Today I will show you how to use Verbs in Japanese.

 
English
Eat
Drink
Read
Rest
Teach
Open
Close
Write
Think
Throw
See 		 
Standard Form
Taberu
Nomu
Yomu
Yasumu
Oshieru
Akeru
Shimeru
Kaku
Kangaeru
Suteru
Miru 		 
“masu” Form
Tabemasu
Nomimasu
Yomimasu
Yasumimasu
Oshiemasu
Akemasu
Shimemasu
Kakimasu
Kangaemasu
Sutemasu
Mimasu

As you can see in the above example, the verbs in standard form (impolite) and “masu” form (polite) are different. Here I will show you how to do the conversion.

Whenever there is “4th tone” (ie: ke, se, re, me, etc) in the second last of the japanese character, you should change the last character to masu. Example : Taberu, notice that the “be” is positioned in second last, then you should use “Taberumasu (replace “ru” with “masu”). Another example, “Akeru” >> Akemasu.

With “3rd tone” (ie: ku, su, mu, ru, etc) positioned as last character, always replace with “2nd tone” (ie: ki, shi, mi, ri, etc) follow by “masu. Example : Kaku >> Kakukimasu, Yasumu >> Yasumimasu. However some verbs ending with “ru” cannot be replace with “ri” but to replace with “masu”. Those special verbs are, Miru (See), Kiru (Wear), Kariru (Rent/Borrow), Okiru (Wake) where you have to change them to “Mimasu”, “Kimasu”, “Karimasu” & “Okimasu” respectively. For your info, there are some verbs with the same pronunciation but different Kanji. Example: Kiru which mean “Wear（着る）” & “Cut（切る） but only Wear use Kimasu where the rest will be “rimasu” (ie: kirimasu). Confusing huh!!!

There are also some special verbs such as “Kuru (Come)” & “Suru (Do)” where it will be changed to “Kimasu” & “Shimasu” respectively.

If you want to change the “masu (positive)” to negative, just use “masen”. Example : Tabemasen

It is a bit confusing initially but as long as you practice more, you will one day master the verbs conversion.