| A | B |
|---|
| This suffix is used to show desire to do something (as opposed to desire for an object) | Base 2 + tai; Base 2 + tai desu --- Watanabe-san wa kuruma o kaitai desu. (Mr. Watanabe wants to buy a car.) |
| This suffix is used to show you don't want to do something (as opposed to lack of desire for an object). | Base 2 + takunai; Base 2 + takunai desu --- Takeda san wa kono hon o yomitakunai desu. (Mr. Takeda doesn't want to read this book). |
| This form means "let's do." | Base 2 + mashou --- Asobimashou! (Let's play!) |
| This form is an alternative to -te + kudasai for simple, relatively polite commands. Often used with children, subordinates or in -relatively- informal situations. | Base 2 + nasai --- Watashi no atarashii jitensha o minasai. (Look at my new bicycle.) |
| This form indicates that the subject is probably not going to perform the action, or that the action is improbable. | Base 1 + nai deshou; Base 1 + -masen deshou --- Kiku wa sono hon o yomanai deshou. (Kiku probably won't read that book.) |
| This form indicates that the action will probably occur. | Base 3 + deshou --- Sekusi riataru giaru wa iku o taberu deshou. (The sexy little girl will probably eat the squid.) |
| This form is used to construct the conditional negative. "X will happen if Y doesn't happen." | Base 1 + nakereba -- Chichi wa sugu kaeranakereba watashi wa denwa suru. (If Doesn't come back soon I'm going to call.) |
| This form means that one must do the action indicated by the verb. | Base 1 + nakereba narimasen/nakereba naranai -- Ima kaisha ni ikanakereba naranai. (I have to go to work [the office] now.) |
| This form indicates that someone is allowed/made to do something; eg, "I'll let the kids eat the sushi." | Base 1 + seru /saseru---Kodomotachi ni sushi o tabesaseru. (I'll let the kids eat the sushi.)---This suffix is subject to conjugation!---Kodomotachi ni sushi o tabesasemasen deshita. (I didn't let the kids eat sushi.) |
| This suffix indicates uncertainty, or is used to make a question about assumptions. | - deshou --- Nihongo o benkyou suru deshou? (You're studying Japanese, aren't you?) |
| This suffix means "ought to," "supposed to," etc. | Base 3 + hazu desu --- Sakana o kau hazu desu. (I'm supposed to buy the fish.) |
| This form means "should do" or "would be better to do." | Base 3 + hou ga ii --- Okaasan ni denwa suru hou ga ii. (I should call her.) |
| This means "whether or not." | Base 3 + ka dou ka --- Bob wa iku ka dou ka wakarimasen. (I don't know if Bob is going.) |
| This form means "maybe." | Base 3 + kamo shiremasen/kamo shirenai --- Terebi o miru kamo shiremasen. (I may watch TV) |
| This means "because" or "since." | kara --- Jiro wa ikitai kara, sake o kaimashou. (Jiro wants to come, so let's buy sake.) |
| This means "but," "however," or "though." | keredomo --- (Maiku-san wa furansugo o hanasu keredeomo furansu no tabemono ga suki ja nai. (Mike speaks French, but he doesn't like French food.) |
| This is the long way to express the conditional, "can do" sense. | Base 3 + koto ga dekimasu --- Nihongo o yomu koto ga dekimasu. (I can read Japanese.) --- Don't forget that you can conjugate this form ---- Nihongo o yomu koto ga dekimasen deshita. (I couldn't read Japanese.) |
| This suffix indicates a decision to perform the action specified by the verb. "I've made up my mind to..." | Base 3 + koto ni shimasu/koto ni suru --- Osaka ni hikkosu koto ni suru. (I'm moving to Osaka.) |
| This means "until." | Base 3 + made --- Suzi wa iku made watashitachi ga tabenai deshou. (We probably won't eat until Suzy comes.) |
| This is an abrupt command form meaning "Don't (do the verb)!" | Base 3 + na --- Sono tegami o yomu na! (Don't read that letter!) --- Be warned--this form is considered quite abrupt. Try to avoid using it on your boss, yakuza types, and people who are bigger than you. |
| This simple add-on is another way to make a conditional sentence. "If X, then Y." | Base 3 + nara (or the less common naraba) --- Watashi wa isogu nara, densha ni noremasu. (If I hurry, I can catch the train.) |
| Japanese doesn't have relative pronouns. What is the Japanese alternative, when we wish to associate a noun with an action? (eg, the [noun] -which- [verb]) | Base 3 + (noun) --- watashi ga kau katana (the sword I'll buy); kare ga nomu ocha (the tea he drinks); Haha no taberu jikan (the time Mama eats) |
| This construction makes a sentence emphatic. (X -WILL- do Y!) | Base 3 + no desu --- Anata wa ashita nihongo o benkyou suru no desu. (You -WILL- study Japanese tomorrow!) |
