Grammar: JLPT N5

Japanese verb conjugation

① Verb groups

Before learning any conjugation, it is essential that you fully understand the verb groups!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 行 い く iku to go 分 わ かる wakaru to understand 食 た べる taberu to eat 料 りょう 理 り する ryōri suru to cook 帰 かえ る kaeru to return, to go back 切 き る kiru to cut 知 し る shiru to know 入 はい る hairu to enter 走 はし る hashiru to run

And here is a cheat sheet that you can print and put up everywhere in your house, in your office, at your friend's...!

Click on the image to download the PDF

Now, let's check if you can guess the group of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 見みる (miru, to watch) → Group ?2 (it ends with る and there is a "i" ending syllable before!)

b) 読よむ (yomu, to read) → Group ?1 (it doesn't end with る!)

c) 取とる (toru, to take) → Group ?1 (it ends with る but there is a "o" ending syllable before!)

d) 仕し事ごとする (shigoto suru, to work) → Group ?3 (it ends with る but it's the irregular verb する!)

e) 遊あそぶ (asobu, to play) → Group ?1 (it doesn't end with る!)

f) 帰かえる (kaeru, to go home) → Group ?1 (sorry, it should be in group 2 but it's an exception!)

Great! Now that you know the verb groups, you can choose to learn the polite form (go to number ②) or the casual form (negative = ③/ past = ⑤ / volitional = ⑦). You don't know what to choose? Read this:

Learning the polite form first Learning the casual form first + Only 1 conjugation to memorize

+ Easier to conjugate

+ Can be "safely" used with anyone + Used more often (with friends, in movies...)

+ Can be connected to many structures - Sounds unnatural when talking to a friend

- Less used in daily life - More conjugation to memorize

- More difficult to conjugate

- Risk of using it with the "wrong" person!

Well, no matter what you choose, you will eventually have to learn both of them, so I would start with the easier one: the polite form!

② The polite form

Once you know how to make the polite form of Japanese verbs, it is very easy to make a verb negative (I don't..., you don't..., he/she doesn't...), past (I did..., you did...), negative past (I didn't..., you didn't...) or even to say "Let's...!".

It only takes 5 minutes to learn how to do it!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 飲 の む nomu to drink 取 と る toru to take 話 はな す hanasu to talk 見 み る miru to look, to watch する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 勉 べん 強 きょう する benkyō suru to study 分 わ かる wakaru to understand 休 やす む yasumu to rest

Here is the simplified hiragana chart that will help you conjugate the polite form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the polite form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 来くる (kuru, to come) → ?来ます, kimasu (group 3!)

b) 帰かえる (kaeru, to go home) → ?帰ります, kaerimasu (group 1!)

c) 待まつ (matsu, to wait) → ?待ちます, machimasu (group 1!)

d) 寝ねる (neru, to sleep) → ?寝ます, nemasu (group 2!)

e) 消けす (kesu, to turn off/to erase) → ?消します, keshimasu (group 1!)

f) コピーする (kopī suru, to photocopy) → ?コピーします, kopī shimasu (group 3!)

③ NAI form: The casual negative ("I don't, you don't, he doesn't...")

Be careful, this is the casual negative form, so you mustn't use it to talk to your teachers/boss...!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 読 よ む yomu to read 言 い う iu to say ある aru to exist, to be, to have 寝 ね る neru to sleep, to go to bed する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 持 も って 来 く る motte kuru to bring 分 わ かる wakaru to understand

Here is the simplified hiragana chart that will help you conjugate the NAI form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the negative form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 買かう (kau, to buy) → ?買わない, kawanai (group 1!)

b) 売うる (uru, to sell) → ?売らない, uranai (group 1!)

c) 掃そう除じする (sōji suru, to clean) → ?掃除しない, sōji shinai (group 3!)

d) 走はしる (hashiru, to run) → ?走らない, hashiranai (group 1!)

e) 忘わすれる (wasureru, to forget) → ?忘れない, wasurenai (group 2!)

f) 見みる (miru, to watch) → ?見ない, minai (group 2!)

④ TE form: Making requests, linking sentences, & more!

The TE form is one of the biggest challenges for beginners in Japanese but it is also extremely useful!

You can use the TE form to:

- link sentences

- make requests (you can be more polite by adding ください, kudasai)

But you can also combine the TE form with other verbs. For example, you can connect it to いる／います (iru/imasu) to create a continuous tense (聞きいている, kiite iru = to be listening...).

