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USING VERBS
There are three groups of verbs distinguishable by the Dictionary Form endings:
Group I: -vowel+U, -KU, -GU, -SU, -TSU, -NU, -BU, -MU, -RU
Group II: -ERU, -IRU (exceptions to these are counted as Group 1 verbs)
Group III: irregular verbs SURU and KURU

Japanese distinguishes between two styles of speech: polite and plain.
For polite speech, -MASU forms of verbs are used.
To form:
Group I: replace final -U with -I, then add -MASU
Group II: remove final -RU, then add -MASU
Group III: SURU ==> SHIMASU, KURU ==> KIMASU
The negative form of -MASU is -MASEN.
-MASU and -MASEN serve both as present and future tense.
Eng. Jap. Dict. Stem -MASU
GROUP 1
wash
write
row
lend
wait
die
jump
drink
return		 arau
kaku
kogu
kaSU
maTSU
shinu
tobu
nomu
kaeru		 ara-u
kak-u
kog-u
kaS-U
maTS-U
shin-u
tob-u
nom-u
kaer-u 		ara-i-
kak-i-
kog-i-
kaSH-I-
maCH-I-
shin-i-
tob-i-
nom-i-
kaer-i- 		ara-i-masu
kak-i-masu
kog-i-masu
kaSH-I-masu
maCH-I-masu
shin-i-masu
tob-i-masu
nom-i-masu
kaer-i-masu
GROUP 2
see
eat 		miru
taberu 		mi-ru
tabe-ru 		mi-
tabe- 		mi-masu
tabe-masu
GROUP 3
come
do 		kuru
suru 		ku-ru
su-ru 		ki-
shi- 		ki-masu
shi-masu

Particles follow a word or phrase to detemine its function in the sentence.
Here are some commonly used ones. Knowing these will allow you to make more detailed sentences.
--GA == subject marker
--WA == topic marker
--KA == question marker
--WO == direct object marker
--E == direction marker
--(NI) == time marker
--NI == purpose marker
--NI == marks place where person or thing is located
--DE == marks place where action occurs
--DE == marks instrument with which action is done
--TO == "with", "and"
--MO == "also"; replaces particles WA, GA, and WO, but follows other particles such as E, NI, etc.
1. (Anata wa) ikimasu ka?
Will (you) go?
2. Ee, (watashi wa) ikimasu.
Yes, (I) will go.
3. Iie, (watashi wa) ikimasen.
No, (I) will not go.
4. Depaato e ikimasu.
(I) will go to the department store.
5. Densha de depaato e ikimasu.
(I) will go to the department store by train.
6. Densha de depaato e kaimono ni ikimasu
(I) will go to the department store by train for shopping.
7. Ni-ji (ni) densha de depaato e kaimono ni ikimasu.
(I) will go to the department store by train for shopping at 2:00.
8. Doko e ikimasu ka.
Where will you go?
9. Tabemasu.
(I) eat.
10. Sashimi wo tabemasu.
(I) eat sashimi.
11. Resutoran de sashimi wo tabemasu.
(I) eat sashimi in a restaurant.
12. Tomodachi to resutoran de sashimi wo tabemasu.
(I) eat sashimi with a friend in a restaurant.
13. Tomodachi to resutoran de sashimi to sushi wo tabemasu.
(I) eat sashimi and sushi with a friend in a restaurant.
14. (Anata wa) nani wo tabemasu ka?
What do (you) eat?
15. Ashita (watashi wa) kaban wo kaimasu.
Tomorrow, (I) will buy a bag.
16. Tomodachi mo kaban wo kaimasu.
(My) friend also will buy a bag.
17. (Watashi wa) kaban wo futatsu kaimasu.
(As for me, I) will buy two bags.
VOCABULARY (GOI)
Things Group I Verbs Group II & III Verbs
shousetsu
tegami
e
kotoba
uta
shorui
shiryou
shitsumon
shukudai
shiken
henji
kitte








novel
letter
picture
word
song
documents
materials
question
homework
test
reply
stamps








iku
kaeru
modoru
nomu
kau
uru
kiku
yomu
kaku
kaku
iu
hanasu
utau
odoru
matsu
motsu
tatsu
suwaru
kiku
kesu 		go
return (home, etc.)
return (again)
drink
buy
sell
listen
read
write
draw
say
speak
sing
dance
wait
hold, have
stand
sit
ask
turn off 		okiru
neru
taberu
miru
kotaeru
atsumeru
tsukeru

kuru
suru
benkyou suru
renshuu suru
renraku suru







wake up
sleep
eat
see
answer
gather, collect
turn on

come
do
study
practice
contact







PRACTICE (RENSHUU)
Inflection
Determine the group in which the verb belongs.
Change into -MASU form.
toru (take a picture)
noru (ride)
oriru (get off)
harau (pay)
tsukau (use) 		kariru (borrow)
kasu (lend)
kaesu (return)
akeru (open)
shimeru (close) 		kakeru (hang)
tsukeru (stick)
oku (place)
tsukuru (make)
dasu (submit) 		aruku (walk)
ochiru (fall)
tobu (fly)
oyogu (swim)
tobu (jump) 		ageru (give)
suru (do)
iru (be)
aru (be)
kuru (come)

Change the verb into Dictionary Form.
asobimasu (play)
yomimasu (read)
kaeru (change)
tsutaemasu (tell)
oshiemasu (teach) 		aimasu (meet)
shimasu (do)
tomarimasu (stop)
kimasu (come)
owarimasu (end) 		akemasu (open)
shimemasu (close)
kowaremasu (be broken)
shuuri shimasu (repair)
yobimasu (call out) 		oshimasu (push)
tsukimasu (arrive)
dekakemasu (go out)
ganbarimasu (do one's best)
tsuzukimasu (continue)

Translation
1. What do you study?
2. I will go the movie house.
3. What time will you return home?
4. What time do you wake up every morning.
5. I sleep at 11:00 PM.
6. I will write a letter tonight.
7. Mr. Nozawa reads novels in a coffee shop.
8. Everyday, I go home by bus.
9. I study Spanish in the library every week.
10. I collect stamps.

Posted: 2001-04-01 (Sun)