Common Japanese Verb Conjugations

Understanding common Japanese verb conjugations is essential for effective communication. These forms help express actions in various tenses, moods, and politeness levels, making your conversations more natural and engaging in AP Japanese. Here’s a breakdown of the key conjugations.

1. Present/future tense (dictionary form)

   • Represents the basic form of the verb, used for both present and future actions.
   • Often used in casual conversation and writing.
   • Example: 食べる (taberu) means "to eat."

2. Past tense (-ta form)

   • Indicates actions that have already occurred.
   • Formed by adding -た (-ta) to the verb stem.
   • Example: 食べた (tabeta) means "ate."

3. Te-form

   • Used to connect verbs, make requests, or form progressive tenses.
   • Formed by changing the verb ending to -て (-te) or -で (-de).
   • Example: 食べて (tabete) means "eat (and)."

4. Negative form

   • Expresses the negation of an action.
   • Formed by adding -ない (-nai) to the verb stem.
   • Example: 食べない (tabenai) means "do not eat."

5. Polite form (-masu form)

   • Used to show respect or politeness in conversation.
   • Formed by adding -ます (-masu) to the verb stem.
   • Example: 食べます (tabemasu) means "eat (politely)."

6. Potential form

   • Indicates the ability or possibility to perform an action.
   • Formed by changing the verb ending to -られる (-rareru) for ichidan verbs and -れる (-reru) for godan verbs.
   • Example: 食べられる (taberareru) means "can eat."

7. Passive form

   • Indicates that the subject is affected by the action of the verb.
   • Formed by adding -られる (-rareru) for ichidan verbs and -れる (-reru) for godan verbs.
   • Example: 食べられる (taberareru) means "to be eaten."

8. Causative form

   • Indicates that someone causes another person to perform an action.
   • Formed by adding -せる (-seru) for ichidan verbs and -させる (-saseru) for godan verbs.
   • Example: 食べさせる (tabesaseru) means "to make (someone) eat."

9. Volitional form

   • Expresses intention or suggestion to perform an action.
   • Formed by adding -よう (-you) for ichidan verbs and -おう (-ou) for godan verbs.
   • Example: 食べよう (tabeyou) means "let's eat."

10. Imperative form

    • Used to give commands or instructions.
    • Formed by using the verb stem with -ろ (-ro) for godan verbs and -て (-te) for ichidan verbs.
    • Example: 食べろ (tabero) means "eat!"

11. Conditional form (-ba)

    • Indicates a condition or hypothetical situation.
    • Formed by adding -ば (-ba) to the verb stem.
    • Example: 食べれば (tabereba) means "if (you) eat."

12. Provisional form (-tara)

    • Indicates a provisional or conditional situation.
    • Formed by adding -たら (-tara) to the past tense form of the verb.
    • Example: 食べたら (tabetara) means "if (you) eat."

13. Continuous form (-te iru)

    • Indicates an ongoing action or state.
    • Formed by using the te-form followed by いる (iru).
    • Example: 食べている (tabete iru) means "is eating."

14. Desire form (-tai)

    • Expresses a desire to perform an action.
    • Formed by adding -たい (-tai) to the verb stem.
    • Example: 食べたい (tabetai) means "want to eat."