To Be Verbs Chart

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The following chart has the conjugation of the five simple tenses of three common regular verbs: parler (to speak), finir (to finish), and vendre (to sell). Just take the appropriate stem for each tense and add the required ending. Grammar rules for the present simple tense with the verb 'to be': The verb 'to be' is the main verb used in the sentence. When the verb 'to be' is used as the main verb, no auxiliary verb is used. The main verb 'to be' changes forms according to the subject. In order to form negative statements 'not' is added between the the verb 'to be' and the main verb. Bloom’s Taxonomy Verb Chart. The following is a list of measurable action verbs that can be used when you are creating your learning objectives. Keep in mind.

This is a list of Japaneseverbconjugations. Almost all of these are regular, but there are a few Japanese irregular verbs, and the conjugations of the few irregular verbs are also listed. Japanese verb conjugation is the same for all subjects, first person ('I', 'we'), second person ('you') and third person ('he/she/it' and 'they'), singular and plural. The present plain form (the dictionary form) of all verbs ends in u. In modern Japanese, there are no verbs that end in fu, pu, or yu, no verbs ending in zu other than certain する forms (such as 禁ず kin-zu), and 死ぬ (しぬ, shinu; to die) is the only one ending in nu in the dictionary form.

This article describes a set of conjugation rules widely used in order to teach Japanese as a foreign language. However, Japanese linguists have been proposing various grammatical theories for over a hundred years and there is still no consensus about the conjugations. Japanese people learn the more traditional 'school grammar' in their schools, which explains the same grammatical phenomena in a different way with different terminology (see the corresponding Japanese article).

A revision sheet visually summarizing the conjugations and uses described below
  • 4Perfective
  • 6i form
  • 7te form
  • 8Potential
  • 9Passive
  • 10Causative
  • 11Causative passive
  • 12Provisional conditional eba form
  • 13Conditional ra form
  • 14Imperative
  • 15Volitional, presumptive, or hortative

Summary of verb conjugations[edit]

Verb conjugates are often grouped into consonant-stems (五段動詞godandōshi) (type I) and vowel-stems (一段動詞ichidandōshi, いる, iru and えるeru forms) (type II). The plain form of a type I verb has an u sound (u, tsu, ru, ku, gu, nu, bu, mu, su), the ~ます-masu form has an i sound (i, chi, ri, ki, gi, ni, bi, mi, shi), and the negative form has an a sound (wa, ta, ra, ka, ga, na, ba, ma, sa). The potential form has an e sound (e, te, re, ke, ge, ne, be, me, se) and the volitional form has an おうō sound (ō, tō, rō, kō, gō, nō, bō, mō, sō).

辞書形
dictionary form
ます形
polite form[i]
否定形
negative form[ii]
て形
'te' form
た形
'ta' form
~う -u[iii]~います -imasu~わない -wanai~って -tte~った -tta
~つ -tsu~ちます -chimasu~たない -tanai
~る -ru~ります -rimasu~らない -ranai
~く -ku[iv]~きます -kimasu~かない -kanai~いて -ite~いた -ita
~ぐ -gu~ぎます -gimasu~がない -ganai~いで -ide~いだ -ida
~ぬ -nu~にます -nimasu~なない -nanai~んで -nde~んだ -nda
~ぶ -bu~びます -bimasu~ばない -banai
~む -mu~みます -mimasu~まない -manai
~す -su~します -shimasu~さない -sanai~して -shite~した -shita
(~い)る -iru[v]~ます -masu~ない -nai~て -te~た -ta
(~え)る -eru[v]
~する -suru~します -shimasu~しない -shinai~して -shite~した -shita
~くる -kuru~きます -kimasu~こない -konai~きて -kite~きた -kita
  1. ^Since the polite ~ます -masu form ends with ~す -su, the polite past form mostly follows the ~す -su rules. So for example the polite form of 話す hanasu is 話します hanashimasu, and the polite past form is 話しました hanashimashita, but the polite negative form is 話しません hanashimasen. See other examples of the polite form here.
  2. ^Since the negative ~ない -nai form ends with ~い -i, any further inflection of the negative form will behave as an i-adjective. For example, 話さない hanasanai 'not talking' becomes 話さなかった(です) hanasanakatta(desu) 'didn't talk'.
  3. ^Two exceptions are 問うtou 'to question' which conjugates to 問うてtoute and the even less common 請うkou 'to request' which conjugates to 請うてkoute.
  4. ^The only exception is 行くiku which conjugates to いってitte.
  5. ^ abNot all verbs ending with いるiru or えるeru are vowel stems, some are consonant stems instead like 走る hashiru 'run' and 帰る kaeru 'return'. A full list of the exceptions can be found here.
辞書形
dictionary form
可能形[i]
potential form
条件形[ii]
conditional form
意向形[iii]
volitional form
~う -u~える -eru~えば -eba~おう
~つ -tsu~てる -teru~てば -teba~とう -tō
~る -ru~れる -reru[iv]~れば -reba~ろう -rō
~く -ku~ける -keru~けば -keba~こう -kō
~ぐ -gu~げる -geru~げば -geba~ごう -gō
~ぬ -nu~ねる -neru~ねば -neba~のう -nō
~ぶ -bu~べる -beru~べば -beba~ぼう -bō
~む -mu~める -meru~めば -meba~もう -mō
~す -su~せる -seru~せば -seba~そう -sō
(~い)る -iru~られる -rareru[v]~れば -reba~よう -yō
(~え)る -eru
する suruできる dekiruすれば surebaしよう shiyō
くる kuruこられる korareru[v]くれば kurebaこよう koyō
  1. ^All of the potential forms end in える eru or いる iru so they follow the vowel-stem (一段動詞ichidandōshi) rules. 話せる hanaseru becomes 話せます hanasemasu.
  2. ^Conditional form is like saying 'if ..' or 'when ..'.
  3. ^Also called the conjectural/tentative/presumptive form, it is the plain form of ~ましょう -mashō. ~ましょう -mashō is used as an inclusive command ('let's ..'), but becomes an inclusive query ('shall we ..?') when ka is added (食べましょうか tabe mashō ka 'Shall we eat?'). -ō to omoimasu indicates the speaker's conjecture ('I think (I will)') and -ō to omotte imasu indicates the speaker's current intentions ('I'm thinking (I will)'). -ō to suru/-ō to shite iru/-ō to shite imasu indicates intention ('(be) about to').[1]
  4. ^The exception is 分かる wakaru 'to understand' which already expresses ability innately without a conjugation.
  5. ^ abNote that colloquially the ら ra is dropped meaning these two become ~れる -reru and これる koreru.
Example
dictionary word
Example
polite form
Example
negative form
Example
participle form
Example
perfective form
あらarau'wash'あらいますaraimasuあらわないarawanaiあらってaratteあらったaratta
matsu'wait'ちますmachimasuたないmatanaiってmatteったmatta
toru'take'りますtorimasuらないtoranaiってtotteったtotta
kaku'write'きますkakimasuかないkakanaiいてkaiteいたkaita
いそisogu'hurry'いそぎますisogimasuいそがないisoganaiいそいでisoideいそいだisoida
shinu[i]'die'にますshinimasuなないshinanaiんでshindeんだshinda
yobu'call out'びますyobimasuばないyobanaiんでyondeんだyonda
nomu'drink'みますnomimasuまないnomanaiんでnondeんだnonda
はなhanasu'speak'はなしますhanashimasuはなさないhanasanaiはなしてhanashiteはなしたhanashita
miru'see'ますmimasuないminaimitemita
たべtaberu'eat'たべますtabemasuたべないtabenaiたべtabeteたべtabeta
する suru[i]'do'します shimasuしない shinaiして shiteした shita
勉強 benkyou'study'勉強しますbenkyoushimasu勉強しないbenkyoushinai勉強してbenkyoushite勉強したbenkyoushita
くる kuru[i]'come'きます kimasuこない konaiきて kiteきた kita
  1. ^ abcThe only example of this form. See Japanese irregular verbs for more.
辞書形
dictionary form
受身・尊敬[i]
passive verb
使役[i]
causative verb
禁止形[ii]
prohibitive form
命令形[iii]
imperative form
~う -u~われる -wareru~わせる -waseru~うな -u na~え -e
~つ -tsu~たれる -tareru~たせる -taseru~つな -tsu na~て -te
~る -ru~られる -rareru~らせる -raseru~るな -ru na~れ -re
~く -ku~かれる -kareru~かせる -kaseru~くな -ku na~け -ke
~ぐ -gu~がれる -gareru~がせる -gaseru~ぐな -gu na~げ -ge
~ぬ -nu~なれる -nareru~なせる -naseru~ぬな -nu na~ね -ne
~ぶ -bu~ばれる -bareru~ばせる -baseru~ぶな -bu na~べ -be
~む -mu~まれる -mareru~ませる -maseru~むな -mu na~め -me
~す -su~される -sareru~させる -saseru~すな -su na~せ -se
(~い)る -iru~られる -rareru(~い)るな -iru na~ろ -ro
(~え)る -eru(~え)るな -eru na
する suruされる sareruさせる saseruするな suru naしろ shiro
くる kuruこられる korareruこさせる kosaseruくるな kuru naこい koi
  1. ^ abAll of these verbs end in える eru so conjugation from here follows the vowel-stem (一段動詞ichidandōshi) rules. る ru can simply be replaced with ます masu to make it polite.
  2. ^With all verbs, the prohibitive form is simply obtained by adding -な to the dictionary form. It is used to command someone not to do something. An example is 入るな hairu na 'Do not enter.'
  3. ^The imperative form can be used as a command, e.g. 黙れ damare 'shut up!', やめ yame 'stop!' or 止まれ tomare 'Stop (sign)'. Non-volitional verbs (e.g. ある aru, わかる wakaru, できる dekiru) have no imperative form and くれる kureru 'to give' is an exception that conjugates to くれ kure (the plain form of ~てください -te kudasai 'Please (do)..').
    A politer way of telling someone to do something is to use (masu stem)~なさい -nasai instead (e.g. 飲みなさい nominasai 'Drink up.', しなさい shinasai 'Do (what was said).'), or more informally, (masu stem)~な -na. Imperative form: たくさん食べな takusan tabena 'Eat a lot.' Prohibitive form: たくさん食べるな takusan taberu na 'Don't pig out!'

