Japanese verb forms: masu, te, ta, nai

The forms from the first two stages of conjugation – what each one does and when it is used.

dictionary form

the base shape every other form is built from

The plain form you find in a dictionary. Every other form is built from it.

the bare verb: write

polite ます form

the everyday polite shape for people you do not know well

The everyday polite form, used with people you do not know well.

I write (polite)

polite negative ません

politely: that something does not happen

The polite way to say something does not happen.

I don't write (polite)

polite past ました

politely: that something already happened

The polite way to say something already happened.

I wrote (polite)

polite past negative ませんでした

politely: that something did not happen

The polite way to say something did not happen.

I didn't write (polite)

plain negative (nai-form)

plainly, without the polite ending: it does not happen

The plain way to say something does not happen.

I don't write

plain past (ta-form)

plainly, without the polite ending: it happened

The plain past. It follows exactly the same sound changes as the te-form.

I wrote

plain past negative

plainly: that something did not happen

The plain way to say something did not happen.

I didn't write

te-form

links one clause to the next and carries most requests

The connecting form. It links clauses together and carries most requests.

…and then…

negative te-form

links clauses when the first half is a negative

The connecting form when the first half is a negative.

I don't write, and…

conditional ba-form

a condition: if this happens, something follows

If this happens, then something follows.

if I write…

conditional tara-form

a condition once met: when this has happened, something follows

Once this has happened, then something follows.

once I've written…

adverbial form

says how something is done

Turns an adjective into a description of how something is done.

quickly, quietly

attributive な form

describes the noun that comes right after it

The shape a na-adjective takes directly in front of a noun.

a quiet street

Where this comes from

Everything above comes from the free part of the Katsuyokei app and has passed its content review.

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