答える
こたえる
to answer, to reply
Kotaeru (答える) is an ichidan verb meaning "to answer, to reply". Its polite form is 答えます (kotaemasu), its te form is 答えて (kotaete), its past form is 答えた (kotaeta), and its negative form is 答えない (kotaenai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N5
Kotaeru (答える) conjugation quick reference
答える means "to answer, to reply". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Kotaeru example sentences
先生のしつもんに答えます。
I will answer the teacher’s question.
きのう、テストに答えました。
I answered the test yesterday.
まだ答えません。
I haven’t answered yet.
How to use Kotaeru: grammar notes
•Use 答える with the particle に to show who or what you're answering — for example, 先生の質問に答えます (I answer the teacher's question).
•Don’t use を with 答える — even though you're "answering something," Japanese uses に instead.
•You can also use と to show what you said in your answer, like 「はい」と答えました ("Yes," I answered).
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Kotaeru
質問に答える
to answer a question
正直に答える
to answer honestly
呼びかけに答える
to respond to a call (or someone calling out)
Kotaeru (答える) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 答える | kotaeru |
| Masu Form | 答えます | kotaemasu |
| Te Form | 答えて | kotaete |
| Past Form | 答えた | kotaeta |
| Negative Form | 答えない | kotaenai |
| Past Negative | 答えなかった | kotaenakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 答えます | kotaemasu |
| Polite Past | 答えました | kotaemashita |
| Polite Negative | 答えません | kotaemasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 答えませんでした | kotaemasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 答えられる | kotaerareru |
| Passive Form | 答えられる | kotaerareru |
| Causative Form | 答えさせる | kotaesaseru |
| Causative Passive | 答えさせられる | kotaesaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 答えよう | kotaeyou |
| Imperative Form | 答えろ | kotaero |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 答えれば | kotaereba |
| Conditional (たら) | 答えたら | kotaetara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 答えている | kotaeteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 答えたい | kotaetai |
| Prohibition | 答えるな | kotaeruna |