Table key[edit]

The conjugation tables below will include the EDICT word class abbreviations[2] to disambiguate classes with similar word endings. See Japanese consonant and vowel verbs for more information about verb groups and their conjugations.

Chart
AbbreviationExplanation
adj-iadjective (keiyoushi)
adj-naadjectival nouns or quasi-adjectives (keiyou-doushi)
adj-t'taru' adjective
adv-toadverb taking the 'to' particle
auxauxiliary
aux-vauxiliary verb
aux-adjauxiliary adjective
v1Ichidan verb
v5Godan verb (not completely classified)
v5aruGodan verb - -aru special class
v5bGodan verb with 'bu' ending
v5gGodan verb with 'gu' ending
v5kGodan verb with 'ku' ending
v5k-sGodan verb - Iku/Yuku special class
v5mGodan verb with 'mu' ending
v5nGodan verb with 'nu' ending
v5rGodan verb with 'ru' ending
v5r-iGodan verb with 'ru' ending (irregular verb)
v5sGodan verb with 'su' ending
v5tGodan verb with 'tsu' ending
v5uGodan verb with 'u' ending
v5u-sGodan verb with 'u' ending (special class)
vkKuru verb - special class
vsnoun or participle which takes the aux. verb suru

Imperfective[edit]

In Japanese, the basic verb form is an imperfective aspect. It is broadly equivalent to the present and future tenses of English, and is sometimes called the 'non-past tense'. The imperfective form of a verb is the same as its dictionary form—it is used as the headword, or lemma—and no conjugation needs to be done. For example, using the verb する ('do'):

  • (私は)買い物する (watashi wa) kaimono suru: '(I) shop', or '(I) will shop'. (Japanese pronouns are usually omitted when it is clear about whom the speaker is talking.)
  • (私は)明日勉強する (watashi wa) ashita benkyō suru: 'Tomorrow, (I) will study'.

In most cases, the base form of the imperfective aspect cannot be used to make a progressive statement, such as in the English sentence 'I am shopping'. Rather, it can only be used to express habit or other actions that are expected to continue into the future, such as in 'I shop'. To convey the former, the te form with iru must be used.

Patterns for adjectives in an imperfective setting are:

Type of wordPatternExampleas a sentencewith noun
adj-i-い -i-い -i/-いです -i (desu), -い -i安い yasui (cheap)安い/安いです yasui (desu) (it is cheap)安い品物 yasui shinamono (cheap goods)
adj-na--だ -da/-です -desu, -な -na簡単 kantan (simple)簡単だ/です kantan da/desu (it is simple)簡単な事 kantan na koto (simple thing)
adj-t--たる -taru暗澹 antan (dark)暗澹たる時期 antan-taru jiki (dark period)
adv-to--と -to陶然 tōzen (entranced)陶然としている人 tōzen to shite iru hito (entranced person)

Perfective[edit]

The perfective aspect, on the other hand, has a specific suffix. The basic pattern is the -ta (or -da) ending, but various phonetic changes are made, depending on the verb's last syllable. These phonetic changes are known as 音便 onbin 'euphony', and the resulting form as 音便形 onbinkei 'euphonic form' – see Euphonic changes (音便 onbin). The perfective is broadly equivalent to the English past tense, and is often called the past tense in treatments of Japanese grammar, but it is not restricted to any single tense.

