Japanese Verb Conjugation
Every Japanese verb changes shape depending on tense, politeness, and whether it's positive or negative. Start with the verb groups and the dictionary, ます, and plain forms, then build up the full present/past, positive/negative grid.
14 grammar points
Japanese Verb Groups | U-verbs, Ru-verbs and Irregulars
Understanding the three verb groups and how Japanese verbs work
Verb Stems (i-form) | Japanese Conjugation Base
The base stem used to build polite forms and compound verbs
Dictionary Form | Japanese Plain Present Tense
Plain/casual present-future affirmative form of verbs
Plain Form Overview | Japanese Casual Speech
The casual/informal verb system used among friends and in subordinate clauses
How to Convert Dictionary Form to Masu Form
Converting plain verbs to polite form
ます Form | Japanese Polite Verb Conjugation
Polite present/future tense of verbs
ません Form | Japanese Polite Negative
Polite present/future negative — 'do not ~'
ました Form | Japanese Polite Past Tense
Polite past affirmative — 'did ~'
ませんでした Form | Japanese Polite Past Negative
Polite past negative — 'did not ~'
ましょう Form | Let's Do ~ in Japanese (Polite)
Polite suggestion — 'let's do ~', 'shall we ~?'
ない Form | Japanese Negative Verb Conjugation
Plain negative form — 'do not do' / 'will not do'
なかった Form | Japanese Past Negative (Plain)
Plain past negative — 'did not do ~'
た Form | Japanese Past Tense (Plain)
Plain past affirmative — 'did ~'
できます | Polite Way to Say 'Can' in Japanese
Can do ~, able to ~ (polite potential)
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