7.3. Verbs



7.3.1. Group I and Group II


Japanese verbs are divided into two groups, which have different styles of inflection. One group is called the Group I verbs, the -u verbs, the Godan verbs, and the strong verbs. The other is called the Group II verbs, the -ru verbs, the Ichidan verbs, and the weak verbs. I use the terms Group I and Group II here. Other than the two groups, Japanese has two irregular verbs.

All the Japanese verbs end with the vowel /u/ if they are in the present form. Group II verbs always end with either /i ru/ or /e ru/. The two irregular verbs are (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru" and (ku)(ru) /ku' ru/ "kuru", which have different inflection from each other.

A verb consists of a root and a suffix. The root never changes, but suffixes can change. In English, a verb's root is its present form, and you can make the past form with the suffix -ed, such as learn - learned. You can make the gerund with the suffix -ing, such as learn - learning.

The final /u/ in the present form of a Group I verb is the suffix, and the rest is the root. The root of a Group I verb always ends with a consonant. The final /ru/ in the present form of a Group II verb is the suffix, and the rest is the root. The root of a Group II verb always ends with either /i/ or /e/.

The first /s/ is the root of the irregular verb (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru", and the first /k/ is the root of the irregular verb (ku)(ru) /ku' ru/ "kuru".

This is a table of present form examples:

GroupVerbRootSuffixMeaning
Group I
Hiragana:(ha)(na)(su)
Phonemes:hana'su
Romanization:hanasu
/hanas/ /u/ speak
Hiragana:(ki)(ku)
Phonemes:kiku'
Romanization:kiku
/kik/ listen to
Hiragana:(o)(yo)(gu)
Phonemes:oyo'gu
Romanization:oyogu
/oyog/ swim
Hiragana:(ta)(tu)
Phonemes:ta'tu
Romanization:tatsu
/ta t/ stand up
Hiragana:(u)(ru)
Phonemes:uru'
Romanization:uru
/u r/ sell
Hiragana:(a)(ra)(u)
Phonemes:arau'
Romanization:arau
/a ra w/ *1 wash
Hiragana:(si)(nu)
Phonemes:sinu'
Romanization:shinu
/si n/ die
Hiragana:(to)(bu)
Phonemes:tobu'
Romanization:tobu
/to b/ fly
Hiragana:(yo)(mu)
Phonemes:yo'mu
Romanization:yomu
/yo m/ read
Group II
Hiragana:(mi)(ru)
Phonemes:mi'ru
Romanization:miru
/mi/ /ru/ watch
Hiragana:(o)(ti)(ru)
Phonemes:oti'ru
Romanization:ochiru
/o ti/ fall
Hiragana:(ne)(ru)
Phonemes:neru'
Romanization:neru
/ne/ sleep
Hiragana:(ta)(be)(ru)
Phonemes:tabe'ru
Romanization:taberu
/ta be/ eat
suru
Hiragana:(su)(ru)
Phonemes:suru'
Romanization:suru
/s/ /u ru/ do
kuru
Hiragana:(ku)(ru)
Phonemes:ku'ru
Romanization:kuru
/k/ /u ru/ come

*1: The last /w/ guarantees that all Group I verbs have a root that ends with a consonant. Since Japanese doesn't have /wi/, /wu/, /we/, or /wo/, these phonemes become /i/, /u/, /e/, and /o/ respectively. In this case, the root /araw/ and the suffix /u/ makes /a ra u/, not /a ra wu/. Whenever you use a Group I verb which ends with a vowel and /u/, assume the hidden /w/ before the final /u/. For example, the root of the verb (i)(u) /i u/ "iu" (means say) is /i w/, not /i/.


When you Romanize a Japanese verb, do not use a circumflex for the suffix. For example, the Group I verb (ku)(u) /ku u/ (eat) is Romanized as "kuu", not "kû".

All the Group II verbs end with either /i ru/ or /e ru/, but verbs which end with these suffixes are not necessarily Group II verbs. Some are Group I verbs, which end with /u/.

