Japanese Learning: Nai-form of Verbs, one of Conjugation Pattern to Negate an Action of the Verb

Quiz answers have to come first:

Yesterday’s quiz was to ask which of to or de fits in the sentences.

 Q1 : Satou-san wa Nihonjin { to or de } Daigakusei desu.

 Q2 : Asoko ni Satou-san { to or de } Suzuki-san ga Imasu.

 A1=de, A2=to

Let’s start for today’s leaning. Nai-form of a verb functions to negate the verb. For example, “Taberu (eat)” is the dictionary form, and the Nai-form of “Taberu” is “Tabenai” which means “not eat”. Therefore, you need to use Nai-forms of verb when you want to negate an action.

In addition, Nai-form can be a useful tool in order to learn conjugation patterns of verbs, because Nai-form tells you what group a verb belongs to. When you want to know which group a verb belongs to Group1 or Group2, first make Nai-form of the verb. And then check the vowel just in front of “nai”.

Group2 = the vowel is “i” or “e”

Group1= the vowel is “a”

Examples(Group2)

– Miru(look, watch, see)

=> Nai-form:Minai => Vowel before “nai” : i => Group2

– Taberu(eat)

=> Nai-form:Tabenai => Vowel before “nai”:e => Group2

Examples (Group1)

– Kau (buy)

=> Nai-form:Kawanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-W

– Kiku (hear, listen)

=> Nai-form:Kikanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-K

– Isogu (hurry, hasten)

=> Nai-form:Isoganai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-G

– Hanasu (talk, speak)

=> Nai-form:Hanasanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-S

– Matsu (wait)

=> Nai-form:Matanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-T

– Asobu (play to have a fun)

=> Nai-form:Asobanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-B

– Nomu (drink)

=> Nai-form:Nomanai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-M

– Kaeru (go home)

=> Nai-form:Kaeranai=> Vowel before “nai”:a=> Group1-R

As for Group3 verbs, there are only two. They are “Kuru/Kimasu” and “Suru/Shimasu”. Therefore, you don’t need to use Nai-form to distinguish Groups of verbs. Note that “Suru/Shimasu” has a lot of variations in the forms of [Action Noun]+Suru/Shimasu like “Benkyou-Shimasu”.

Nai-form is necessary to negate action. But this doesn’t you always use Nai-form to make negative sentences. In the case of a verb predicate sentence in present tense, sometimes Japanese would say;

– Watashi wa Osake o Nomanai desu.

You see that the Nai-form “Nomanai” is used in order to negate the verb “Nomu (drink)”. Actually, this sentence sounds a little casual. The following sounds polite and is much better than “Nomanai desu.

– Watashi wa Osake o Nomimasen. (I don’t drink alcohol.)

 Furthermore, for the past tense, you need to know the followings;

<WRONG> Kinou, Watashi wa Osake o Nomanai deshita.

<RIGHT> Kinou, Watashi wa Osake o Nomimasen deshita.

(Yesterday, I didn’t drink alcohol.)

Anyway, Nai-form is one of the important conjugation patterns. Try so that you can make Nai-form of any Japanese verbs.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 17 of “Minna no Nihongo (2^nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”