褒める
ほめる
to praise; to say nice things
Homeru (褒める) is an ichidan verb meaning "to praise". Its polite form is 褒めます (homemasu), its te form is 褒めて (homete), its past form is 褒めた (hometa), and its negative form is 褒めない (homenai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N4
Homeru (褒める) conjugation quick reference
褒める means "to praise". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Homeru example sentences
彼の料理を褒めてあげてください。
Please praise his cooking.
先生が私の作文を褒めました。
The teacher praised my essay.
母は私の歌を褒めなかった。
My mother didn't praise my singing.
How to use Homeru: grammar notes
•Use を to mark the person or thing you're praising—like 先生を褒めました (I praised the teacher).
•Don’t mix up who is praising and who is being praised—if you say 子どもが褒めました, it means "the child praised (someone)," not "the child was praised."
•You can use に to show who you're praising someone to—like 先生に友だちを褒められました (I was praised by the teacher for my friend), but be careful: に often marks the person doing the praising in passive sentences.
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Homeru
You did well, I’ll praise you.
When praising children, it’s good to be specific.
I feel happy when I’m praised.
Homeru (褒める) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 褒める | homeru |
| Masu Form | 褒めます | homemasu |
| Te Form | 褒めて | homete |
| Past Form | 褒めた | hometa |
| Negative Form | 褒めない | homenai |
| Past Negative | 褒めなかった | homenakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 褒めます | homemasu |
| Polite Past | 褒めました | homemashita |
| Polite Negative | 褒めません | homemasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 褒めませんでした | homemasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 褒められる | homerareru |
| Passive Form | 褒められる | homerareru |
| Causative Form | 褒めさせる | homesaseru |
| Causative Passive | 褒めさせられる | homesaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 褒めよう | homeyou |
| Imperative Form | 褒めろ | homero |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 褒めれば | homereba |
| Conditional (たら) | 褒めたら | hometara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 褒めている | hometeiru |
| Desire (たい) | 褒めたい | hometai |
| Prohibition | 褒めるな | homeruna |