| This construction means "in order to do (X)" | Base 3 + no ni --- Osaka yuki no densha ni noru no ni asu hayaku okinakereba narimasen. (You have to get up early tomorrow to catch the train for Osaka.) --- Don't confuse noni ("even though" or "in spite of"). |
| This suffix is an alternative to koto for making a noun out of a verb | Base 3 + no wa --- Nihongo o benkyou suru no wa taisetsu desu. (Studying Japanese is important.) |
| This one is an alternative to kara for showing a cause or reason. | Base 3 + node --- Mariko kuru node watashi wa ima tabemasen. (Since Mariko is coming, I won't eat now.) |
| This simple add-on means "in spite of" or "even though." | Base 3 + noni --- Osoku okita noni densha o noru koto ga dekimasu. (Even though I got up late, I was able to catch the train.) |
| A suffix that's used for things we've heard about, rumors, "I understand that..," etc. | sou desu --- Testuo wa hikkosu sou desu. (I heard that Tetsuo is moving.) --- Remember that when somebody says "Sou desu" by itself, it means "correct" or "that's right." |
| Another way to say "in order to." | Base 3 + tame ni --- Hiro wa eigo o benkyou suru tame ni hon o kaimashita. (Hiro bought some books so he could study English.) |
| This add-on means "when" or "if." | Base 3 + to --- Sushi o taberu to, biiru o nominakereba narimasen. (Whenever I eat sushi, I have to drink beer.) --- Kyoto ni iku to utsukushii tera o mimasu. (If you go to Kyoto, you'll see beautiful temples.) |
| This form means "I think that..." | conj verb + to omoimasu/omou --- Joe wa okane o makeru to omoimasu. (I think Joe will lose money.) |
| This add-on expresses intention. | Base 3 + tsumori (desu) --- Keiko wa Amerika ni iku tsumori desu. (Keiko plans to go to America.) |
| This form means "seems to." | Base 3 + you desu --- Sara wa kaisha ni iku you desu. (It looks like Sarah is going to the office.) |
| Yet another way to "if," using Base 4. | Base 4 + ba --- Isogeba, kodomotachi o miru koto ga dekimasu. (If we hurry, we'll be able to see the kids.) |
| How to say "Why don't you..." | Base 4 + ba --- O-tera ni ikeba? (Why don't you go to the temple?) |
| Use this one to say "it would be good if..." | Base 4 + ba ii --- Ima tabereba ii. (It would be good if we ate now.) |
| This is a Base 4 construction that says "in spite of..." and indicates that one is perhaps annoyed at having to say it again. | Base 4 + ba ii noni --- Ima tabeba ii noni. (It would be nice if you ate now [like I asked you already]). |
| This is the plain imperative form. | Base 4 alone --- Ike! (Go!) --- (This one is not used with regular -iru/-eru [Ichidan] verbs.) |
| This is a very economical conditional form, a nice alternative to koto ga dekiru. | Base 4 + ru/masu/masen, etc --- Tamiko wa ikemasen deshita. (Tamiko couldn't go.) --- Kare wa piano o hikeru. (He can play the piano.) |
| This is the plain "let's do" form. | Base 5 alone --- Tabeyou. (Let's eat.) --- Ikou. (Let's go.) |
| This simple construction changes the "let's do" form into a suggestion. ("Shall we...?") | Base 5 + ka --- Resutoran ni ikou ka. (Shall we go to the resutaurant?) |
| This is a way to say "I wonder if I should..." | Base 5 + ka naa --- Hikouki de ikou ka naa. (I wonder if I should go by plane.) |
| This form expresses "try to do X." | Base 5 + to suru/shimasu/shita etc --- Jon san wa yomiuri shinbun o miyou to shimashita. (John tried to read the Yomiuri [newspaper].) |
| A most common polite request form. | -te kudasai --- Sukoshi yasunde kudasai. (Please rest a bit.) |
| A common plain request form. | -te form alone --- Kono tsukemono o tabete. (Eat these pickles.) |
| This form indicates that we will give, or perform an action for, another person. | -te + ageru --- Nichiyobi de denwa shite ageru. (I'll give you a call on Sunday.) --- Toukyou eki ni matte ageru. (I'll wait for you at Tokyo station.) |
| This is a form that means "go ahead and..." or "do X and see for yourself." | -te + goran (nasai)---adding nasai gives this form more of a "you'll find out"/command element --- Mite goran. (Take a look.) --- Kanojo ni kiite goran nasai. (Go ahead and ask her, and you'll see.) |
| This construction expresses a progressive tense. | -te form + iru (conj) --- Unten shite iru. (I am driving.) --- Unten shite imasen deshita. (I wasn't driving.) |
| This one means "would you please..." or "may I...?" | -te form + itadakemasu ka --- Narita san no tame ni tegami o kaite itadakemasu ka. (Would you please write a letter for Mr. Narita?) --- Watashi ni denwa shite itadakemasen ka. (Won't you please call me?) |
