Verbs, Adjectival Verbs, Auxiliary Verbs

This page introduces Japanese simple sentences. Japanese sentences can be composed only with verbs. They do not need any nouns which perform a subject, an object and so on, although these nouns are very helpful to communicate information accurately. This page focuses on the primitive sentences.

The Polite

Japanese has a very important feature related to polite levels. Japanese uses the different polite levels, plain forms and polite forms. You should use the polite forms in daily conversation. This page composes all the sentences with the polite forms. On the other hand, the plain forms are used in the following situation. They are introduced in the later chapters.

How to make polite forms
You make polite forms from present participle of verbs followed by polite auxiliary verb "-masu".
How To Make Polite Forms
dictionarypresent participlepolite verbpolite form
steminflection
Weak Verb Enéru ne + -màsu →né-màsu
Imìru mi + -màsu →mí-màsu
Strong Verb Kkíku kik + i →kíki + -màsu →kíki-màsu
Rnàru nar + i →nàri + -màsu →nári-màsu
Sdàsu das + i →dàshi+ -màsu →dáshi-màsu
Tmàtsumat + i →màchi+ -màsu →máchi-màsu
Wíu iw + i →íi + -màsu →íi-màsu
Byóbu yob + i →yóbi + -màsu →yóbi-màsu
Gnùgu nug + i →nùgi + -màsu →núgi-màsu
Mnòmu nom + i →nòmi + -màsu →númi-màsu
Nshínushin+ i →shíni+ -màsu →shíni-màsu
Irregular VerbKkùru k + i →+ -màsu →kí-màsu
Ssúru s + i →shi + -màsu →shí-màsu
A Dictionary

JapaneseKana English
néru ねる to sleep
mìru みる to see
kíku きく to hear
nàru なる to become
dàsu だす to put out
màtsu まつ to wait
íu いう to say
yóbu よぶ to call
nùgu ぬぐ to take off
nòmu のむ to drink
shínu しぬ to die
How to use polite present forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチします。
  • (J): Mària ga màh'ketto 'o rísàh'chi shi-masu.
  • (E): Maria researches the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): だれが マーケットを リサーチしますか。マリアが します。
  • (J): Dàre ga màh'ketto 'o rísàh'chi shi masu ka? Mària ga shí-màsu.
  • (E): Who researches the marcket? Maria does.
Case 1c
  • (K): マリアが なにを リサーチしますか。マーケットを リサーチします。
  • (J): Mària ga nàni 'o rísàh'chi shi-masu ka? Màh'ketto 'o rísàh'chi-shi-masu.
  • (E): What does Maria research? She researches the marcket.
Case 2a
  • (K): デイヴィッドが ジェニファーを よびます。
  • (J): Dèividdo ga Jènifah' 'o yóbi-màsu.
  • (E): David calls Jennifer.
Case 2b
  • (K): だれが ジェニファーを よびますか。デイヴィッドが よびます。
  • (J): Dàre ga Jènifah' 'o yóbi-màsu ka? Dèividdo ga yóbi-màsu.
  • (E): Who calls Jennifer? David does.
Case 2c
  • (K): デイヴィッドが だれを よびますか。ジェニファーを よびます。
  • (J): Dèividdo ga dàre 'o yóbi-màsu ka? Jènifah' 'o yóbi-màsu.
  • (E): Who does David call? He calls Jennifer.

The Negative

To create negative polite forms is very easy. It is only to change the end of "-masu".

Negative
affirmativeinflection negative
shí-màsu shí-mas + en →shí-masèn
How to use negative polite present forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしません。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi-shi-masen.
  • (E): Maria does not researches the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしますか。はい、します。いいえ、しません。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-masu ka? Hai, shi-masu. Iie, shi-masen.
  • (E): Does Maria researches the marcket? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Case 2a
  • (K): ジョンが コートを ぬぎません。
  • (J): Jon ga koh'to 'o nugi-masen.
  • (E): John does not take off his coat.
Case 2b
  • (K): ジョンが コートを ぬぎますか。はい、ぬぎます。いいえ、ぬぎません。
  • (J): Jon ga koh'to 'o nugi-masu ka? Hai, nugi-masu. Iie, nugi-masen.
  • (E): Does John take off his coat? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

The Tense

Japanese has two types of basic tenses, the present and the past. As general usages, these type are almost correspond to the present and the past. However, the present contains the future and the past contains the perfect. Of course, Japanese has many expression to distinguish slight tenses by using auxiliary verbs and helping verbs. However, these two types are most essential to compose Japanese sentences.

