Compound Verbs for Stages of an Action
Attach these to a ます stem and you mark where in an action you are:
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 始める | start doing | 読み始める |
| 終わる | finish doing | 読み終わる |
| 続ける | keep doing | 読み続ける |
| 出す | suddenly start | 泣き出す |
They Conjugate Normally
The compound is just another verb:
- 読み始めました (started reading)
- 食べ終わったら (once I finish eating)
- 働き続けています (keeping on working)
始める and 続ける are る-verbs; 終わる is a う-verb.
始める vs 出す
Both mean "start," and the difference is control:
| Pattern | Sense |
|---|---|
| 降り**始める** | began to rain — neutral |
| 降り**出す** | suddenly started raining — abrupt, unexpected |
出す implies you did not see it coming, so it does not suit deliberate actions: ×勉強し出す is odd.
終わる vs やめる
- 読み**終わる** — finished reading (got to the end)
- 読むのをやめる — stopped reading (gave up partway)
終わる means completion; やめる means abandonment.