Type of wordPerfectiveExamplesPerfective
auxda (copula)だった datta(Deviates in conjunction with adj-i, see below)
auxです desu (copula, polite)でした deshita
-ます -masu (polite suffix)-ました -mashita行きます ikimasu (go [polite])行きました ikimashita
vsする suru (do)した shita運転する unten suru (drive)運転した unten shita
vk来る kuru (come)来た kita持って来る motte kuru (bring)持って来た motte kita
v5u-う -u-った -tta使う tsukau (use)使った tsukatta
v5u-s-う -u(See Usage)-うた -uta, -ota問う tou (ask)問うた tōta
v5k-く -ku-いた -ita焼く yaku (grill)焼いた yaita
v5k-s-く -ku-った -tta行く iku, yuku (go)行った itta
v5g-ぐ -gu-いだ -ida泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳いだ oyoida
v5s-す -su-した -shita示す shimesu (show)示した shimeshita
v5t-つ -tsu-った -tta待つ matsu (wait)待った matta
v5n-ぬ -nu-んだ -nda死ぬ shinu (die)死んだ shinda
v5b-ぶ -bu-んだ -nda呼ぶ yobu (call)呼んだ yonda
v5m-む -mu-んだ -nda読む yomu (read)読んだ yonda
v5r-る -ru-った -tta走る hashiru (run)走った hashitta
v5r-i-る -ru-った -ttaある aru (be, exist)あった atta
v5aru-る -ru-った -ttaいらっしゃる irassharu (be, go [honorific])いらっしゃった irasshatta
いらした irashita[3]
v1-る -ru-た -ta見る miru (see)

食べる taberu (eat)

見た mita

食べた tabeta

adj-i-い -i-かった -katta安い yasui (cheap)

安いです (polite)

安かった yasukatta

安かったです (polite)

adj-na-な -na-だった -datta簡単 kantan na/da (easy)簡単だった kantan datta

N.B.: A verb not ending in -iru or -eru in its Latin transcription is not an ichidan verb, and it follows that it is then either godan or irregular.

Usage[edit]

  • Non-exhaustive list of actions (like AやB is used for non-exhaustive lists of objects): 本を読んだり、テレビを見たりした hon o yondari, terebi o mitari shita (I read a book, watched TV, etc.)

Note that the perfective conjugation for verbs ending in -う more commonly follows the v5u-s pattern listed above for speakers of Western Japanese. The う in the perfective ending -うた may be pronounced either as an u or as an o depending on the preceding vowel, according to regular Japanese phonological rules. Consequently, in Kansai, one may hear forms such as つかう tsukau → つこうた tsukōta, or いう iu → いうた iuta.[4]

Usage of the perfective aspect follows the same pattern as the imperfective aspect. For example, 日本に行く nihon ni iku (I go to Japan) becomes 日本に行った nihon ni itta (I went to Japan).

Negative[edit]

The basic pattern is: u becomes anai (informal).

TypeNegativeExamplesNegative
auxda (copula)ではない de wa nai

じゃない ja nai (colloquial)

(Deviates with adj-i)
auxです desu (copula, polite)ではありません de wa arimasen

じゃありません ja arimasen (colloquial)

vsする suru (do)しない shinai

(さない sanai)

勉強する benkyō suru (study)

愛する aisuru (love)

勉強しない benkyō shinai

愛さない aisanai

vk来る kuru (come)来ない konai
-ます -masu (polite suffix)-ません -masen行きます ikimasu (go)行きません ikimasen
v5u(-s)-う -u-わない -wanai使う tsukau (use)使わない tsukawanai
v5k(-s)-く -ku-かない -kanai焼く yaku (grill)焼かない yakanai
v5g-ぐ -gu-がない -ganai泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳がない oyoganai
v5s-す -su-さない -sanai示す shimesu (show)示さない shimesanai
v5t-つ -tsu-たない -tanai待つ matsu (wait)待たない matanai
v5n-ぬ -nu-なない -nanai死ぬ shinu (die)死なない shinanai
v5b-ぶ -bu-ばない -banai呼ぶ yobu (call)呼ばない yobanai
v5m-む -mu-まない -manai読む yomu (read)読まない yomanai
v5r-る -ru-らない -ranai走る hashiru (run)走らない hashiranai
v5r-i-る -ru*ある aru (be, exist)ない nai
v5aru-る -ru-らない -ranai下さる kudasaru (give)下さらない kudasaranai
v1-る -ru-ない -nai見る miru (see)

食べる taberu (eat)

見ない minai

食べない tabenai

adj-i-い -i-くない -ku nai痛い itai (painful)痛くない itaku nai
adj-na-な -na-ではない -de wa nai

-じゃない -ja nai

簡単 kantan (simple)簡単ではない kantan de wa nai

簡単じゃない kantan ja nai

The ない nai ending conjugates in two ways.

  1. As an i adjective. For example, the past tense of 食べない tabenai is 食べなかった tabenakatta and the te form is 食べなくて tabenakute.
  2. There is a special te/naide form made by adding で de which yields ないで naide – this can be replaced with ず zu in formal usage.
    • Requesting someone to cease/desist: 食べないで下さい tabenaide kudasai 'Please don't eat (this)'
    • Joining a subordinate clause: 食べないで、寝た。 tabenaide, neta 'Without eating, I went to bed.'

i form[edit]

The i form, or 連用形 ren'yōkei, is very regular, and in almost all cases it is formed by replacing the u with i. Phonetically, this changes す su to し shi, and つ tsu to ち chi.

Typei formExamplesi form
auxda, です desuであり de ari
vsする suru (do)shi勉強する benkyō suru勉強し benkyō shi
vk来る kuru (come)ki
v5u(-s)-う -u-い -i使う tsukau (use)使い tsukai
v5k(-s)-く -ku-き -ki焼く yaku (grill)焼き yaki
v5g-ぐ -gu-ぎ -gi泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳ぎ oyogi
v5s-す -su-し -shi示す shimesu (show)示し shimeshi
v5t-つ -tsu-ち -chi待つ matsu (wait)待ち machi
v5n-ぬ -nu-に -ni死ぬ shinu (die)死に shini
v5b-ぶ -bu-び -bi呼ぶ yobu (call)呼び yobi
v5m-む -mu-み -mi読む yomu (read)読み yomi
v5r-る -ru-り -ri走る hashiru (run)走り hashiri
v5r-i-る -ru-り -riある aru (be, exist)あり ari
v5aru-る -ru-い -i下さる kudasaru (give)下さい kudasai
v1-る -ru見る miru (see)

