The verbs in the Japanese language are much simpler than in Portuguese. Unfortunately, not all verbs in the Japanese language are willing to follow rules, becoming exceptions of a group or irregular verbs.
Japanese verbs are divided into 3 classes called godan, ichidan, and irregular verbs. The verbs from group 1 called godan [五段] end in [う], while the verbs from group 2 called ichidan [一段] end in [る] in their dictionary form.
The first group was named godan because there are five different ways to conjugate according to their ending. On the other hand, ichidan verbs only have one form of conjugation. Below we will give an example of these rules using the past conjugation:
- Godan verbs ending in [~う|~つ|~る] become [~った];
- Godan verbs ending in [~ぬ|~む|~ぶ] become [~んだ];
- Godan verbs ending in [~す] become [~した].
- Godan verbs ending in [~く] become [~いた];
- Godan verbs ending in [~ぐ] become [~いだ];
- Ichidan verbs ending in [~る] become [~た];
The third group is the irregular verbs. These verbs do not follow the rules presented above, remembering that there are also some godan and ichidan verbs that do not follow the rules from the list above, these verbs are called exceptions or uncommon.
Table of Content
Irregular Verbs in the Japanese Language
A maioria das pessoas says that the Japanese language has only 2 irregular verbs which are suru [する] and kiru [来る]. Is that really true? Are there other irregular verbs in the Japanese language? In fact, what is an irregular verb?
Irregular verbs are very flexible verbs with respect to the traditional rules of verbs in the Japanese language. Irregular verbs follow their own rules. We mentioned that there are regular verbs with exceptions, but irregular verbs are on a different level.
In the case of suru [する], its conjugation is totally irregular with any verb of godan or ichidan. See below:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Dictionary | する | suru |
| Formal | します | shimasu |
| Informal Past | した | shita |
| Formal Past | しました | shishite |
| Negative Informal | しない | shinai |
| Negative Formal | しません | shimasen |
| Informal Negative Past | しなかった | shinakatta |
| Formal Past Negative | しませんでした | shimasendeshita |
| Form – TE – て | して | shite |
| Conditional | すれば | sureba |
| Volitional | しよう | shiyou |
| Passive | される | sareru |
| Causative | させる | saseru |
| Potential | できる | dekiru |
| Imperative | しろ | shiro |
The same thing happens with verb kuru [来る]:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Dictionary | 来る | kuru |
| Formal | 来ます | kimasu |
| Informal Past | 来た | kita |
| Formal Past | 来ました | kimashita |
| Negative Informal | 来ない | konai |
| Negative Formal | 来ません | kimasen |
| Informal Negative Past | 来なかった | konakatta |
| Formal Past Negative | 来ませんでした | kimasen deshita |
| Form – TE – て | 来て | kite |
| Conditional | 来れば | kureba |
| Volitional | 来よう | koyou |
| Passive | 来られる | korareru |
| Causative | 来させる | kosaseru |
| Potential | 来られる | korareru |
| Imperative | 来い | Koi |
To see other irregularities and information about suru verbs just read the articles listed below:
unusual verbs and exceptions in the Japanese language
One of the first exceptions that a Japanese student notices is in the verb ir which is pronounced iku [行く]. Being a godan verb ending in [く], according to the rules it should be conjugated as iita [行た], but since it doesn't make much sense to have two identical vowels in a row, the correct conjugation is itta [行った], which is practically the same sound as two vowels followed by each other.
The verb aru [ある] has the negative form as nai [ない] which is very irregular.
Imperative verbs often appear to have unusual and irregular forms, such as the verb kureru [暮れる] which in the imperative form simply becomes kure [暮れ].
Honorific verbs can be considered as having their own pattern, or breaking the rules like in the case of kudasaru [下さる] which becomes kudasai [下さい]. Other unusual honorific verbs with various exceptions are: [仰る], [御座る] and [いらっしゃる].
In this article we saw some information about irregular verbs and also uncommon godan and ichidan verbs with exceptions. We did not talk in detail about each verb or its meaning, but we recommend researching each one individually using a tool like jisho.
Do you know other verbs that don't follow the rules in the Japanese language? Hope you enjoyed the article! If you liked it share and leave your comments.