Past Tense – katta
As I have show you how to convert Verbs into past tense in my previous post. Today, I will show you how to convert Adjectives into Past Tense.
| English Expensive Heavy Fast Bad / Poor Difficult Enjoy / Fun Delicious Quiet Good |
Present Tense Takai Omoi Hayai Warui Muzugashii Omoshiroi Oishii Shizuka Ii |
Past Tense Takakatta Omokatta Hayakatta Warukatta Muzugashikatta Omoshirokatta Oishikatta Shizuka deshita Yokatta |
As you can see above, there are 3 types of usage for different group of adjectives. The top part which uses “katta” is simple. All you need to do is to remove the “i” at the back and replace with “katta”. However there are some words with an “i” at the back but you cannot replace it with “katta”. These are special words. Sound confusing, right? Yes, it indeed very confusing where many Japanese Learner got them mixed up.
Those words (adjectives) without an “i” at the end will definately use “deshita”. You don’t need to remove any alphabet (in Japanese – the hiragana character) whereby you just need to add a “deshita” at the back. To identify which adjective that end with “i” requires “katta” or “deshita”, simply look at the second japanese character.
For example : teinei (in hiragana, it identifies as te i ne i) – If the fourth character is just before the “i”, then use “deshita”. In this case, the “ne” is the fourth character just before the “i”. Just like “kirei (ki re i)” – “re” is the fourth character.
For more information on the Japanese Character, have a look at Pronunciation section
You must remember, the “i” that I mentioned above is Japanese Character not English Alphabet. Dont mix up with this otherwise you will end up saying “Suki” as “Sukkatta” which will make the Japanese scratching their heads.
Suki or Benri doesn’t end with “i” but instead there are end with “ki” and “ri” respectively.
OK, the last one which is “Ii” (Good). This is a very special word that will change totally to different word. For past tense, you have to use “yokatta”.
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December 16th, 2006 at 4:25 am
“For example : teinei (in hiragana, it identifies as te i ne i) – If the fourth character is just before the “i”, then use “deshita”. In this case, the “ne” is the fourth character just before the “i”. Just like “kirei (ki re i)” – “re” is the fourth character.”
*gives a blank stare* I totally didn’t understand this. Could you clerify a little for me? I really wanna get this stuff…
December 16th, 2006 at 4:54 am
Just a quick one– is is really “muzugashii”? I’ve also seen “muzuKAshii”. Clerify?? Thanks!
December 16th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Hi AJ, yes, this is a little difficult but one thing for sure is, if “i” is not at the end of each word, “deshita” will be used. As long as there is the fourth character before an “i”, deshita will be used as well. Like “Te I Ne I” = before “I”, there is “Ne” (4th character) before “I”.
Remember that the “i” is refering to Hiragana not romaji. Benri doesn’t end with “i” but “ri”, so deshita is used in this case.
This need a little practice and once you used to all this, you will confuse no more.
“Muzukashii” is the correct one. If you see “Muzugashii” somewhere, it is wrong.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
hey AJ, when Tony says 4th character he could mean a, i, u, e, o. e is the 4th. so ne would be the 4th.
So anything without an い(i) uses deshita. And everything where the second to last character is: え、け、げ、せ、ぜ、て、で、ね、へ、べ、ぺ、め、or れ。
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
The reason for the past tense of good being ‘yokatta’ is because it comes from the word ‘yoi’ meaning good not ‘ii’. ‘Ii’ also means good and is more common than ‘yoi’ though. Anyway, thanks for these lessons.
August 17th, 2020 at 10:46 am
Jouzu Deshita is polite past tense .
Jouzu Datta is casual past tense.
If you are using Katta which is the casual form for your examples.
Shouldn’t you be using Datta instead of deshita in your examples as well.
You are mixing the casual of polite form together which will confuse the reader.