Tenses
present inflection past
affirmativeshí-màsu shi-mas + i + ta shí-màshita
negative shí-masèn shi-masen + deshitashí-masèn deshita
How to use polite past forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしました。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashita.
  • (E): Maria researched the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): だれが マーケットを リサーチしましたか。マリアが しました。
  • (J): Dare ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashita ka? Maria ga shi-mashita.
  • (E): Who researched the marcket? Maria did.
Case 1c
  • (K): マリアが なにを リサーチしましたか。マーケットを リサーチしました。
  • (J): Maria ga nani 'o risah'chi shi-mashita ka? Mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashita.
  • (E): What did Maria research? She researched the marcket.
Case 1d
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしませんでした。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-masen deshita.
  • (E): Maria did not research the marcket.
Case 1e
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしましたか。はい、しました。いいえ、しませんでした。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashita ka? Hai, shi-mashita. Iie, shi-masen deshita.
  • (E): Did Maria research the marcket? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.
Case 2a
  • (K): スーザンが ミューズィックを ききました。
  • (J): Suh'zan ga myuh'zikku 'o kiki-mashita.
  • (E): Susan listened to music.
Case 2b
  • (K): だれが ミューズィックを ききましたか。スーザンが ききました。
  • (J): Dare ga myuh'zikku 'o kiki-mashita ka? Suh'zan ga kiki-mashita.
  • (E): Who listened to music? Susan did.
Case 2c
  • (K): スーザンが なにを ききましたか。ミューズィックを ききました。
  • (J): Suh'zan ga nani 'o kiki-mashita ka? Myuh'zikku 'o kiki-mashita.
  • (E): What did Susan listen to? She listened to music.
Case 2d
  • (K): スーザンが ミューズィックを ききませんでした。
  • (J): Suh'zan ga myuh'zikku 'o kiki-masen deshita.
  • (E): Susan did not listen to music.
Case 2e
  • (K): スーザンが ミューズィックを ききましたか。はい、ききました。いいえ、ききませんでした。
  • (J): Suh'zan ga myuh'zikku 'o kiki-mashita ka? Hai, kiki-mashita. Iie, kiki-masen deshita.
  • (E): Did Susan listen to music? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.

The Mood

This section introduces three moods of Japanese. The first is the indicative mood which has been already introduced above. The second is the imperative mood. The last is the subjunctive mood. However, the subjunctive mood is not same as English. It should be called "the intent mood" and "the probable mood". And it is divided into 2 parts, "the intent" and "the probable".

How to make the imperative mood with politeness

  • affirmative: past participle + "kudasai"
  • negative: past participle + "kudasai"

How to make the intent mood with politeness

  • affirmative: present participle + "-mashou" which is the subjunctive form of the polite verb.
  • negative: present participle + "-masu mai" which is the present form of the polite verb followed by " mai".

How to make the probable mood with politeness

  • affirmative present: present form + " deshou" which is the subjunctive form of the polite copula.
  • affirmative past: past form + " deshou" which is the subjunctive form of the polite copula.
  • negative present: negative present + " deshou" which is the subjunctive form of the polite copula.
  • negative past: negative past + " deshou" which is the subjunctive form of the polite copula.

In order to construct the sentences of these moods, you need to know the five forms first. They are the past form and the past participle form of the affirmative, the present form, the past form and the past participle of the negative.

How To Make Past Forms
dictionarypast
steminflection
Weak Verb Enéru ne + ta → néta
Imìru mi + ta → mìta
Strong Verb Kkíku kik + ta → kíita
Rnàru nar + ta → nàtta
Sdàsu das + ta → dàshita
Tmàtsumat + ta → màtta
Wíu iw + ta → ítta
Byóbu yob + ta → yónda
Gnùgu nug + ta → nùida
Mnòmu nom + ta → nònda
Nshínushin+ ta → shínda
Irregular VerbKkùru k + i + ta →kìta
Ssúru s + i + ta→ shíta
  • past participle: change the ending of the past form
    • -ta → -te
    • -da → -de
How To Make Negative Forms
dictionarynegative
stemderivative
Weak Verb Enéru ne + na-i →néna-i
Imìru mi + na-i →mìna-i
Strong Verb Kkíku kik + a + na-i →kíkana-i
Rnàru nar + a + na-i →náràna-i
Sdàsu das + a + na-i →dásàna-i
Tmàtsumat + a + na-i →mátàna-i
Wíu iw + a + na-i →íwana-i
Byóbu yob + a + na-i →yóbana-i
Gnùgu nug + a + na-i →núgàna-i
Mnòmu nom + a + na-i →nómàna-i
Nshínushin+ a + na-i →shínana-i
Irregular VerbKkùru k + o + na-i →kòna-i
Ssúru s + i + na-i →shína-i
  • past: change the ending
    • -na-i → -na-katta
  • past participle: change the ending
    • -na-i → -na-i de

The following table shows you how to make the imperative, subjunctive moods.

