2. Yodan Verbs with Base 2 + masu

Lesson 2
Yodan Verbs with Base 2 + masu

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The first ending you'll want to master is the polite form masu. Since masu requires the Base 2 form, yodan verbs are changed so they end in i -- their "Base 2" form -- before the masu ending is added. Notice how the following yodan verbs change in order to add masu, the present polite ending. Especially notice how verbs ending in su and tsu change:
 

Plain Verb (English)	Base 2 Form	Polite Verb Form
kau (buy)	kai	kaimasu
aruku (walk)	aruki	arukimasu
isogu (hurry)	isogi	isogimasu
kasu (lend)	kashi	kashimasu
matsu (wait)	machi	machimasu
shinu (die)	shini	shinimasu
asobu (play)	asobi	asobimasu
yomu (read)	yomi	yomimasu
kaeru (return)	kaeri	kaerimasu

Now we're ready to speak polite, "adult" Japanese. Let's convert the plain yodan verb example sentences in Lesson 1 to polite sentences by converting them to Base 2 and adding masu:

• Mama wa mise de banana o kaimasu. (Mom buys/will buy bananas at the store.)
• Jim wa manga o yomimasu. (Jim will read a comic book.)
• Ojii-san wa sugu kaerimasu. (Grandpa will return soon.)

Easy, right?