So, what are you waiting for? Let's learn how to conjugate it!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 行 い く iku to go 待 ま つ matsu to wait 飲 の む nomu to drink 聞 き く kiku to listen, to ask 脱 ぬ ぐ nugu to take off (clothes, shoes...) 貸 か す kasu to lend 見 み る miru to look, to watch する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 電 でん 話 わ する denwa suru to call, to phone

Here is the conjugation chart for the TE form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the TE form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 起おきる (okiru, to wake up) → ?起きて, okite (group 2!)

b) 持もって来くる (motte kuru, to bring) → ?持って来て, motte kite (group 3!)

c) 呼よぶ (yobu, to call over) → ?呼んで, yonde (group 1!)

d) 話はなす (hanasu, to speak) → ?話して, hanashite (group 1!)

e) 教おしえる (oshieru, to teach) → ?教えて, oshiete (group 2!)

f) 切きる (kiru, to cut) → ?切って, kitte (group 1!)

⑤ TA form: The casual past ("I did, you did, he did...")

Did you practice the TE form with my previous video lesson? Well, good news: the casual past (TA form) is almost the same so you will learn it very easily!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 行 い く iku to go 買 か う kau to buy 遊 あそ ぶ asobu to play 書 か く kaku to write 泳 およ ぐ oyogu to swim 話 はな す hanasu to talk 出 で る deru to go out する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 掃 そう 除 じ する sōji suru to clean

Here is the conjugation chart for the TA form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the TA form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 引ひく (hiku, to pull) → ?引いた, hiita (group 1!)

b) 死しぬ (shinu, to die) → ?死んだ, shinda (group 1!)

c) 来くる (kuru, to come) → ?来た, kita (group 3!)

d) 忘わすれる (wasureru, to forget) → ?忘れた, wasureta (group 2!)

e) 洗あらう (arau, to wash) → ?洗った, aratta (group 1!)

f) 分わかる (wakaru, to understand) → ?分かった, wakatta (group 1!)

⑥ The potential form: "To be able to..., to know how to..."

Learn how to say what you can do in Japanese with this short video!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 泳 およ ぐ oyogu to swim 寝 ね る neru to sleep, to go to bed する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 運 うん 転 てん する unten suru to drive

Here is the simplified hiragana chart that will help you conjugate the potential form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the potential form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 書かく (kaku, to write) → ?書ける, kakeru

b) 料りょう理りする (ryōri suru, to cook) → ?料理できる, ryōri dekiru

c) 言いう (iu, to say) → ?言える, ieru

d) 食たべる (taberu, to eat) → ?食べ(ら)れる, tabe(ra)reru

e) 読よむ (yomu, to read) → ?読める, yomeru

f) 出でる (deru, to go out) → ?出(ら)れる, de(ra)reru

⑦ The volitional form: "Let's...!"

Learn how to invite your Japanese friends with this short video! This is the casual version of ～ましょう (mashō), so make sure you don’t use it with your teachers/boss!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 会 あ う au to meet 食 た べる taberu to eat する suru to do 来 く る kuru to come 練 れん 習 しゅう する renshū suru to practice

Here is the simplified hiragana chart that will help you conjugate the volitional form of group 1 verbs:

Now, let's check if you can make the volitional form of any verb! (Hover over the "?" to see the answer!)

a) 買かい物ものする (kaimono suru, to shop) → ?買い物しよう, kaimono shiyō

b) 寝ねる (neru, to sleep) → ?寝よう, neyō

c) 走はしる (hashiru, to run) → ?走ろう, hashirō

d) 遊あそぶ (asobu, to play) → ?遊ぼう, asobō

e) 始はじめる (hajimeru, to start) → ?始めよう, hajimeyō

f) 歌うたう (utau, to sing) → ?歌おう, utaō

⑧ To give ( あげる・くれる , ageru/kureru) & to receive ( もらう , morau)

So far, you have studied many conjugations and used them with different verbs. In this section, you will learn how to say "to give" and "to receive" in Japanese.

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 花 はな hana flower 本 ほん hon book 姉 あね ane my older sister

Notes:

- you can take out “私わたし は (watashi wa)” and “私わたし に (watashi ni)” to sound more natural.

- although it is grammatically correct, it is not natural to say that someone “receives from me” (私わたし に もらう, watashi ni morau). So try to use “I give” to someone (あげる, ageru) instead!

