勤める
つとめる
to work (for)
Tsutomeru (勤める) is an ichidan verb meaning "to work (for)". Its polite form is 勤めます (tsutomemasu), its te form is 勤めて (tsutomete), its past form is 勤めた (tsutometa), and its negative form is 勤めない (tsutomenai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N5
Tsutomeru (勤める) conjugation quick reference
勤める means "to work (for)". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Tsutomeru example sentences
父は会社につとめます。
My father works at a company.
私は去年、銀行につとめました。
I worked at a bank last year.
彼は学校につとめていません。
He does not work at a school.
How to use Tsutomeru: grammar notes
•Use the particle に after the company or place to show where someone works, like 会社に勤めています (I work at a company).
•Don't confuse 勤める (to work for a company) with 働く, which means "to work" in a more general sense like doing tasks or labor.
•勤める is usually used in the polite form (勤めています) when talking about jobs, especially in formal or professional situations.
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Tsutomeru
会社に勤める
to work at a company
公務員として勤める
to work as a public servant
銀行に勤めています
(I) work at a bank
Tsutomeru (勤める) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 勤める | tsutomeru |
| Masu Form | 勤めます | tsutomemasu |
| Te Form | 勤めて | tsutomete |
| Past Form | 勤めた | tsutometa |
| Negative Form | 勤めない | tsutomenai |
| Past Negative | 勤めなかった | tsutomenakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 勤めます | tsutomemasu |
| Polite Past | 勤めました | tsutomemashita |
| Polite Negative | 勤めません | tsutomemasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 勤めませんでした | tsutomemasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 勤められる | tsutomerareru |
| Passive Form | 勤められる | tsutomerareru |
| Causative Form | 勤めさせる | tsutomesaseru |
| Causative Passive | 勤めさせられる | tsutomesaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 勤めよう | tsutomeyou |
| Imperative Form | 勤めろ | tsutomero |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 勤めれば | tsutomereba |
| Conditional (たら) | 勤めたら | tsutometara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 勤めている | tsutometeiru |
| Desire (たい) | 勤めたい | tsutometai |
| Prohibition | 勤めるな | tsutomeruna |