Here are examples of Group I verbs with the ending of /i ru/ or /e ru/:

GroupVerbRootSuffixMeaning
Group I
Hiragana:(si)(ru)
Phonemes:siru'
Romanization:shiru
/si r/ /u/ know
Hiragana:(ha)(si)(ru)
Phonemes:hasi'ru
Romanization:hashiru
/ha si r/ run
Hiragana:(ha)(i)(ru)
Phonemes:ha'iru
Romanization:hairu
/ha i r/ enter
Hiragana:(ka)(e)(ru)
Phonemes:ka'eru
Romanization:kaeru
/ka e r/ go back, return
Hiragana:(su)(be)(ru)
Phonemes:sube'ru
Romanization:suberu
/su be r/ slide, skate, ski
Hiragana:(si)(small ya)(be)(ru)
Phonemes:syabe'ru
Romanization:shaberu
/sya be r/ chat


The verb (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru" can combine with a noun to make a verb which is related to the noun.
Here is an example:

Hiragana:(be)(n)(ki)(small yo)(u)
Phonemes:beNkyou
Romanization:benkyô
Meaning:study (noun)


Hiragana:(be)(n)(ki)(small yo)(u)(su)(ru)
Phonemes:beNkyousuru'
Romanization:benkyôsuru
Meaning:study (verb)


7.3.2. Polite forms


Japanese has a plain mode and a polite mode. To make a sentence polite, add the suffix (ma)(su) /ma' su/ "masu" to the verb at the end of the sentence. The phoneme /(i) ma' su/ is a good way to represent how it connects to verbs. If the root of a verb ends with a vowel, add /ma' su/. If the root ends with a consonant, add /i ma' su/ because Japanese doesn't allow a consonant that is not followed by a vowel. In other words, add /ma' su/ to Group II verbs, and add /i ma' su/ to Group I verbs, (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru", and (ku)(ru) /ku' ru/ "kuru".

The suffix (ma)(su) /ma' su/ "masu" also works like a verb. For example, it has a past form. Its root is /ma s/, and /u/ is the suffix for the present form. It has irregular inflection. It cannot be an independent verb, and it must be added to a verb. So it looks like an auxiliary verb in English, which cannot appear without an accompanying verb.

Here are examples of polite forms:

GroupPlain present formPolite present form
Group I
Hiragana:(ha)(na)(su)
Phonemes:hana'su
Romanization:hanasu
(ha)(na)(si)(ma)(su)
hanasima'su
hanashimasu
Hiragana:(ki)(ku)
Phonemes:kiku'
Romanization:kiku
(ki)(ki)(ma)(su)
kikima'su
kikimasu
Hiragana:(o)(yo)(gu)
Phonemes:oyo'gu
Romanization:oyogu
(o)(yo)(gi)(ma)(su)
oyogima'su
oyogimasu
Hiragana:(ta)(tu)
Phonemes:ta'tu
Romanization:tatsu
(ta)(ti)(ma)(su)
tatima'su
tachimasu
Hiragana:(u)(ru)
Phonemes:uru'
Romanization:uru
(u)(ri)(ma)(su)
urima'su
urimasu
Hiragana:(a)(ra)(u)
Phonemes:arau'
Romanization:arau
(a)(ra)(i)(ma)(su)
araima'su
araimasu
Hiragana:(si)(nu)
Phonemes:sinu'
Romanization:shinu
(si)(ni)(ma)(su)
sinima'su
shinimasu
Hiragana:(to)(bu)
Phonemes:tobu'
Romanization:tobu
(to)(bi)(ma)(su)
tobima'su
tobimasu
Hiragana:(yo)(mu)
Phonemes:yo'mu
Romanization:yomu
(yo)(mi)(ma)(su)
yomima'su
yomimasu
Group II
Hiragana:(mi)(ru)
Phonemes:mi'ru
Romanization:miru
(mi)(ma)(su)
mima'su
mimasu
Hiragana:(o)(ti)(ru)
Phonemes:oti'ru
Romanization:ochiru
(o)(ti)(ma)(su)
otima'su
ochimasu
Hiragana:(ne)(ru)
Phonemes:neru'
Romanization:neru
(ne)(ma)(su)
nema'su
nemasu
Hiragana:(ta)(be)(ru)
Phonemes:tabe'ru
Romanization:taberu
(ta)(be)(ma)(su)
tabema'su
tabemasu
suru
Hiragana:(su)(ru)
Phonemes:suru'
Romanization:suru
(si)(ma)(su)
sima'su
shimasu
kuru
Hiragana:(ku)(ru)
Phonemes:ku'ru
Romanization:kuru
(ki)(ma)(su)
kima'su
kimasu

