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Nihongo Online School > Tips for More Effective Studying > [Types of verb & Forms of verb]-Lesson 1 Basic Sentence With “~masu（ます）” Form

[Types of verb & Forms of verb]-Lesson 1 Basic Sentence With “~masu（ます）” Form

2024/07/24

Director: Kotaro Muramoto
Principal of Nihongo Online School
In September 2019, he founded "Nihongo Online School". Since then, has been teaching Japanese online lessons, with a total of over 1,000 students.
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Lesson 1 “~masu（ます）” form

The “~masu（ます）” form is also called “ていねいけい (Teinei, the polite form)”. It is most widely used in various situations.

There are only two tenses for the form: past tense and non-past tense.

In order to change the dictionary verb form into the proper “~masu” form, the following conjugation rules must be applied.

Japanese Verbs “~masu” Form Short List:

“~masu” Form has 3 groups, so let’s discuss how to apply it appropriately.

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■Group① Verbs End In “u”

When it changes to “~masu” form, “u” change to “i”.

Sample: よむ = yomu (to read) → u change to i = yomi + masu

If it’s past tense, yomi + mashita

Other “u” to “i” verbs list:

	Informal	Formal (Non-Past Tense)	Formal (Past Tense)
To Read	よむ = yomu	よみます = yomimasu	よみました = yomimashita
To Write	かく = kaku	かきます = kakimasu	かきました = kakimashita
To Play	あそぶ = asobu	あそびます = asobimasu	あそびました = asobimashita
To Swim	およぐ = oyogu	およぎます = oyogimasu	およぎました = oyogimashita
To Meet	あう = au	あいます = aimasu	あいました = aimashita
To Wash	あらう = arau	あらいます = araimasu	あらいました = araimashita
To Send	おくる = okuru	おくります = okurimasu	おくりました = okurimashita
To Finish	おわる = owaru	おわります = owarimasu	おわりました = owarimashita
To Win	かつ = katsu	かちます = kachimasu	かちました = kachimashita
To Sit	すわる = suwaru	すわります = suwarimasu	すわりました = suwarimashita

Here are some examples of real-life conversations:

きょう、ともだちと、あいます。

Kyou, tomodachi to aimasu.

I will meet my friend today.

※あう(au) to meet →u→i ＝ai masu

ほんを、よみました。

Honwo yomimashita.

I read the book.

■Group② Verbs End In “eru” Or “iru“

For example, when it change to Masu form, “taberu” change to “tabe + masu”. In case, the word ends in “iru”, “hashiru” change to “hashiri + masu. “U” replace the “i”.

“eru” to “masu” verbs list:

	Informal	Formal (Non-Past Tense)	Formal (Past Tense)
To Eat	たべる = taberu	たべます = tabemasu	たべました = tabemashita
To Memorize	おぼえる = oboeru	おぼえます = oboemasu	おぼえました = oboemashita
To Think	かんがえる = kangaeru	かんがえます = kangaemasu	かんがえました = kangaemashita
To Go Out	でる = deru	でます = demasu	でました = deimashita
To Sleep	ねる = neru	ねます = nemasu	ねました = nemashita

“iru” to “masu” verbs list:

	Informal	Formal (Non-Past Tense)	Formal (Past Tense)
To Run	はしる = hashiru	はしります = hashirimasu	はしりました = hashirimashita
To Enter	はいる = hairu	はいります = hairimasu	はいりました = hairimashita
To Cut	きる = kiru	きります = kirimasu	きりました = kirimashita

きのう、ごはんをたべませんでした。

Kinou, gohanwo tabemasendeshita.

I didn’t eat yesterday.

■Group③ Verbs Suru（する） and Kuru（くる）

The stem will change for these verbs.

“suru” and “kuru” to “masu” verbs list:

	Informal	Formal (Non-Past Tense)	Formal (Past Tense)
To Do	◯◯する = suru	◯◯します = shimasu	◯◯しました = shimashita
To Come	くる = kuru	きます = kimasu	きました = kimashita