持つ
もつ
to hold, to carry; to possess
Motsu (持つ) is a godan verb meaning "to hold, to carry". Its polite form is 持ちます (mochimasu), its te form is 持って (motte), its past form is 持った (motta), and its negative form is 持たない (motanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Motsu (持つ) conjugation quick reference
持つ means "to hold, to carry". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Motsu example sentences
かばんを持ちます。
I will carry the bag.
かれはかさを持ちません。
He doesn’t have an umbrella.
わたしはカメラを持ちました。
I had a camera.
How to use Motsu: grammar notes
•Use を after the thing you're holding or carrying—like カバンを持つ (to carry a bag).
•Don’t confuse 持つ with ある; 持つ is for things people can own or carry, while ある is for things that simply exist.
•When talking about who has something, say [person]は[object]を持っている—this means “[person] has [object],” using the ている form to show possession.
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Motsu
かばんを持つ
to carry a bag
お金を持っている
to have money
気を持つ
to be patient / to keep one’s spirits up
Motsu (持つ) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 持つ | motsu |
| Masu Form | 持ちます | mochimasu |
| Te Form | 持って | motte |
| Past Form | 持った | motta |
| Negative Form | 持たない | motanai |
| Past Negative | 持たなかった | motanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 持ちます | mochimasu |
| Polite Past | 持ちました | mochimashita |
| Polite Negative | 持ちません | mochimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 持ちませんでした | mochimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 持てる | moteru |
| Passive Form | 持たれる | motareru |
| Causative Form | 持たせる | motaseru |
| Causative Passive | 持たされる | motasareru |
| Volitional Form | 持とう | motou |
| Imperative Form | 持て | mote |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 持てば | moteba |
| Conditional (たら) | 持ったら | mottara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 持っている | motteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 持ちたい | mochitai |
| Prohibition | 持つな | motsuna |