Lesson 1
The Plain Form
The Plain Form
Please remember that all Japanese verbs end in u, but to be more
precise, it's the last syllable of the plain form that ends in u.
Let's take the verb aruku, which means "to walk," for
example: it ends in ku, not u. Remembering this will make
further study much easier.
There are 3 types of verbs in Japanese: yodan, ichidan, and
irregular. First we will look at only some simple yodan verbs, which
can end in u, ku, gu, su, tsu, nu, bu,
mu, or ru:
- kau (buy)
- aruku (walk)
- isogu (hurry)
- kasu (lend)
- matsu (wait)
- shinu (die)
- asobu (play)
- yomu (read)
- kaeru (return)
Let's try some in sentences:
- Mama wa mise de banana o kau. (Mom buys/will buy bananas at the store.)
- Jim wa manga o yomu. (Jim will read a comic book.)
- Ojii-san wa sugu kaeru. (Grandpa will return soon.)
Ichidan verbs all end in either eru or iru.
Some frequently used ones are:
- taberu (eat)
- kimeru (decide)
- miru (look, watch)
- kariru (borrow)
Example sentences:
- Watashi wa ringo o taberu. (I'll eat an apple.)
- Naomi wa terebi o miru. (Naomi will watch TV.)
This is very simple Japanese, and also very juvenile or
"familiar." Only kids or people speaking with family or friends
would use this plain form. Before actually trying out the language you need
to learn the "Base 2" forms and the polite endings that go with
them.
Word Check
mise: a store
manga: comic book
ojii-san: grandfather
sugu: soon
watashi: I
ringo: apple
terebi: TV
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