Verbs Wednesday, Dec 21 2005
Level 1 7:48 pm
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 Kagaeru Suteru Miru |
“masu” Form Tabemasu Nomimasu Yomimasu Yasumimasu Oshiemasu Akemasu Shimemasu Kakimasu Kagaemasu 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, mu, 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.
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