Moods [ Kana Table ]
imperative affirmative shite (past participle) + kudasai → shíte kudasài
negative shina-i de (negative past participle) + kudasai → shínà-i de kudasai
subjunctiveintent affirmative shi (present participle) + -mashou → shí-mashòu
negative shi (present participle) + -masu + mai →shí-masu mài
probableaffirmativepresentsuru (present) + deshou → súru deshòu
past shita (past) + deshou → shítà deshou
negative presentshina-i (negative present) + deshou → shínà-i deshou
past shina-katta(negative past) + deshou → shínà-katta deshou
How to use polite imperative forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアさん、マーケットを リサーチして ください。
  • (J): Maria-san, mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shite kudasai.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, please research the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): マリアさん、マーケットを リサーチしないで ください。
  • (J): Maria-san, mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shina-i de kudasai.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, please don't research the marcket.
Case 2a
  • (K): ジェイムズさん、ワインを のんで ください。
  • (J): Jeimuzu-san, wain 'o nonde kudasai.
  • (E): Mr. James, please drink wine.
Case 2b
  • (K): ジェイムズさん、ワインを のまないで ください。
  • (J): Jeimuzu-san, wain 'o nomana-i de kudasai.
  • (E): Mr. James, please don't drink wine.

How to use polite subjunctive ( intent ) forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアさん、マーケットを リサーチしましょう。
  • (J): Maria-san, mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashou.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, let's research the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): マリアさん、何を リサーチしましょうか。マーケットを リサーチしましょう。
  • (J): Maria-san, nani 'o risah'chi shi-mashou ka? mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashou.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, what shall we research. Let's research the marcket.
Case 1c
  • (K): マリアさん、マーケットを リサーチしますまい。
  • (J): Maria-san, mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-masu mai.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, let's not research the marcket.
Case 1d
  • (K): マリアさん、マーケットを リサーチしましょうか。はい、しましょう。いいえ、しますまい。
  • (J): Maria-san, mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-mashou ka? Hai, shi-mashou. Iie, shi-masu mai.
  • (E): Ms. Maria, shall we research the marcket? Yes, let's. No, let's not.
Case 2a
  • (K): ドクターに なりましょう。
  • (J): Dokutah' ni nari-mashou.
  • (E): I will become a doctor.
Case 2b
  • (K): なにに なりましょうか。ドクターになりましょう。
  • (J): Nani ni nari-mashou ka? Dokutah' ni nari-mashou.
  • (E): What shall we become. We will become doctors.
Case 2c
  • (K): ドクターに なりますまい。
  • (J): Dokutah' ni nari-masu mai.
  • (E): I will not be a doctor.
Case 2d
  • (K): ドクターに なりましょうか。はい、なりましょう。いいえ、なりますまい。
  • (J): Dokutah' ni nari-mashou ka? Hai, nari-mashou. Iie, nari-masu mai.
  • (E): Shall we become doctors? Yes, let's. No, let's not.

How to use polite subjunctive ( probable present ) forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチするでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi suru deshou.
  • (E): Maria will probably research the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): だれが マーケットを リサーチするでしょうか。マリアが するでしょう。
  • (J): Dare ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi suru deshou ka? Maria ga suru deshou.
  • (E): Who will research the marcket? Maria will probably.
Case 1c
  • (K): マリアが なにを リサーチするでしょうか。マーケットを リサーチするでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga nani 'o risah'chi suru deshou ka? Mah'ketto 'o risah'chi suru deshou.
  • (E): What will Maria research? She will probably research the marcket.
Case 1d
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしないでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shina-i deshou.
  • (E): Maria will not probably research the marcket.
Case 1e
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチするでしょうか。はい、するでしょう。いいえ、しないでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi suru deshou ka? Hai, suru deshou. Iie, shina-i deshou.
  • (E): Will Maria research the marcket? Yes, she will probably. No, she 'on't probably.
Case 2a
  • (K): カレンが ムーヴィーを みるでしょう。
  • (J): Karen ga muh'vih' 'o miru deshou.
  • (E): Karen will probably see a movie.
Case 2b
  • (K): だれが ムーヴィーを みるでしょうか。カレンが みるでしょう。
  • (J): Dare ga muh'vih' 'o miru deshou ka? Karen ga miru deshou.
  • (E): Who will see a movie? Karen will probably.
Case 2c
  • (K): カレンが なにを みるでしょうか。ムーヴィーを みるでしょう。
  • (J): Karen ga nani 'o miru deshou ka? Muh'vih' 'o miru deshou.
  • (E): What will Karen see? She will probably see a movie.
Case 2d
  • (K): カレンが ムーヴィーを みないでしょう。
  • (J): Karen ga muh'vih' 'o mina-i deshou.
  • (E): Karen will not probably see a movie.
Case 2e
  • (K): カレンが ムーヴィーを みるでしょうか。はい、みるでしょう。いいえ、みないでしょう。
  • (J): Karen ga muh'vih' 'o miru deshou ka? Hai, miru deshou. Iie mina-i deshou.
  • (E): Will Karen see a movie? Yes, she will probably. No, she 'on't probably.