食べる taberu (eat)

mi

食べ tabe

Usage[edit]

The i form has many uses, typically as a prefix. These include:

  • To form polite verbs when followed by the -ます -masu ending: 行く iku → 行きますikimasu, 使う tsukau → 使います tsukaimasu.
  • To express a wish when followed by the ending -たい -tai: 食べたい tabetai: 'I want to eat it', 行きたい ikitai: 'I want to go'. (The -tai ending conjugates as an -い -i adjective.)
  • To express a strong negative intention when followed by -はしない -wa shinai: 行きはしないよあんな所 iki wa shinai yo, anna tokoro 'no way I'm going someplace like that'.
  • To form a command when followed by
    • -なさい -nasai: これを食べなさい kore o tabenasai: 'eat this', あそこへ行きなさい asoko e ikinasai: 'go over there'.
    • -な -na: 真っすぐ帰りな massugu kaerina 'go straight home': 仲良く遊びな nakayoku asobina 'play nice'. (Used with children, etc.)
  • To express that something is easy or hard when followed by -易い -yasui or -難い -nikui: したしみ易い shitashimiyasui: 'easy to befriend': 分かり難い wakarinikui: 'hard to understand'.
  • To express excessiveness when followed by the verb -過ぎる -sugiru: 飲み過ぎる nomisugiru: 'to drink too much'. (sugiru can also be used with the stems of adjectives.)
  • To express doing something in conjunction with something else. When followed by the suffix -ながら -nagara, the verb becomes an adverb that means doing something while doing something else.
    • 歩きながら本を読んだ arukinagara hon o yonda: 'I read a book as I walked.'
  • When followed by the verb -やがる -yagaru in harsher colloquial speech to express affronted contempt (a conjugation of opposite polarity to the honorifics) showing disrespect in the form of hatred combined with haughty/macho disdain for the doer/subject of the action/verb: 殺しやがる koroshiyagaru: 'to have the <expletive> gall to kill ___' (e.g. without my permission). (The te form can be substituted for the i form.)

The i form also has some uses on its own, such as:

  • To express purpose, with に ni: 食べに行きました tabe ni ikimashita: 'I went there to eat'. This is called the infinitive of purpose.
  • In formal honorifics such as お使い下さい o tsukai kudasai: 'Please use this'.
  • In conjunctions in formal writing.

For some verbs, the i form also forms part of related words in ways that are not governed by any general rules. For example:

  • The i form of 食べる taberu (to eat) can prefix 物 mono to form 食べ物 tabemono (food). Similarly with 飲む nomu (to drink) and 買う kau (to buy).
  • The i form of 賭ける kakeru (to bet) is a word on its own: 賭け kake, which means 'a bet'.
  • 離す hanasu (to separate) can be suffixed to the i form of kiru (to cut) to form 切り離す kirihanasu (to cut off).

te form[edit]

The te form of a Japanese verb (sometimes called the 'participle', the 'gerund', or the 'gerundive form') is used when the verb has some kind of connection to the following words. This originally came from the combination of the 'i' form described above plus the particle 'te'. For all verbs, it is formed by changing the -a of the perfective aspect form to -e. Adjectives behave slightly differently.

TypeBecomesExamplesTe form
auxda (copula)de
vsする suru (do)して shite愛する aisuru (to love)愛して aishite
vk来る kuru (come)来て kite
-ます -masu (polite suffix)-まして -mashite開けます akemasu (open)開けまして akemashite
v5u-う -u-って -tte使う tsukau (use)使って tsukatte
v5u-s-う -u-うて -ute問う tou (ask)問うて tōte
v5k-く -ku-いて -ite焼く yaku (grill)焼いて yaite
v5k-s行く iku (go)行って itte行く iku (go)行って itte
v5g-ぐ -gu-いで -ide泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳いで oyoide
v5s-す -su-して -shite示す shimesu (show)示して shimeshite
v5t-つ -tsu-って -tte待つ matsu (wait)待って matte
v5n-ぬ -nu-んで -nde死ぬ shinu (die)死んで shinde
v5b-ぶ -bu-んで -nde呼ぶ yobu (call)呼んで yonde
v5m-む -mu-んで -nde読む yomu (read)読んで yonde
v5r-る -ru-って -tte走る hashiru (run)走って hashitte
v5r-i-る -ru-って -tteある aru (be, exist)あって atte
v5aru-る -ru-って -tteいらっしゃる irassharu (be in honorific speech)いらっしゃって irasshatte
いらして irashite
v1-る -ru-て -te見る miru (see)

食べる taberu (eat)

見て mite

食べて tabete

adj-i-い -i-くて -kute安い yasui (cheap)安くて yasukute
adj-na-な -na-で -de簡単な kantan na (simple)簡単で kantan de

Usage[edit]

