Japanese Learning (A1 S33): Verb Conjugation; Imperative Form and Prohibitive Form

Two new verb conjugations are introduced in the section 33. They are Imperative Form and Prohibitive Form. A verb in these conjugations is used when someone gives you a command to do or not to do something. It is important to know that a verb in Imperative form or in Prohibitive form sound rough because it is an order or a warning in most of the cases from superiors to subordinates. Therefore, it is better for a Japanese learner not to use but to know them in order for him/her to be able to understand a command or a warning that Japanese people give in a severe situation.

In the following, verbs are shown in the order of;

Dictionary-form/Masu-form — Imperative form — Prohibitive form.

<Group 2 verbs>

Miru/Mimasu (see, watch, look at) — Miro — Miruna

Yameru/Yamemasu (stop, quit a job) — Yamero — Yameruna

Suteru/Sutemasu (throw away, dump) — Sutero — Suteruna

<Group 3 verbs>

Kuru/Kimasu (come to this side) — Koi — Kuruna

Suru/Shimasu (do) — Shiro — Suruna

<Group 1 verbs>

– Gr1-W; Iu/Iimasu (say, tell) — Ie — Iuna

– Gr1-K; Iku/Ikimasu (go there) — Ike — Ikuna

– Gr1-G; Oyogu/Oyogimasu (swim) — Oyoge — Oyoguna

– Gr1-S; Dasu/Dashimasu (put out) — Dase — Dasuna

– Gr1-T; Tatsu/Tachimasu (stand up) — Tate — Tatsuna

– Gr1-B; Asobu/Asobimasu (play for fun) — Asobe — Asobuna

– Gr1-M; Nomu/Nomimasu (drink) — Nome — Nomuna

– Gr1-R; Toru/Torimasu (take) — Tore — Toruna

It is obvious that Prohibitive form can be made by putting “na” behind of dictionary form. As for Imperative form, Group1 verbs end with “-e”. And of the Group1 verbs, Gr1-R is always confusing with Group2 verbs for conjugations. Gr1-R verbs end with “-re”, while Group2 verbs end with “-ro”.

————————————–

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section33 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”