Now, let's check if you can translate these sentences in Japanese!

a) I got a gift.

b) My father gave me a watch.

c) I gave flowers to my mother.

d) My friend got a book from the teacher.

e) The teacher gave a book to my friend.

f) My friend will give me a manga.

Click here to display the answers!

a) ( 私わたし は ) プレゼント を もらった or もらいました。

b) 父ちち は (私わたし に ) 時と計けい を くれた or くれました。

c) ( 私わたし は ) 母はは に 花はな を あげた or あげました。

d) 友とも達だち は 先せん生せい に 本ほん を もらった or もらいました。

e) 先せん生せい は 友とも達だち に 本ほん を くれた or くれました。

f) 友とも達だち は ( 私わたし に ) 漫まん画が を くれる or くれます。

Japanese Particles

① The location particles: へ・に・で (E/NI/DE)

Learn how to use correctly the location particles へ (E), に (NI), and で (DE) in Japanese with this short video!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 行 い く iku to go いる iru to be, to exist (+person/animal) ある aru to be, to exist (+object) 食 た べる taberu to eat 来 く る kuru to come 帰 かえ る kaeru to return, to go back 住 す む sumu to live 泊 と まる tomaru to stay 会 あ う au to meet 買 か う kau to buy 駅 えき eki station

And here is a cheat sheet that summarizes what you have just learned in the video!

Now, let's check if you can choose the correct particle to complete these sentences! (Hover over the "【?】" to see the answer!)

a) うち 【?】で 勉べん強きょうする (uchi 【?】DE benkyō suru, to study at home)

b) 図と書しょ館かん 【?】へ or に 行いく (toshokan 【?】E or NI iku, to go to the library)

c) 外そと 【?】で 遊あそぶ (soto 【?】DE asobu, to play outside)

d) 部へ屋や 【?】に パソコン が ある (heya 【?】NI pasokon ga aru, there is a PC in the room)

e) 学がっ校こう 【?】に いる (gakkō 【?】NI iru, to be at school)

f) 原はら宿じゅく 【?】で 服ふく を 買かう (Harajuku 【?】DE fuku wo kau, to buy clothes in Harajuku)

Japanese Sentence Structures

① Going further with the TE form

In the video about the conjugation of the TE form, I used it to make requests. But there are many more ways to use the TE form!

Using the TE form to link sentences

Learn how to express a sequence of actions (for example, to talk about your daily routine) in Japanese with this short video!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 6 ろく 時 じ roku-ji 6 o'clock 起 お きる okiru to wake up, to get up 朝 あさ ご 飯 はん asa-gohan breakfast 食 た べる taberu to eat シャワー shawā shower 浴 あ びる abiru to be under, to take (a shower) 本 ほん hon book 読 よ む yomu to read 寝 ね る neru to sleep, to go to bed

Now, let's check if you can make long sentences in Japanese with this translation exercise!

a) I went to Akihabara and I bought a computer.

b) I go home, I eat dinner and I watch TV.

c) Please write your name here and wait over there.

d) I will go to Japan and study Japanese.

e) Take the Yamanote line and get off at Shibuya.

f) I read a manga and I drew a picture.

Click here to display the answers!

a) 秋あき葉は原ばら へ 行いって、パソコン を 買かった or 買かいました。

b) うち に 帰かえって、晩ばんご飯はん を 食たべて、テレビ を 見みる or 見みます。

c) ここ に お名な前まえ を 書かいて、あそこ で 待まって下ください。

d) 日に本ほん へ 行いって、日に本ほん語ご を 勉べん強きょうする or します。

e) 山手やまのて線せん に 乗のって、渋しぶ谷や で 降おりて。

f) 漫まん画が を 読よんで、絵え を 描かいた or 描かきました。

Doing something for someone: てあげる・てくれる (TE-ageru/TE-kureru)

When people do something for you, it is not natural to say "they did this". You should express your gratitude by saying "they did this for me".

Learn how to describe when people do something for someone in Japanese with this short video!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 友 とも 達 だち tomodachi friend 私 わたし watashi me, I 弟 おとうと otōto my little brother 先 せん 生 せい sensei teacher 待 ま つ matsu to wait 手 て 伝 つだ う tetsudau to help

About the particles used with てあげる ( TE-ageru ) and てくれる ( TE-kureru )

With てあげる (TE-ageru) and てくれる (TE-kureru), we keep the same particle as the one used with the verb in the original sentence (before attaching てあげる・てくれる, TE-ageru/TE-kureru). For example:

- I play with my little brother

弟おとうと と 遊あそぶ

→ 弟おとうと と 遊あそんであげる。

- Could you play with my little brother?