  • In general, the te form indicates that the verb is operating in conjunction with another verb, which may be left out for various reasons and to various effects.
  • In requests with くれる kureru and 下さい kudasai. These words may be left off in casual speech, which is usually the reason a sentence ends with a te form. This version of the te form also serves as a light command that is more socially proper than the true imperative.
    • 本を読んでください Hon o yonde kudasai: 'Please read the book.'
    • 殺してくれ Koroshite kure: 'Please kill me.'
    • 食べて Tabete: '(Please) Eat.'
    • 読んで Yonde: '(Please) Read.'
  • The te form is used for a reproach or rebuke, to communicate anger or exasperation on the speaker's part.
  • A sentence that ends with the te form may be meant to draw attention, either serving the purpose of an exclamation mark or to indicate the speaker isn't done and may want the listener to have a moment to process, may want the listener to give permission to continue, or may want the listener to infer the rest. The latter case is equivalent to ending a sentence in English with 'so..'
  • The te form combined with the dictionary form of 'to give' means that there is a favour involved and can be best understood as 'doing the favor of'. If one were not to use the te form + 'to give', the implication would be that the action only is to be expected and that gratitude is unnecessary.
    • -てくれる -te kureru: Used when somebody does you (or the person from whose perspective is spoken of) a favour.
    • -てくれてありがとう -te kurete arigatou: 'Thank you for (doing the favour of) (for me)'. For example, ”見てくれてありがとう” mite kurete arigatou: 'Thank you for (doing the favour of) watching (for me)'.
    • -て下さる -te kudasaru: Used when a superior does you (or the person from whose perspective is spoken of) a favour
    • -てあげる -te ageru: Used when you (or the person from whose perspective is spoken of) do someone a favour.
    • -てもらう -te morau: Used when somebody does you (or the person from whose perspective is spoken of) a favour that you have initiated. For instance, an order being delivered is a favour (delivery) that directly came about due to an action of the speaker (order). This can be translated with 'get them to do (the favour of) (for me)' or 'make them do (the favour of) (for me)'
  • To combine clauses or adjectives, as if by the English conjunction 'and'. It might also serve an explanatory function, in which case it's more akin to 'because' or 'in order to'. Note that, just as with English, the order of the clauses may be reversed to create emphasis, in which case the sentence will end on the te form instead of having it in the middle.
    • 薬局へ行って薬を買う yakkyoku e itte, kusuri o kau: '(I am going to) go to the pharmacy and buy medicine.'
    • 薬を買う薬局へ行って kusuri o kau, yakkyoku e itte: 'To buy medicine, (I am going to) go to the pharmacy.'
    • あの人は親切で頭が良くて分かり易い ano hito wa shinsetsu de, atama ga yokute, wakariyasui: 'That person is kind, smart, and easy to understand.'
    • 安くていいね yasukute ii ne: 'It's good that it's cheap.' (lit. 'Being cheap, it is good.')
  • With the verbs :
    • いる iru: Forms a progressive or continuous tense. For example:
      • 待っている matte iru: 'I am waiting'
      • 知っている shitte iru: 'I know' (lit. 'I keep knowing')
      • 持っている motte iru: 'I have' (lit. 'I continue to have')
      • ここに住んでいる koko ni sunde iru: 'I live here' (lit. 'I am living here')
      • 寝ている Nete iru: 'The are sleeping' / 'They keep sleeping' / 'They are asleep'
      • Colloquially, in this form, the 'i' often disappears (also in the past tense), so 待っている matte iru becomes 待ってる matteru and 知っている shitte iru becomes 知ってる shitteru.
    • おる oru: Can express a continuing situation. It is the humble form of いる iru.
    • おく oku: To indicate an action in advance of something else. お弁当を作っておいた obentō o tsukutte oita: 'I have made a boxed lunch (for later)'. Colloquially, in this form, the 'e' often disappears, so 作っておいた tsukutte oita becomes 作っといた tsukuttoita.
    • ある aru: This shows that something was left in a certain state, generally one of completion. More implicit than te + oku, there's a meaning to te + aru that the action was done in preparation of something else. Combined with a transitive verb, the combination gets a passive meaning: ここに文字が書いてある koko ni moji ga kaite aru: 'There are some characters written here'. Contrast to 書いている 'kaite iru', 'I am writing', which applies to the person doing the writing rather than what is written.
    • しまう shimau: This implies something is completed or done, usually unintentionally or accidentally or unexpectedly and sometimes expressing that the action is contrary to right or correct action: 片付けてしまった katazukete shimatta: 'I have finished tidying'. It can also suggest a regrettable situation: 私の鍵が消えてしまった watashi no kagi ga kiete shimatta: 'My keys have disappeared'.
      The form -てしまう -te shimau is shortened to the very commonly used and casual -ちまう -chimau or -ちゃう -chau with the same consonant doubling as the te form. For example, 'I forgot my mobile phone!': 'keitai wasurechatta!' '携帯忘れちゃった!' The -de shimau form is shortened to -じゃう -jau or -じまう -jimau in colloquial speech.
    • みる miru: It means 'to try doing'. Understand it as 'see if I can do'.
    • 見せる miseru: It means 'to definitely do'. Understand it as 'show that I do'.
    • いく iku: Can express continuous action or a change of state in the future.
    • くる kuru: Can express continuous action or a change of state in the past.
  • With particles in formations such as:
    • -てはいけない -te wa ikenai: 'You must not ..'. For example, 食べてはいけない tabete wa ikenai: 'You must not eat this'. (Other words of prohibition, such as だめ dame, can be substituted for ikenai.)
    • -てもいい -te mo ii: 'You may do/It's ok if you do'. For example, 食べてもいい tabete mo ii: 'You may eat it'.
    • -てもかまわない -te mo kamawanai: 'You may do/I don't mind if you do'
    • -て欲しい -te hoshii: 'I want you to do (for me)'
    • -てすみません -te sumimasen: 'Sorry for making you go through the trouble of'
    • -てよかった -te yokatta: 'Thank goodness that'

Potential[edit]

The general pattern is: u becomes eru.

TypePotentialExamplesPotential
vsする suru出来る dekiru

(せられる serareru)
(せる seru)

勉強する benkyō suru

察する sassuru (guess)
愛する aisuru (love)

勉強出来る benkyō dekiru

察せられる sasserareru
愛せる aiseru

vk来る kuru来られる korareru

来れる koreru

v5u(-s)-う -u-える -eru使う tsukau (use)使える tsukaeru
v5k(-s)-く -ku-ける -keru焼く yaku (grill)焼ける yakeru
v5g-ぐ -gu-げる -geru泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳げる oyogeru
v5s-す -su-せる -seru示す shimesu (show)示せる shimeseru
v5t-つ -tsu-てる -teru待つ matsu (wait)待てる materu
v5n-ぬ -nu-ねる -neru死ぬ shinu (die)死ねる shineru
v5b-ぶ -bu-べる -beru呼ぶ yobu (call)呼べる yoberu
v5m-む -mu-める -meru読む yomu (read)読める yomeru
v5r-る -ru-れる -reru走る hashiru (run)走れる hashireru
v5r-iある aruあり得る ari eru/uru
v5aru-る -ru-り得る -ri eru/uru下さる kudasaru (give)下さり得る kudasari eru/uru
v1-る -ru-られる -rareru見る miru

食べる taberu

見られる mirareru

食べられる taberareru

v1-る -ru-れる -reru[5] (colloquial form,

so-called ら抜き言葉 ra-nuki kotoba)

見る miru

食べる taberu

見れる mireru

食べれる tabereru

Usage[edit]

The potential is used to express that one has the ability to do something. Since this is a passive form, what would be a direct object in English is marked with the particle が ga instead of を o. For example, 日本語が読める nihongo ga yomeru: 'I can read Japanese' (lit. 'Japanese can be read').

It is also used to request some action from someone, in the exact sense of the English 'Can you .. ?' For example, 「コーヒー買える?」 kōhī kaeru?: 'Can (you) buy (some) coffee?' However, sometimes in English 'Will you..?' and 'Can you .. ?' is used interchangeably to make requests. Though it is possible in Japanese, 「コーヒー買う?」 kōhī kau?, it is very casual and might also mean simply 'Are you buying/Will you buy coffee?' in a very dry factual sense.

Unlike in English, the potential is not often used to express permission (as in the sentence 'Can I eat this apple?') as it is almost always understood to mean 'Do I have the ability to eat this apple?': 「このりんごが食べられる?」 kono ringo ga taberareru?. And since the -reru form is more often used in speech than the more standard passive potential form -rareru, and subjects are often implied in Japanese, it may implicitly be asking (in this case) if the apple is edible. So, to seek permission, a more polite form is used, such as the -てもいい -te mo ii or more casual -ていい '-te ii' usage of the -て -te form, resulting in something literally more like 'Is eating this apple OK?' 「このりんごを食べてもいいですか?」 Kono ringo o tabete mo ii desu ka? or 「このりんごを食べていい?」 Kono ringo o tabete ii?.