Please remember phonemes sometimes have different pronunciations from what you might expect from the spellings. The verb (ta)(tu) /ta' tu/ has a pronunciation of "tatsu", and its polite form (ta)(ti)(ma)(su) /ta ti ma' su/ has a pronunciation of "tachimasu". You can easily derive /ta ti ma' su/ from /ta' tu/ and /(i) ma' su/, but it would be difficult to derive "tachimasu" from "tatsu" and "masu". This is one of the reasons why I use phonemes in my site.

Polite mode is recommended when you talk or write to a person who is not so close or who has a higher position than you. Plain mode is better when you talk to people such as your family and close friends, and it is also better when you write text written for a general readership such as novels, articles, theses, etc. You cannot use both of the modes at the same time in a document. Once you begin writing, go on with the mode you use for the first sentence. Native Japanese speakers think in plain mode.

Please note that the polite form of a verb doesn't mean doing politely what the verb means. The polite form stands for the addresser's politeness to the addressee. (The addresser and the addressee are grammatical terms. The addresser is a person who sends a sentence, i.e. a speaker or a writer. The addressee is a person who receives the sentence, such as a person the speaker is talking to. I will often use the terms in later chapters.)

You will learn relative clauses, but it is not allowed to use (ma)(su) /ma' su/ for verbs in relative clauses. It is only used for the last verb of sentences. I will explain it again later.

If at first you find polite mode too difficult, use only plain mode until you are more advanced. But keep in mind using plain mode for people who are not so close is rude. To avoid this problem, form a sentence in plain form, then add the magic word (de)(su) /de' su/ "desu" at the end of the sentence. It often produces grammatically incorrect sentences, but they will be understandable and still polite. I will explain how to use the word (de)(su) /de' su/ "desu" properly in a later chapter.


7.3.3. Past forms


Adding the suffix (ta) /ta/ "ta" to a verb makes the past form. The phoneme /(i) ta/ is a good way to represent how it connects to verbs. The meaning of the /(i)/ is the same as that in /(i) ma' su/. So use /ta/ for Group II verbs, and use /i ta/ for Group I verbs, (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru", (ku)(ru) /ku' ru/ "kuru", and the suffix (ma)(su) /ma' su/ "masu".

For ease of pronunciation, Group I verbs change the phonemes when they are combined with (ta) /ta/ "ta". The last phoneme of the root determines how it changes the phonemes.

The last hiragana
of the present form
The last two hiragana
of the past form
Description
(su)
/su/
"su"
(si)(ta)
/si ta/
"shita"
/s/ + /i ta/ = /si ta/
(no change)
(ku)
/ku/
"ku"
(i)(ta)
/i ta/
"ita"
/k/ + /i ta/ = /ki ta/,
then it is changed to /i ta/
(gu)
/gu/
"gu"
(i)(da)
/i da/
"ida"
/g/ + /i ta/ = /gi ta/,
then it is changed to /i da/
(tu)
/tu/
"tsu"
(small tu)(ta)
/Q ta/
"tta"
/t/ + /i ta/ = /ti ta/,
then it is changed to /Q ta/
(ru)
/ru/
"ru"
/r/ + /ita/ = /ri ta/,
then it is changed to /Q ta/
(u)
/u/
"u"
/w/*1 + /i ta/ = /wi ta/,
then it is changed to /Q ta/
(nu)
/nu/
"nu"
(n)(da)
/Nda/
"n da"
/n/ + /i ta/ = /ni ta/,
then it is changed to /N da/
(bu)
/bu/
"bu"
/b/ + /i ta/ = /bi ta/,
then it is changed to /N da/
(mu)
/mu/
"mu"
/m/ + /i ta/ = /mi ta/,
then it is changed to /N da/

*1: Remember the hidden /w/.

