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There are three categories of verbs in Japanese: ru-verbs, u-verbs,
and irregular verbs. Ru and u verbs follow regular conjugation: |
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Ru-verbs are so called because you add the suffix
ru to the
verb base to form the dictionary form.
U-verbs can be broken down into the base and the suffix. The long
form are formed with the base plus suffixes imasu and imasen. |
| |
Ru-verb |
U-verb |
| verb
bases |
tabe |
ik |
| |
(to eat) |
(to
go) |
| dictionary
forms |
たべる |
いく |
| present,
affirmative |
たべます |
いきます |
| present,
negative |
たべません |
いきません |
| stems |
たべ |
いき |
|
| |
|
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There are only two irregular verbs in Japanese:
|
| する |
to do |
| くる |
to come, to arrive |
| |
|
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They
are conjugated
as follows: |
| dictionary forms |
する |
くる |
| present, affirmative |
します |
きます |
| present, negative |
しません |
きません |
| stems |
し |
き |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's important to remember which verb belongs
to which conjugation class. |
| |
Ru-verb |
U-verb |
| verb
bases |
mi |
kaer |
| dictionary forms |
みる |
かえる |
| present, affirmative |
みます |
かえります |
| present, negative |
みません |
かえりません |
| stems |
み |
かえり |
|