The potential -ru ending conjugates as a vowel stem verb.

Consonants and vowels conjugate differently; see Japanese consonant and vowel conjugation.

There is no potential equivalent for です; other constructions for expressing may-be situations are used:

  • Using かもしれない expression. For verbs: 「明日降るかもしれない」 ashita furu kamo shirenai 'It may rain tomorrow.', i-adj: 「旅行は高いかもしれない」 ryokou wa takai kamo shirenai 'The journey is perhaps expensive.', na-adj: 「大切かもしれない」 taisetsu kamo shirenai '(This thing is) probably important.'
  • Using adverbs. 「恐らく降る」 osoraku furu 'It probably will rain', 「たぶん降る」 tabun furu 'Perhaps it will rain'
  • (A rather strange and archaic-literary-sounding possibility is by transforming です to である and then constructing the potential, であり得る.)

Passive[edit]

The general pattern for the passive voice is: -u becomes -areru.

TypePassiveExamplesPassive
vsする suruされる sareru愛する ai suru (love)愛される ai sareru
vk来る kuru (come)来られる korareru
v5u(-s)-う -u-われる -wareru使う tsukau (use)使われる tsukawareru
v5k(-s)-く -ku-かれる -kareru焼く yaku (grill)焼かれる yakareru
v5g-ぐ -gu-がれる -gareru泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳がれる oyogareru
v5s-す -su-される -sareru示す shimesu (show)示される shimesareru
v5t-つ -tsu-たれる -tareru待つ matsu (wait)待たれる matareru
v5n-ぬ -nu-なれる -nareru死ぬ shinu (die)死なれる shinareru
v5b-ぶ -bu-ばれる -bareru呼ぶ yobu (call)呼ばれる yobareru
v5m-む -mu-まれる -mareru読む yomu (read)読まれる yomareru
v5r-る -ru-られる -rareru走る hashiru (run)走られる hashirareru
v1-る -ru-られる -rareru見る miru

食べる taberu

見られる mirareru

食べられる taberareru

  • The -る -ru ending of the passives becomes the new verb ending. This conjugates as a vowel stem verb. Thus past, -て -te, or polite forms can all be added to the verb.
  • The copula, だ da, does not form a passive.
  • For the -ます masu form, the -ます -masu is added to the passive of the plain verb.

Usage[edit]

The passive is used:

  • as a passive: このテレビは東芝によって作られた kono terebi wa Toshiba ni yotte tsukurareta: 'This TV was made by Toshiba.'
  • as a suffering passive, indicating that a regrettable thing was done to someone: 私は友達にビールを飲まれた watashi wa tomodachi ni biiru o nomareta: 'I had (my) beer drunk by a friend' (and I am not happy about it).
  • as a form of respectful language: どちらへ行かれますか dochira e ikaremasu ka: 'Where are you going?'

Causative[edit]

The causative forms are characterized by the final u becoming aseru for consonant stem verbs, and ru becoming saseru for vowel stem verbs.

TypeCausativeExamplesCausative
vsする suru (do)させる saseru勉強する benkyō suru (study)勉強させる benkyō saseru
vk来る kuru (come)来させる kosaseru
v5u(-s)-う -u-わせる -waseru使う tsukau (use)使わせる tsukawaseru
v5k(-s)-く -ku-かせる -kaseru焼く yaku (grill)焼かせる yakaseru
v5g-ぐ -gu-がせる -gaseru泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳がせる oyogaseru
v5s-す -su-させる -saseru示す shimesu (show)示させる shimesaseru
v5t-つ -tsu-たせる -taseru待つ matsu (wait)待たせる mataseru
v5n-ぬ -nu-なせる -naseru死ぬ shinu (die)死なせる shinaseru
v5b-ぶ -bu-ばせる -baseru呼ぶ yobu (call)呼ばせる yobaseru
v5m-む -mu-ませる -maseru読む yomu (read)読ませる yomaseru
v5r(-i)-る -ru-らせる -raseru走る hashiru (run)走らせる hashiraseru
v5aru-る -rucausative not used in honorific speech
v1-る -ru-させる -saseru見る miru

食べる taberu

見させる misaseru

食べさせる tabesaseru

  • The -ru ending of the causative form becomes the new verb ending. This conjugates as a vowel stem verb.
  • Negatives are not normally made into causatives. Instead, a negative ending is added to the causative of the verb. Thus, for example, Tabesasenai: 'Do not let eat'.
  • Adjectives are made causative by using the adverb form plus saseru.
  • A shortened causative form exists where the final -u becoming -asu for consonant stem verbs, and -ru becoming -sasu for vowel stem verbs.

Usage[edit]

The causative is used for:

  • Making someone do something: 宿題をさせる shukudai o saseru: '(I) make (him) do homework'.
  • Letting someone do something: 外で遊ばせる soto de asobaseru: '(I) let (him) play outside'.
  • With explicit actors: 先生が子供に勉強をさせた sensei ga kodomo ni benkyō o saseta: 'The teacher made the children study.'
  • The honorific forms させて貰う sasete morau or させて頂く sasete itadaku using the verbs 貰う morau or its humble equivalent 頂く itadaku.

Causative passive[edit]

The causative passive form is obtained by first conjugating in the causative form and then conjugating the result in the passive form.

Usage[edit]

As its rule suggests, the causative passive is used to express causation passively: 両親に勉強させられる ryōshin ni benkyō saserareru: '(I) am made to study by (my) parents'.

Because words such as 待たせられる mataserareru are considered to be difficult to pronounce, frequently in colloquial speech, the middle part of the causative passive would contract. That is, 待たせられる mataserareru (I was made to wait), would become 待たされる matasareru. Another example such as '(I) was made to buy (something)' would formally be 買わせられた kawaserareta from the verb 買う kau, but colloquially, it is frequently contracted to 買わされた kawasareta. This abbreviation is not used for vowel-stem verbs, nor for the irregular する suru and くる kuru.

Provisional conditional eba form[edit]

The eba provisional conditional form is characterized by the final -u becoming -eba for all verbs (with the semi-exception of -tsu verbs becoming -teba).

