タグ: verb

Some of words in Japanese conjugate. The word groups that conjugate are Verb, I-adjective, Na-adjective, and Auxiliary verb. These conjugating words change at the end part of the word, while the head of the word does not change.

[Word to conjugate] = [Unchanging Part] + [Changing Part]

Take a look at verb “Kau” which means “buy” in English.

– Dictionary form = Kau

– Nai form = Kawanai

– Masu form = Kaimasu

You can see that the head of the word “ka” doesn’t change, and its end part changes to be “u”, “wanai”, and “imasu”.

There are many conjugation forms in addition to the three above. But here is a basic thing about conjugations of Japanese words. It is not only for verbs, but also for I-adjectives and Na-adjectives. You need to know two patterns; one is a conjugating word being placed in front of a noun, the other is a conjugating word being placed in front of another conjugating word.

1. [Conjugating word] + [Noun]

2. [Conjugating word] + [Another conjugating word]

For sake of simplicity, let us think of 2 as [Conjugating word] + [Another verb]. Using these basic concepts, we can classify properties of those conjugation forms.

– Dictionary form = Kau — can be placed in front of a Noun

– Nai form = Kawanai — can be placed in front of a Noun

– Masu form = Kaimasu — must be the ending of a sentence

– Te form = Katte — can be placed in front of another verb

So “Te-form” of a verb is a conjugation pattern that can be placed before another verb (or another conjugating word, too be exact).

The followings are examples of “Te-form” of verbs. Note that the list is written in the order of a Masu-form and a Te-form.

Group 2 Verbs

– Imasu — Ite

– Mimasu — Mite (Be careful, it’s not “Mitte”)

– Nemasu — Nete

– Okimasu — Okite (This is “Get up/wake up”. Not “put on”)

Group 3 Verbs

– Kimasu — Kite

– Shimasu — Shite

– Benkyoushimasu — Benkyoushite

Group 1 Verbs

– Tsukaimasu — Tsukatte

– Kakimasu — Kaite

– Ikimasu — Itte

– Isogimasu — Isoide

– Hanashimasu — Hanashite

– Machimasu — Matte

– Tobimasu — Tonde

– Yomimasu — Yonde

– Tsukurimasu — Tsukutte

Te-form of verbs is so important. More detailed explanation will be done soon.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 14 of “Minna no Nihongo (2^nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”