Yesterday, Te-form of verbs was introduced. A verb in Te-form can be followed by another conjugating word (often a verb). Actually, “Masu-form without masu” can also be followed by another conjugating word. But anyway, it is important to know that there are two patterns of conjugation in Japanese; one is for being placed in front of a noun, the other is for being placed in front of another conjugating word. Te-form is the latter.
And have you found in yesterday’s post that there were groupings for verbs, which were called “Group1”, “Group2”, and “Group3”? Their definitions are as below;
Suppose there is one Japanese verb, and you want to know what group the verb is. Make “Nai-form” of that verb. And check the vowel just in front of “nai”.
– The vowel in front of “nai” is “a”, then the verb is a Group1 verb.
– The vowel in front of “nai” is “i” or “e”, then the verb is a Group2 verb.
– Verbs in Group3 are irregular verbs. They are Kuru/Kimasu and Suru/Shimasu.
Let us examine the verbs that appeared yesterday’s post as to these groupings;
– Imasu (in Masu-form) => Inai (in Nai-form); The vowel in front of “nai” is “i” => Group2
– Nemasu => Nenai; The vowel in front of “nai” is “e” => Group2
– Kimasu => Group3
– Shimasu => Group3
– Tsukaimasu => Tsukawanai; The vowel in front of “nai” is “a” => Group1
– Kakimasu => Kakanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Ikimasu => Ikanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Isogimasu => Isoganai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Hanashimasu => Hanasanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Machimasu => Matanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Tobimasu => Tobanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Yomimasu => Yomanai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
– Tsukurimasu => Tsukuranai; “a”+ “nai” => Group1
Once you have got to know which group the verb is, you can convert the verb from Masu-form to Te-form through the following procedure;
< Te-forms of Group2 and Group3 Verbs >
[Masu-form without masu] + te
examples — [Masu-form], [Masu-form without masu] + te, and Te-Form
– Imasu, I+te, Ite
– Nemasu, Ne+te, Nete
– Kimasu, Ki+te, Kite
– Shimasu, Shi+te, Shite
< Te-forms of Group1 Verbs >
SPECIAL ONE: Ikimasu => Itte
OTHER THAN Ikimasu
Check the letter just before “masu”
– i+masu/chi+masu/ri+masu => tte
— imasu => tte
example : Tsukaimasu => Tsuka+imasu => Tsukatte
— chimasu => tte
example : Machimasu => Ma+chimasu => Matte
— rimasu => tte
example : Tsukurimasu => Tsuku+rimasu=> Tsukutte
– bi+masu/mi+masu/ni+masu => nde
— bimasu => nde
example : Tobimasu => To+bimasu => Tonde
— mimasu => nde
example : Yomimasu => Yo+mimasu => Yonde
— nimasu => nde
example : Shinimasu => Shi+nimasu => Shinde
– ki+masu => ite
example : Kakimasu => Ka-kimasu => Kaite
– gi+masu => ide
example : Isogimasu => Iso-gimasu => Isoide
– shi+masu => shite
example : Hanashimasu => Hana+shimasu => Hanashite
TODAY’S SUMMARY
When you convert a verb from Masu-form to Te-form;
Group2 and Group3 verbs; Take place of “masu” by “te”
Group1 verbs;
– Ikimasu is an exception, its Te-form is “Itte”
– Check the letter before “masu”
— i/chi/ri => tte
— bi/mi/ni => nde
— ki => ite
— gi => ide
— shi => shite
It is essential for Japanese learners to be able to convert any Japanese verbs into Te-form.
Agony or Fun?! Second Language Learning 