TypeConditionalExamplesConditional
auxda (copula)であれば de areba
vsする suruすれば sureba勉強する benkyō suru (study)勉強すれば benkyō sureba
vk来る kuruくれば kureba
v5u(-s)-う -u-えば -eba使う tsukau (use)使えば tsukaeba
v5k(-s)-く -ku-けば -keba焼く yaku (grill)焼けば yakeba
v5g-ぐ -gu-げば -geba泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳げば oyogeba
v5s-す -su-せば -seba示す shimesu (show)示せば shimeseba
v5t-つ -tsu-てば -teba待つ matsu (wait)待てば mateba
v5n-ぬ -nu-ねば -neba死ぬ shinu (die)死ねば shineba
v5b-ぶ -bu-べば -beba呼ぶ yobu (call)呼べば yobeba
v5m-む -mu-めば -meba読む yomu (read)読めば yomeba
v5r-る -ru-れば -reba走る hashiru (run)走れば hashireba
v5r-i-る -ru-れば -rebaある aru (be, exist)あれば areba
v1-る -ru-れば -reba見る miru

食べる taberu

見れば mireba

食べれば tabereba

adj-i-い -i-ければ -kereba寒い samui寒ければ samukereba
adj-na-な -na-であれば -de areba簡単 kantan簡単であれば kantan de areba
aux-adjない nai (negative)-なければ -nakereba行かない ikanai行かなければ ikanakereba
  • na adjectives and nouns are usually used with the なら nara conditional, instead of with であれば de areba.
  • The なければ nakereba form used for the negative form can be colloquially contracted to なきゃ nakya or なくちゃ nakucha (this has roots in なくては). Thus 行かなければ ikanakereba can become 行かなきゃ ikanakya.

Usage[edit]

The -eba provisional conditional form is used:

  • In conditionals where the emphasis rests more on the condition than the result. For example: 何をすればいいか nani o sureba ii ka - 'What should I do?' (lit. 'It would be good if I did what?') ; 分かればいい wakareba ii - 'As long as you understand' (lit. 'If you understand, it is good.') ; 時間があれば買い物をしよう jikan ga areba, kaimono wo shiyō - 'If there's time, let's go shopping.'
  • Expressing obligations: The expression なければならない nakereba naranai (or in a more formal manner なければなりません nakereba narimasen), where なる naru is the verb “to become”, means literally “if you don’t…, it’s no good” or in other words “you must” or “you have to”. The negative “don’t have to …” is expressed with なくてもいい - nakute mo ii. For example: 自己紹介は日本語でなければなりません Jiko shoukai wa Nihongo de nakereba narimasen ('Your self-introduction must be in Japanese.')

The nakereba negative conditional form means 'if not X' or also 'unless X'. It is obtained by replacing the final -i of the plain negative form with -kereba. (tabenakereba: 'if I don't eat' or 'unless I eat')

The conditional is also called the 'provisional form' in some grammars, because the implied condition is 'provided that X happens' (mireba shiru: 'provided that you see, you'll know' = 'if you see, you'll know').

Conditional ra form[edit]

The conditional ra form (also called the past conditional) is formed from the past tense (TA form) by simply adding ra. ba can be further added to that, which makes it more formal.

Usage[edit]

The conditional ra form can be used in the same way as the provisional eba form. However, it implies more certainty about the condition, and therefore places more emphasis on the result than the condition. It can be used to mean more like 'if and when', and is typically preferred over the eba form when this meaning is more accurate. For example:

  • 日本に行ったら、カメラを買いたい。nihon ni ittara, kamera wo kaitai: 'If (when) I go to Japan, then (when that has happened) I want to buy a camera.'

The conditional ra form can also be used when the main clause is in the past tense. In such situations, it means 'when', and carries the additional implication that the result was unexpected. For example:

  • 喫茶店に行ったら、鈴木さんに出会った。kissaten ni ittara, Suzuki-san ni deatta: 'When I went to the cafe, I came across Suzuki.'

Imperative[edit]

Most of the imperative forms are characterized by the final u becoming e.

TypeBecomesExamplesImperative
auxda (copula)であれ de are
vsする suruしろ shiro

せよ seyo
(せ se)

勉強する benkyō suru (study)

愛する aisuru (love)

勉強しろ benkyō shiro

勉強せよ benkyō seyo
愛せ aise
愛せよ ai seyo

vk来る kuru来い koi
-ます -masu (polite suffix)-ませ -maseいらっしゃいます irasshaimasu (come, go)いらっしゃいませ irasshaimase
v5u(-s)-う -u-え -e使う tsukau (use)使え tsukae
v5k(-e)-く -ku-け -ke焼く yaku (grill)焼け yake
v5g-ぐ -gu-げ -ge泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳げ oyoge
v5s-す -su-せ -se示す shimesu (show)示せ shimese
v5t-つ -tsu-て -te待つ matsu (wait)待て mate
v5n-ぬ -nu-ね -ne死ぬ shinu (die)死ね shine
v5b-ぶ -bu-べ -be呼ぶ yobu (call)呼べ yobe
v5m-む -mu-め -me読む yomu (read)読め yome
v5r-る -ru-れ -re走る hashiru (run)走れ hashire
v5r-i-る -ru-れ -reある aru (be, exist)あれ are
v5aru-る -ru-い -iいらっしゃる irassharu

なさる nasaru

いらっしゃい irasshai

なさい nasai

v1-いる -iru, -える -eru-いろ -iro, -いよ -iyo

-えろ -ero, -えよ -eyo

着替える kigaeru (change clothes)着替えろ kigaero

着替えよ kigaeyo

  • The v5aru rule for polite verbs ending in -ru applies to the consonant-stem honorific verbs irassharu, ossharu, kudasaru, gozaru, and nasaru, whose imperative forms are the same as their irregular i forms.

Usage[edit]

The imperative form is used

  • in orders, such as in the military, or to inferiors, or to very intimate friends or family depending on the nature of the relationship (e.g., among very close male friends), or in textbook exercises — highly risky for use by learners until cultural nuances have been well and truly mastered
  • in set phrases such as nani shiro: 'no matter what'.
  • in reported speech, where a polite request may be reported using a plain imperative: kashite kudasai (direct) kase to iwareta (he told me to lend it to him).
  • on traffic signs or mandatory action labels such as tomare: 'STOP'.
  • in motivational speech, especially when it is perceived as directed at a collective, rather than individual, listener (e.g., 「頑張れ!」 ganbare!, 'Do your best!'). As with the first usage, this can come off as brusque and rude if used inappropriately

Volitional, presumptive, or hortative[edit]

TypeVolitionalExamplesVolitional
auxda (copula)だろう darō
auxです desu (polite copula)でしょう deshō
vsする suru (do)しよう shiyō

(そう )

勉強する benkyō suru (study)

愛する aisuru (love)