弟おとうと と 遊あそぶ

→ 弟おとうと と 遊あそんでくれませんか。

- I explain to my little brother

弟おとうと に 説せつ明めいする

→ 弟おとうと に 説せつ明めいしてあげる。

- Could you explain to my little brother?

弟おとうと に 説せつ明めいする

→ 弟おとうと に 説せつ明めいしてくれませんか。

- I repair my little brother's bicycle

弟おとうと の 自じ転てん車しゃ を 直なおす

→ 弟おとうと の 自じ転てん車しゃ を 直なおしてあげる

- Could you repair my little brother's bicycle?

弟おとうと の 自じ転てん車しゃ を 直なおす

→ 弟おとうと の 自じ転てん車しゃ を 直なおしてくれませんか。

However, if the verb is not usually used with a beneficiary, the person for whom we do something is marked with の ため に (no tame ni, "for"). For example:

- I clean for my little brother

弟おとうと の ため に 掃そう除じする

→ 弟おとうと の ため に 掃そう除じしてあげる

- Could you clean for my little brother?

弟おとうと の ため に 掃そう除じする

→ 弟おとうと の ため に 掃そう除じしてくれませんか。

Now, let's check if you can use てあげる (TE-ageru) and てくれる (TE-kureru) with this translation exercise!

a) My mom made me a cake.

b) Could you write in hiragana, please?

c) I'll help you.

d) The teacher lent a book to my older sister.

e) Mr. Tanizaki bought a manga to his little brother.

f) Could you take a picture for me, please?

Click here to display the answers!

a) 母はは が/は ケーキ を 作つくってくれた or 作つくってくれました。

b) 平ひら仮が名な で 書かいてくれませんか。

c) 手て伝つだってあげる（よ） or 手て伝つだってあげます（よ）。

d) 先せん生せい が/は 姉あね に 本ほん を 貸かしてくれた or 貸かしてくれました。

e) 谷たに崎ざきさん が/は 弟おとうとさん に 漫まん画が を 買かってあげた or 買かってあげました。

f) 写しゃ真しん を 撮とってくれませんか。

Receiving a favour: てもらう (TE-morau)

Are you comfortable with てあげる (TE-ageru) and てくれる (TE-kureru)? You can now learn with this short video how to express these actions from the point of view of the person who receives the favour, with てもらう (TE-morau)!

Click here to display the vocabulary that I use in the video!

Japanese word Rōmaji English translation 友 とも 達 だち tomodachi friend 私 わたし watashi me, I 弟 おとうと otōto my little brother 姉 あね ane my older sister 待 ま つ matsu to wait 送 おく る okuru to drive someone, to take someone to... 手 て 伝 つだ う tetsudau to help

About the particles used with てもらう ( TE-morau )

With てあげる (TE-ageru) and てくれる (TE-kureru), we keep the same particle as the one used with the verb in the original sentence (before attaching てあげる・てくれる, TE-ageru/TE-kureru). But with てもらう (TE-morau), the person who does the favour is most of the time marked with に (ni)! It is also possible to use the particle から (kara) with certain verbs. However, から (kara) is more natural if the favour was done by a place. For example:

- I got my parents to send me books.

両りょう親しん に or から 本ほん を 送おくってもらった。

- I had books sent from my parents' home.

実じっ家か から 本ほん を 送おくってもらった。

Now, let's check if you can use てもらう (TE-morau) instead of てあげる (TE-ageru) and てくれる (TE-kureru) in the following exercise!

a) 母はは が ケーキ を 作つくってくれた。

b) 先せん生せい が 姉あね に 本ほん を 貸かしてくれた。

c) 駅えき員いん が 道みち を 教おしえてくれた。

d) 谷たに崎ざきさん が 健けんさん に 漫まん画が を 買かってあげた。

e) お母かあさん が 子こ供ども に 本ほん を 読よんであげる。

f) 写しゃ真しん を 撮とってくれませんか。

Click here to display the answers!

a) 母はは に ケーキ を 作つくってもらった。

b) 姉あね が 先せん生せい に 本ほん を 貸かしてもらった。

c) 駅えき員いん に 道みち を 教おしえてもらった。

d) 健けんさん が 谷たに崎ざきさん に 漫まん画が を 買かってもらった。

e) 子こ供ども が お母かあさん に 本ほん を 読よんでもらう。

f) 写しゃ真しん を 撮とってもらえませんか。