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Japanese Versatility List

Conjugations: Stage 1

57 forms and patterns in 15 chunks: verb forms, adjectives and the copula, grammar patterns.

57 forms and patterns in 15 chunks, learned alongside Stage 1 of the main list. Start with How verbs work and use Next at the bottom of each page.

  1. 1How verbs workVerb formsichidan, godan, suru, kuru Every verb is in one of three groups, and the group decides how it changes.kaka-, kaki-, kake-, kako- Godan verbs shift their last vowel to a, i, e or o to fit the ending.-te / -ta Godan verbs change sound before -te and -ta, depending on their last syllable.suru, kuru, iku, aru, ii The few verbs (plus the adjective ii) that break the patterns.
  2. 2Now and notVerb forms-u / -ru Plain present and future: I do, I will do.-masu Polite present and future: I do, I will do.-nai Plain negative: I don't, I won't.-masen Polite negative: I don't, I won't.
  3. 3The pastVerb forms-ta Plain past: I did.-mashita Polite past: I did.-nakatta Plain negative past: I didn't.-masen deshita Polite negative past: I didn't.
  4. 4The te-formVerb forms-te Links actions (and then), gives a reason, or on its own asks someone to do something.-te kudasai Please do...-naide (kudasai) Don't...; also 'without doing'.
  5. 5Ongoing and doneVerb forms-teru / -te iru Is doing, or is in a state (is married, knows, lives somewhere).-teta / -te ita Was doing, or had been in a state.-tenai / -te inai Isn't doing; or hasn't done (yet).
  6. 6Wanting and invitingVerb forms-tai Want to do.-ou / -you Let's...; with to omou, I think I'll...-mashou (ka) Let's...; with ka, shall we...? or shall I...?-masen ka Won't you...? Would you like to...?
  7. 7If and whenVerb forms-tara If..., or when (once)..., then something happens.-ba If... (a general condition).-u to Whenever or if X happens, Y follows naturally.nara If that's the case; if you're going to...
  8. 8Must and don't have toVerb forms-nakya / -nakereba Have to, must.-nakute Not ... and; because (it's) not ...; with mo ii, don't have to.-te mo ii It's OK to...; can I...?-cha dame Mustn't, don't.
  9. 9Can, be done, make doVerb forms-eru / -rareru Says someone can or can't do something.-areru / -rareru Something is done to someone, often with a feeling of 'it happened to me'.-aseru / -saseru Makes or lets someone do something.-asareru / -saserareru Being made to do something you didn't want to.
  10. 10Helper verbs after -teVerb forms-chau / -te shimau Did it completely, or did it by accident and regret it.-toku / -te oku Do it now, ready for later; or leave it as it is.-te miru Try doing it and see how it goes.-temo Even if / even though.
  11. 11Looks, too much, easyVerb forms-sou Looks like it's about to happen.-sugiru Doing something too much.-yasui / -nikui Easy to do / hard to do.
  12. 12Spoken shortcutsVerb forms-nnai In fast speech, -ranai and -ru before n turn into n.-nakya, -teru, -chau The squeezed sounds of fast casual speech.
  13. 13Adjectives and the copulaAdjectives and the copula-i / da / desu Says something is X, casually or politely.-katta / datta Was X.-kunai / ja nai Is not X.-kunakatta / ja nakatta Was not X.deshou / darou Probably; or, said rising, 'right?'.
  14. 14Adjectives that link and changeAdjectives and the copula-kute / de Links descriptions (X and Y), or gives a reason.-ku naru / ni naru Becomes X; the -ku / ni part is also the adverb form.-i / na / no + noun Describes a noun directly: an X thing.-kereba / -kattara / nara If it's X.-sou Looks X, judging by appearance.
  15. 15Deciding and arrangingGrammar patterns-koto ni naru it's been decided that; end up doing-koto ni suru decide to-you ni iu tell someone to; ask someone to-you ni suru make a point of; try to (as a habit)