There is no other hiragana that can be the last one of Group I verbs. Note that only Group I verbs change the phonemes.

There is an exception to this table. The verb (i)(ku) /i ku'/ "iku" (means go) has a root which ends with /k/, so you may expect it to have (i)(i)(ta) /i i ta/ "iita" as the past form, but actually its past form is (i)(small tu)(ta) /i Q ta/ "itta".

Here are examples of past forms:

GroupPresent formPast form
VerbMeaningVerbMeaning
Group I
Hiragana:(ha)(na)(su)
Phonemes:hana'su
Romanization:hanasu
speak
(ha)(na)(si)(ta)
hana'sita
hanashita
spoke
Hiragana:(ki)(ku)
Phonemes:kiku'
Romanization:kiku
listen to
(ki)(i)(ta)
kiita'
kiita
listened to
Hiragana:(o)(yo)(gu)
Phonemes:oyo'gu
Romanization:oyogu
swim
(o)(yo)(i)(da)
oyo'ida
oyoida
swam
Hiragana:(ta)(tu)
Phonemes:ta'tu
Romanization:tatsu
stand up
(ta)(small tu)(ta)
ta'Qta
tatta
stood up
Hiragana:(u)(ru)
Phonemes:uru'
Romanization:uru
sell
(u)(small tu)(ta)
uQta'
utta
sold
Hiragana:(a)(ra)(u)
Phonemes:arau'
Romanization:arau
wash
(a)(ra)(small tu)(ta)
araQta'
aratta
washed
Hiragana:(si)(nu)
Phonemes:sinu'
Romanization:shinu
die
(si)(n)(da)
siNda'
shinda
died
Hiragana:(to)(bu)
Phonemes:tobu'
Romanization:tobu
fly
(to)(n)(da)
toNda'
tonda
flew
Hiragana:(yo)(mu)
Phonemes:yo'mu
Romanization:yomu
read
(yo)(n)(da)
yo'Nda
yonda
read
Group II
Hiragana:(mi)(ru)
Phonemes:mi'ru
Romanization:miru
watch
(mi)(ta)
mi'ta
mita
watched
Hiragana:(o)(ti)(ru)
Phonemes:oti'ru
Romanization:ochiru
fall
(o)(ti)(ta)
o'tita
ochita
fell
Hiragana:(ne)(ru)
Phonemes:neru'
Romanization:neru
sleep
(ne)(ta)
neta'
neta
slept
Hiragana:(ta)(be)(ru)
Phonemes:tabe'ru
Romanization:taberu
eat
(ta)(be)(ta)
ta'beta
tabeta
ate
suru
Hiragana:(su)(ru)
Phonemes:suru'
Romanization:suru
do
(si)(ta)
sita'
shita
did
kuru
Hiragana:(ku)(ru)
Phonemes:ku'ru
Romanization:kuru
come
(ki)(ta)
ki'ta
kita
came
masu
Hiragana:(ma)(su)
Phonemes:ma'su
Romanization:masu
*1
(ma)(si)(ta)
ma'sita
mashita
*1

*1: This is not a verb but a verbal suffix for polite mode.

When you want to make a polite past form, make a verb polite first, then change it to the past form. For instance, if you want the polite past form of the verb (to)(bu) /to bu/ "tobu", change it to the polite form (to)(bi)(ma)(su) /to bi ma' su/ "tobimasu", then change it to the past form (to)(bi)(ma)(si)(ta) /to bi ma' si ta/ "tobimashita". This is because the politeness suffix (ma)(su) /ma' su/ "masu" has a past form but the past suffix (ta) /ta/ "ta" doesn't have a polite form.


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