| Here's a request form that means "I [humbly] recieve," but isn't quite as polite as an itadaku form. | -te form + morau (conj) --- Isha-san ni denwa shite moraimasu. (Please call the doctor for me.) --- Tanaka-kun ni itte moraimashita. (I had Tanako go.) |
| This is a form that means "after doing X...." | -te form + kara --- Benkyou shite kara, taberu. (After I study I'm going to eat.) --- Kendo ga owatte kara, biiru o nomimashou! (After Kendo practice, let's quaff brewskies!) |
| Here's a familiar request form that means "Will you please...?" | -te form + kureru --- Yonji han ni kite kureru? (Will you please come at 4:30?)---Watashitachi to issho ni kite kurenai no. (Won't you please come with us?) |
| This construction means "came to do X..." or "it came to pass that..." | -te form + kuru --- Watashi wa, sukoshi zutsu nihon ryouri ga naratte kimashita. (Bit by bit, I learned Japanese cooking.) |
| This form means "will go on to..." or "continued on to..." | -te form + iku --- Maikusan wa nihon ni hataraite iku to omou. (I think Mike will go on to work in Japan.) |
| This form emphasizes the purpose of going or coming. | Base 2 + ni kuru/ni iku --- Hiru gohan o tabe ni ikimashou. (Let's go eat lunch.) --- Jitensha o kari ni kimashita. (I came to borrow a bicycle.) |
| This is a form that means "(I'll) give it a try..." or "(She'll) see if (she) can..." | -te form + miru --- Kono shinbun o yonde mimasu. (I'll try to read this newspaper.) |
| This pattern is used for asking or granting permission. | -te form + mo ii --- Terebi o mite mo ii desu ka? (May I watch TV?) --- Kono kuruma o karite mo ii. (You can borrow this car.) |
| This add-on means "will certainly do..." or "will go ahead and..." | -te form + oku --- Kuruma o unten shite oku. (I'll drive the car.) |
| This form means to "finish...," but can also mean that you're doing something unexpected, or executing a difficult decision. | -te shimau --- Shukudai o shite shimaimashou. (Let's finish up our homework.) --- Nihon ni hikkoshite shimaimashita. (She [actually went off and] moved to Japan(!)" |
| This form conveys concern or dismay about something happening. | -te + shimau --- Shukudai o wasurete shimaimashita! (I forgot my homework!) |
| This is one way to say "how about doing...." | -te form + wa ikaga desu ka --- Tsukemono to Asahi wa ikaga desu ka. (How about some pickles and Asahi?) |
| This is a polite way to say "don't do that" or "you shouldn't do that." | -te form + wa ikemasen --- Koko ni tabete ikemasen. (You can't eat here.)--- An alternative in familiar settings is -te wa (-tcha) dame --- Ima tabetcha dame! (You can't eat now!) |
| This form is used to construct statements about continuing actions, eg, "I studied, ate, showered, and went to bed." | Use the -te form --- Kesa watashi wa okite, choushoku o tabete, shinbun o yonde, kaisha ni kimashita. (This morning I work up, ate breakfast, read the newspaper, and came to the office.) |
| This add-on means "just did (someting)." | -ta form + bakari --- Tsuita bakari kara, mada tabemasen. (I just arrived, so I haven't eaten yet.) |
| This form is used to discuss experiences. | -ta form + koto ga aru --- Kyoutou made ryokou shita koto ga arimasu ka? (Have you ever been to Kyoto?) --- Sushi o tabeta koto ga nai. (I've haven't eaten sushi.) |
| Yet another way to say "if" for conditionals, using the -ta form. More common in familiar settings. | -ta form + ra --- Mariko ni denwa shitara, kanojo wa kuru deshou. (If you call Mariko she'll probably come.) |
| This means "I heard that..." or "it seems that..." | -ta form + rashii --- Tsutsujigaoka ni ikitai n desu ga, michi ni mayotta rashii desu. (I want to go to Tsutsujigaoka, but it seems I'm lost.) --- Kare wa Hokkaido ni hikkoshita rashii. (Seems he moved to Hokkaido.) |
| Used for suppositional statements. | -ta form + to shitara --- Mariko ga denwa shita to shitara, ikinakereba naranai. (If Mariko calls, I'll have to go.) --- you can also use to sureba and to suru to in the same way! |
| This is an alternative to -to shitara for the suppositional, one that adds a light warning or admonition. | -ta form + to shite mo --- Kanojo ni denwa shita to shite mo, ikanai deshou. (Even if you call her, she probably won't come.) |
| This form is used to talk about when something happened. | -ta form + toki --- Kono hon o mita toki, kawanakereba narimasen deshita. (When I saw this book, I had to buy it.) |
| This suffix indicates that something was done -just- now. | -ta + tokoro --- Watashi wa tsuita tokoro desu. (I -just now- arrived.) --- Sono kurumo o aratta tokoro! (I -just- cleaned that car!) |
