The section 31 of Minna no Nihongo is to learn expressions of intention. One of such sentences to express your intention, “Volitional form” of a verb is used. The exercise A1 is listing Masu-form and Volitional-form. Also in this post, Volitional forms of verbs are shown for each conjugation patterns below;
VOLITIONAL FORM of VERBS
Dictionary Form / Masu Form — Volitional Form
<Group 2 Verbs>
Okiru / Okimasu (get up) — Okiyou
Oshieru / Oshiemasu (teach/tell) — Oshieyou
Taberu / Tabemasu (eat) — Tabeyou
<Group 3 Verbs>
Kuru / Kimasu (come) — Koyou
Suru / Shimasu (do) — Shiyou
<Group1 Verbs>
Gr1-W : Tsukau / Tsukaimasu (use) — Tsukaou
Gr-K : Aruku / Arukimasu (walk) — Arukou
Gr1-G : Oyogu / Oyogimasu (swim) — Oyogou
Gr1-S : Naosu / Naoshimasu (repair, correct) — Naosou
Gr1-T : Matsu / Machimasu (wait for) — Matou
Gr1-B : Asobu / Asobimasu (play for fun) — Asobou
Gr1-M : Yomu / Yomimasu (read) — Yomou
Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — Hasirou
It will be shown in the exercises A2 and A3 about how these verbs in volitional forms are used in a sentence. Today I just show you the above list, but let me add an explanation about a difficult part. When it comes to verb conjugations, it would be difficult for learners to distinguish between Group2 verbs and Group1-R verbs.
Gr2 : Okiru / Okimasu (get up) — <RIGHT>Okiyou <WRONG>Okirou
Gr1-R : Hashiru / Hashirimasu (run) — <RIGHT>Hasirou <WRONG>Hashiyou
As you see above, the right volitional forms use “-you” for Group2 verbs and “-rou” for Group1-R verbs. The followings are a little bit of exercises
Q: Which is the right Volitional Form?
1. Tsukuru/Tsukurimasu — Tsukuyou OR Tsukurou
2. Neru/Nemasu — Neyou OR Nerou
3. Nemuru/Nemurimasu — Nemuyou OR Nemurou
4. Shiraberu/Shirabemasu — Shirabeyou OR Shiraberou
5. Kaeru/Kaerimasu — Kaeyou OR Kaerou
6. Suwaru/Suwarimasu — Suwayou OR Suwarou
7. Kuraberu/Kurabemasu — Kurabeyou OR Kuraberou
8. Yameru/Yamemasu — Yameyou OR Yamerou
9. Sawaru/Sawarimasu — Sawayou OR Sawarou
10. Hajimeru/Hajimemasu — Hajimeyou OR Hajimerou
The answers will be shown tomorrow (Probably, maybe, perhaps…,). How to solve the above questions are as follows;
<1> Make Nai-form
<2> What is just in front of “-nai”?
<3> If it’s “i” or “e”, the verb is Group2 verb, if it’s “ra”, the verb is Group1-R.
<4> For Gr2, put “-you”. For Gr1-R, put “-rou” to the stem of verb.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section31 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
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