられる (though purists may consider it incorrect).
本が読める。
Hon ga yomeru.
I can read a book.
日本語が話せる。
Nihongo ga hanaseru.
I can speak Japanese.
明日銀行に行ける？
Ashita ginkō ni ikeru?
Can you go to the bank tomorrow?
The volitional form expresses an intention or a proposition “let’s ~ / I will ~ / intention to ~”.
| Group | Construction | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | u → | au | a |
| 2nd | ru → | taberu | tabe |
| suru | shiyou | ||
| kuru | koyou |
- There is also a polite volitional form: -mashou
- This form can express “invitation” (let’s do…), “intention” (I will…), or “tentative” thought (I’ll try…).
映画を見よう。
Eiga o miyō.
Let’s watch a movie.
明日は早く起きよう。
Ashita wa hayaku okiyō.
I’ll wake up early tomorrow.
もう帰ろうか？
Mō kaerō ka?
Shall we go home already?
The conditional “if ~, then ~” form (specifically the ～ば form) expresses a hypothetical condition.
| Group | Construction | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | u → | kaku | kak |
| 2nd | ru → | taberu | tabe |
| suru | sureba | ||
| kuru | kureba |
- The ～ば form emphasises that if A happens, then B will happen.
雨が降れば、行かない。
Ame ga fureba, ikanai.
If it rains, I won’t go.
時間があれば、手伝う。
Jikan ga areba, tetsudau.
If I have time, I’ll help.
もっと勉強すれば、合格するだろう。
Motto benkyō sureba, gōkaku suru darō.
If I study more, I’ll probably pass.
The passive form expresses “~ is done by ~ / to be ~ed”.
| Group | Construction | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | u → | kaku | kak |
| 2nd | ru → | taberu | tabe |
| suru | sareru | ||
| kuru | korareru |
- For ichidan verbs, the passive looks exactly like the potential (食べられる) — context is essential.
- In Japanese, the passive can also express adversity (the “suffering passive”) e.g., 私は犬に噛まれた “I got bitten by a dog”.