勉強しよう benkyō shiyō

愛そう aisō

vk来る kuru (come)来よう koyō
-ます -masu (polite suffix)-ましょう -mashō行きます ikimasu (go, polite)行きましょう ikimashō
v5u(-s)-う -u-おう 使う tsukau (use)使おう tsukaō
v5k(-s)-く -ku-こう -kō焼く yaku (grill)焼こう yakō
v5g-ぐ -gu-ごう -gō泳ぐ oyogu (swim)泳ごう oyogō
v5s-す -su-そう -sō示す shimesu (show)示そう shimesō
v5t-つ -tsu-とう -tō待つ matsu (wait)待とう matō
v5n-ぬ -nu-のう -nō死ぬ shinu (die)死のう shinō
v5b-ぶ -bu-ぼう -bō呼ぶ yobu (call)呼ぼう yobō
v5m-む -mu-もう -mō読む yomu (read)読もう yomō
v5r-る -ru-ろう -rō走る hashiru (run)走ろう hashirō
v5r-i-る -ru-ろう -rōある aru (be, exist)あろう arō
v1-る -ru-よう -yō着替える kigaeru (change clothes)着替えよう kigaeyō
adj-i-い -i-かろう -karō近い chikai (near)近かろう chikakarō
adj-na-な -na-だろう -darō好き suki (like)好きだろう suki darō
adj-auxない nai (negative)-なかろう -nakarō見えない mienai (invisible)見えなかろう mienakarō

Usage[edit]

In general, the volitional form expresses intention, such as in these cases:

  • In volitional ('let's' or 'I shall') statements: 勉強しよう benkyō shiyō: 'Let's study' or 'I shall study'.
  • To ask volitional ('shall we') questions: 行こうか ikō ka: 'Shall (we) go?'
  • To express a conjecture with deshō: 明日晴れるでしょう ashita hareru deshō: 'Tomorrow will probably be sunny.'
  • To express what one is thinking of doing, via 思う omou: 買おうと思う kaō to omou: '(I) am thinking of buying (it)'.
  • In the form しようとする shiyō to suru: be about to or be trying to. 犬が吠えようとしている Inu ga hoeyō to shite iru: 'The dog is about to bark.'

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Rita Lampkin (14 May 2010). Japanese Verbs & Essentials of Grammar, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. pp. 14–40. ISBN978-0-07-171363-4.
  2. ^EDICT abbreviation list: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/jmdict_dtd_h.html
  3. ^Herr, John [1]Nihongo Web. University of Alabama. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  4. ^''問う'の過去形って何ですか - その他(学問&教育) - 教えて!goo' [What is the past tense of 'tou'? - Other (Lit. & Edu.) - Tell Me! goo] (in Japanese). 2002-06-18. Retrieved 2011-01-19. しかし、hyeonさんのご指摘どおり、方言では現存しています。大阪では、「買った→買うた(こうた)」、「合った→合うた(おうた)」、「言った→言うた(いうた)」、「揃った→揃うた(そろうた)」、「構った→構うた(かもうた)」。など、ワ行五段活用動詞+「た」の組み合わせだと、ウ音便化します。
  5. ^Eri BANNO et al. Genki—An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese, volume 2. The Japan Times, 1999, p. 10

External links[edit]

The Wikibook Japanese has a page on the topic of: Verb conjugation table
  • Japanese Verb Conjugator, online tool giving all forms for any verb
  • Japanese Verb Conjugator, online tool with romaji, kana, and kanji output
  • JLearn.net, an online Japanese dictionary that accepts conjugated terms and returns the root verb
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_verb_conjugation&oldid=897852149'

There are few things more confusing for beginning Spanish students than learning the differences between ser and estar. After all, they both mean 'to be' in English.

Differences Between Ser and Estar

One way to think of the differences between ser and estar is to think of ser as the 'passive' verb and estar as the 'active' one. (The terms aren't being used in a grammatical sense here.) Ser tells you what something is, the nature of its being, while estar refers more to what something does. You might use soy (the first-person present of ser, meaning 'I am') to explain who or what you are, but you'd use estoy (the first-person present of estar) to tell what you are being or doing.

For example, you might say, 'Estoy enfermo' for 'I am sick.' That would indicate that you are sick at the moment. But it doesn't tell anyone what you are. Now if you were to say, 'Soy enfermo,' that would have a different meaning entirely. That would refer to who you are, to the nature of your being. We might translate that as 'I am a sick person' or 'I am sickly.'

3ds game saves. Note similar differences in these examples:

  • Estoy cansado. (I am tired.) Soy cansado. (I am a tired person. My nature is to be tired)
  • Estoy feliz. (I'm happy now.) Soy feliz. (I am happy by nature. I am a happy person.)
  • Está callada. (She's being quiet.) Es callada. (She's introverted. She's naturally a quiet person.)
  • No estoy lista. (I'm not ready.) No soy lista. (I'm not a quick thinker.)

Another Approach to Ser vs. Estar

Another way of thinking about the two verbs is to think of ser as being roughly equivalent to 'equals.' Another approach is that estar often refers to a temporary condition, while ser frequently refers to a permanent condition. But there are exceptions.

Among the major exceptions to the above way of thinking is that ser is used in expressions of time, such as 'Son las dos de la tarde' for 'It's 2 p.m.' Also, we use estar to indicate someone has died — quite a permanent condition: Está muerto, he is dead.

Along that line, estar is used to indicate location. Estoy en casa. (I am at home.) But, soy de México. (I am from Mexico.) Ser, however, is used for the location of events: La boda es en Nuevo Hampshire. (The wedding is in New Hampshire.)

There are also a few idiomatic expressions that simply need to be learned: La manzana es verde. (The apple is green.) La manzana está verde. (The apple is unripe.) Está muy bien la comida. (The meal tastes very good).

Note that sometimes estar is often modified by an adverb such as bien rather than an adjective: Estoy bien. (I'm fine.)

Although rare, there are a few situations where you can use either ser or estar. A married man describing his marital status could say either 'Soy casado' or 'Estoy casado.' He might be more likely to use soy because he considers being married as part of his identity, although he might use estoy to indicate that he had been married recently.

Present Conjugation of Ser and Estar

Both ser and estar are irregularly conjugated. Here's a chart of the indicative present tense:

Sample Sentences

Susana es atenta y con buena comunicación. (Susana is thoughtful with good communication skills. Ser is used with a personal quality.)

Susana está atenta a la situación de su amiga. (Susana is attentive to her friend's situation. Estar is being used to characterize behavior.)

Roberto es nervioso como mi hermano. (Roberto is as nervous of a person as my brother is. Ser is used here for describing what kind of person someone is.)

Roberto está tan nervioso como mi hermano. (Robert is as nervous as my brother is now. Estar is used for an emotional state that is independent of personal qualities.)

Quick Takeaways

  • Ser and estar are the two verbs most frequently used as the equivalent of the English 'to be.'
  • Ser typically is used in describing the nature of someone or something.
  • Estar typically is used in referring to a state of being that isn't necessarily innate.