How to use polite subjunctive ( probable past ) forms
Case 1a
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしたでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shita deshou.
  • (E): Maria would probably research the marcket.
Case 1b
  • (K): だれが マーケットを リサーチしたでしょうか。マリアが したでしょう。
  • (J): Dare ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shita deshou ka? Maria ga shita deshou.
  • (E): Who would research the marcket? Maria would probably.
Case 1c
  • (K): マリアが なにを リサーチしたでしょうか。マーケットを リサーチしたでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga nani 'o risah'chi shita deshou ka? Mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shita deshou.
  • (E): What would Maria research? She would probably research the marcket.
Case 1d
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしなかったでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shina-katta deshou.
  • (E): Maria would not probably research the marcket.
Case 1e
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチしたでしょうか。はい、したでしょう。いいえ、しなかったでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shita deshou ka? Hai, shita deshou. Iie, shina-katta deshou.
  • (E): Would Maria research the marcket? Yes, she would probably. No, she wouldn't probably.
Case 2a
  • (K): ロバートが バスを まったでしょう。
  • (J): Robah'to ga basu 'o matta deshou.
  • (E): Robert would probably wait for the bus.
Case 2b
  • (K): だれが バスを まったでしょうか。ロバートが まったでしょう。
  • (J): Dare ga basu 'o matta deshou ka? Robah'to ga matta deshou.
  • (E): Who would wait for the bus? Robert would probably.
Case 2c
  • (K): ロバートが なにを まったでしょうか。バスを まったでしょう。
  • (J): Robah'to ga nani 'o matta deshou ka? Basu 'o matta deshou.
  • (E): What would Robert wait for? He would probably wait for the bus.
Case 2d
  • (K): ロバートが バスを またなかったでしょう。
  • (J): Robah'to ga basu 'o matana-katta deshou.
  • (E): Robert would not probably wait for the bus.
Case 2e
  • (K): ロバートが バスを まったでしょうか。はい、まったでしょう。いいえ、またなかったでしょう。
  • (J): Robah'to ga basu 'o matta deshou ka? Hai, matta deshou. Iie, matana-katta deshou.
  • (E): Would Robert wait for the bus? Yes, he would probably. No, he wouldn't probably.

Future

Japanese does not have any special inflention to express future events. It uses the present form for a certain future event, the probable present form for an uncertain future event. Indeed, the real meaning of the present form is the present, the future and the habitual form which contains future events as well as present events.

How to express future tenses
Case 1a ( a certain event )
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチします。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi shi-masu.
  • (E): Maria will research the marcket.
Case 1b ( an uncertain event )
  • (K): マリアが マーケットを リサーチするでしょう。
  • (J): Maria ga mah'ketto 'o risah'chi suru deshou.
  • (E): Maria will probably research the marcket.

A Summary

The following table shows you a chart of the tenses.

A chart of the tenses of "suru" [ Kana Table ]
tenses moods English Japanese Polite Ref. Japanese Plain
A
F
F
I
R
M
A
T
I
V
E
presentindicative certain do shí-màsu ru
uncertaindo probably ru deshòu ru daròu
subjunctive would do
intent let's do shí-mashòu shíyòu
imperative Do shíte kudasài shíro
past indicative certain did shí-màshita
shítà desu(*1)
shíta
uncertaindid probably shítà deshou shítà darou
subjunctive would have done
future indicative certain will do shí-màsu ru
uncertainwill do probably ru deshòu ru daròu
N
E
G
A
T
I
V
E
presentindicative certain do not do shí-masèn
shínà-i desu(*1)
shínà-i
uncertaindo not do probably shína-i deshòu shína-i daròu
subjunctive would not do
intent let's not do shí-masu mài ru mài
imperative Don't do shínà-i de kudasai rù na
past indicative certain did not do shí-masèn deshita
shínà-katta desu(*1)
shínà-katta
uncertaindid not do probably shínà-katta deshou shínà-katta darou
subjunctive would not have done
future indicative certain will not do shí-masèn
shínà-i desu(*1)
shínà-i
uncertainwill not do probablyshína-i deshòu shína-i daròu