Learn all the Verb Forms in Japanese

Studying the verb forms in the Japanese language is essential to achieve fluency and understanding. Japanese presents a vast range of verb conjugations that vary according to the level of formality and the context of speech. This article offers a detailed introduction to these forms, including practical examples to aid in comprehension.

We will address both the common and formal forms, the negative conjugations, the -ta form (past), as well as more complex forms such as the passive and causative. If you have encountered a verb and need to know its conjugations, this guide can be of great help. Let’s get started!

Common and Formal

In Japanese, verbs can be expressed in a common (informal) or formal (polite) way. The common form is known as the “Dictionary Form” and ends with the letter “U”. This form is widely used in informal contexts and also serves as a base for other conjugations.

The polite form or “Masu Form” is used in formal and professional situations. For example, when speaking with superiors or in polite contexts, you replace the “U” ending of the dictionary form with “I” and add “-masu”. Thus, “話す” (hanasu) becomes “話します” (hanashimasu).

For example:

私は日本語を話します
Watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasu

Translation: I speak Japanese.

Negative Form

To form the negative in Japanese, we do not use a separate word like “no”, but rather a specific conjugation of the verb. The common negative form uses “-nai”, while the polite form uses “-masen”. This depends on whether the verb is in its dictionary form or in the -masu form.

For example:

私は日本語を話せない
Watashi wa nihongo o hanasenai

Translation: I do not speak Japanese.

In the formal form:

私は日本語を話しません
Watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasen

Translation: I do not speak Japanese (formal).

-ta Form (Past)

The -ta form indicates that the action happened in the past or was completed. To transform a verb from the dictionary form to the -ta form, we replace the ending according to specific rules, which vary by verb group.

For example, in the polite form, “行きます” (ikimasu) becomes “行きました” (ikimashita) to indicate the past. In the negative, “行きません” (ikimasen) becomes “行きませんでした” (ikimasendeshita).

Example of use:

行きませんでした
Ikimasendeshita

Translation: I did not go.

-te Form and Its Functions

Verbs in the -te form are multifunctional. They can connect sentences, indicate sequential actions, or serve as imperatives. They are also used in grammatical constructions with other verbs, such as “いる” (iru) to form the present continuous.

For example:

昨日、私は起きて、食事をして、出かけました。
Kinō, watashi wa okite, shokuji wo shite, dekakemashita

Translation: Yesterday, I woke up, ate, and went out.

This form is very common in conversations and writing to express connected actions naturally.

Potential Form

The potential form expresses the ability or possibility of performing an action. In type I verbs, the ending “U” is replaced by “ERU”. For type II verbs, the ending “RU” is changed to “RARERU”. The negative form adapts to “ENAI” or “RARERENAI”.

Example:

本が読める
Hon wo yomeru

Translation: I can read the book.

In the negative form:

魚は食べられない
Sakana wa taberarenai

Translation: I cannot eat the fish.

Passive and Causative Form

The passive form expresses that the subject suffers the action. The ending “ARERU” is added to type I verbs. For example, “書く” (kaku) becomes “書かれる” (kakareru). The causative form indicates that “someone makes someone perform an action”. For example, “行く” (iku) in the causative form is “行かせる” (ikaseru).

Example of passive form:

その本は来月出版されます
Sono hon wa raigetsu shuppan saremasu

Translation: This book will be published next month.

Example of causative form:

子供を学校へ行かせました
Kodomo wo gakkō e ikasemashita

Translation: I made my child go to school.

Volitional or Presumptive Form

To make invitations or suggest actions, we use the volitional form, which translates as “Let’s do something”. Verbs in -masu are transformed into “ましょう” (mashou). When the basic form is used, the last letter is changed to “よう” (you).

Examples:

皆行きましょう
Mina ikimashou

Translation: Everyone, let’s go!

テレビをみましょう
Terebi wo mimashou

Translation: Let’s watch TV.

Negative Imperative Form

The negative imperative form is used to prohibit or instruct someone not to do something. In Japanese, there are distinct ways to express the negation of commands, depending on the level of formality.

For informal or more direct situations, we use “な” (na) after the verb in the dictionary form. This usage is more common in military orders or strict instructions. For example:

話すな
Hanasu na

Translation: Do not speak.

In more formal or polite contexts, it is common to use “ないでください” (naide kudasai) after the verb in the -te form. For example:

話さないでください
Hanasanai de kudasai

Translation: Please do not speak.

Provisional Conditional -eba

The provisional conditional form “-eba” is used to express a condition that must be satisfied for something to happen. This type of construction is very common in Japanese to indicate consequences or future possibilities.

To form the -eba conditional, the “U” ending of type I verbs is replaced with “EBA”. In type II verbs, the “RU” ending is changed to “REBA”. Here is an example:

話せば
Hanaseba

Translation: If I speak.

The negative of the -eba form is made by adding “なければ” (nakereba) to the verb, as in:

話さなければ
Hanasanakereba

Translation: If I do not speak.

Desiderative Form -tai

The desiderative form “-tai” is used to express the desire to perform an action. In Portuguese, it would be equivalent to saying “I want to do something”. This form is simple to conjugate: just take the root of the verb in the -masu form and replace “masu” with “tai”.

For example, with the verb “行く” (iku – to go), we have:

行きたいです
Ikitaidesu

Translation: I want to go.

For the negative form, we replace “tai” with “taku nai” (informal) or “taku arimasen” (formal). Example:

行きたくないです
Ikitakunai desu

Translation: I do not want to go.

Conditional Form -tara

The -tara form is another way to express conditions in Japanese, but it is used in more specific contexts, where the condition or situation described is more circumstantial. The -tara form can be translated as “if” or “when” in Portuguese.

Example of use with the verb “話す” (hanasu – to speak):

話したら
Hanashitara

Translation: If I speak / When I speak.

The negative form of -tara follows the same logic, as in:

話さなかったら
Hanasanakattara

Translation: If I do not speak / When I do not speak.

With this article, you have had an overview of the main verb conjugations in Japanese. We recommend continuing to practice to internalize these forms! There are other rare verb forms not mentioned in this article.