Japanese 284 Lesson 3 Grammar

Grammar included in Japanese 3

Dictionary Form

The base form of a verb which is found int he dictonary that is used for

1) grammar

2) casual Japanese

Godan

The most abundant form of a verb. It has 6 verb stems

く　＝　いきます　ー＞　いく

る　＝　あります　ー＞　ある

つ　＝　まちます　ー＞　まつ

む　＝　よみます　ー＞　よむ

ぶ　＝　とびます　ー＞　とぶ

ぬ　＝　しにます　ー＞　しぬ

く　＝　かきます　ー＞　かく

ぐ　＝　およぎます　ー＞　およぐ

す　＝　けします　ー＞　けす

It is called Godan as it has five changes in the verb stem that occur with the last syllable in the stem. This form allows for conjugation into various tenses and moods.

Example: のみます (to drink)

あ）のま　（のまない　＝ negative dictionary）

い）のみ　（のむます　＝ infinitive form

う）のむ　(dictionary form)

え）のめ（のめます = potential form, can do that action)

お）のも (のもう = voltional form “let’s” )

Ichidan

The has only one verb stem change and always ends in る. In addition, save for a few exeptions, every Ichidan verb has an い or え related character before the verb stepchange which allows for easy conjugation. Ichidan verbs include verbs like 食べる (taberu, to eat) and 寝る (neru, to sleep).

Irregular Verbs

Contains only する　and くる which is します and きます in ます form. These verbs do not follow the standard conjugation rules of Godan or Ichidan verbs. They also are the more tricky in conjugation as their rules are not consitent.

する is easily one of the most expansive verbs as you can place a noun before it to “do that noun”. Examples includes:

勉強する (べんきょう,する to study)

旅行する (りょこうする, to travel)

スポーツをする　（to play sports)

すしをする (to go do (eat) sushi)

テ形（てけい）

Te form (conjugations)

～てください

~ please (a command to do an action)

uses テ形 + ください

ex) 水をのんでください (please drink water)

～てはいけません

You mustn’t do ~ (prohibiting an action)

uses テ形 + はいけません

ex) まどをあけてはいけません (you mustn’t open a window)

～てはいけないです

Less formal version of てはいけません

～てもいい

~ you may do ~ (giving permission to do an action)

uses テ形 +もいい

EX) すわってもいいです。(You make sit down)

～てもいいですか

Is it okay if I ~ (asking for permission)

uses テ形 +もいいですか

EX) すわってもいいですか。(May I sit down?)

～て、～て

Combining two verbs together to create “and”

uses テ形 following another verb with ます

EX）わたしはがっこうにいって、先生とあいます。(I will go to school and meet the teacher.)

から

Giving a reason/explanation to the first sentence

EX) 私はパーティーにいきません。明日はテストがありますから。

I won’t go to the party. It’s because I have a test tomorrow.