Japanese conjugation

Template:Short description Japanese verbs, like the verbs of many other languages, can be morphologically modified to change their meaning or grammatical function – a process known as conjugation. In Japanese, the beginning of a word (the stem) is preserved during conjugation, while the ending of the word is altered in some way to change the meaning (this is the inflectional suffix). Japanese verb conjugations are independent of person, number and gender (they do not depend on whether the subject is I, you, he, she, we, etc.); the conjugated forms can express meanings such as negation, present and past tense, volition, passive voice, causation, imperative and conditional mood, and ability. There are also special forms for conjunction with other verbs, and for combination with particles for additional meanings.

Japanese verbs have agglutinating properties: some of the conjugated forms are themselves conjugable verbs (or i-adjectives), which can result in several suffixes being strung together in a single verb form to express a combination of meanings.

File:AMB Japanese Verbs.pdf

A revision sheet visually summarizing the conjugations and uses described below

Verb groups

File:Hiragana-Katakana-Gojuuon.jpg

Gojuon Table

For Japanese verbs, the verb stem remains invariant among all conjugations. However, conjugation patterns vary according to a verb's category. For example, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt belong to different verb categories (godan and ichidan, respectively) and therefore follow different conjugation patterns. As such, knowing a verb's category is essential for conjugating Japanese verbs.

Japanese verbs can be allocated into three categories:Template:Sfn

1. , also known as "pentagrade verbs"
2. , also known as "monograde verbs"
3. Irregular verbs, most notably: Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt

Verbs are conjugated from their "dictionary form", where the final kana is either removed or changed in some way.Template:Sfn From a technical standpoint, verbs usually require a specific conjugational stem (see § Verb bases, below) for any given inflection or suffix. With godan verbs, the conjugational stem can span all five rows of the gojūon kana table (hence, the classification as a pentagrade verb). Ichidan verbs are simpler to conjugate: the final kana, which is always Template:Nihongo krt, is simply removed or replaced with the appropriate inflectional suffix. This means ichidan verb stems, in themselves, are valid conjugational stems which always end with the same kana (hence, the classification as a monograde verb).

This phenomenon can be observed by comparing conjugations of the two verb types, within the context of the gojūon table.Template:Sfn

Godan Form		Gojūon table 'ma' column	Godan Verb Template:Nihongo krt		Ichidan Form	Ichidan Verb Template:Nihongo krt	Ichidan Verb Template:Nihongo krt
	Negative	Template:Nihongo krt			Negative	*
	Polite	Template:Nihongo krt			Polite	*
	Dictionary (no conjugation)	Template:Nihongo krt			Dictionary	*
	Potential	Template:Nihongo krt			Potential	*
	Volitional	Template:Nihongo krt			Volitional	*

^* These forms are given here in hiragana for illustrative purposes; they would normally be written with kanji as , etc.

As visible above, the godan verb Template:Nihongo3 has a static verb stem, Template:Nihongo3, and a dynamic conjugational stem which changes depending on the purpose: Template:Nihongo3, Template:Nihongo3, Template:Nihongo3, Template:Nihongo3 and Template:Nihongo3. Unlike godan verb stems, ichidan verb stems are also functional conjugational stems, with the final kana of the stem remaining static in all conjugations.

Verb bases

Conjugable words (verbs, i‑adjectives, and na‑adjectives) are traditionally considered to have six possible .Template:Sfn However, as a result of the language evolving,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn historical sound shifts,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn and the post‑WWII spelling reforms,Template:Sfn three additional sub‑bases have emerged for verbs (seen in the table below as the Potential, Tentative, and Euphonic bases). Meanwhile, verbs no longer differentiate between the and the bases (these bases are only distinguished for na‑adjectives in the modern language, see Japanese adjectives).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Verb bases function as the necessary stem forms to which inflectional suffixes attach.

Verbs are named and listed in dictionaries according to their . This is also called the "plain form" (since this is the plain, non‑polite, non‑past conjugation), and it is the same as the modern , and the .Template:Sfn The verb group (godan, ichidan, or irregular) determines how to derive any given conjugation base for the verb. With godan verbs, the base is derived by shifting the final kana along the respective vowel row of the gojūon kana table. With ichidan verbs, the base is derived by removing or replacing the final Template:Nihongo krt kana.Template:Sfn

The table below illustrates the various verb bases across the verb groups, with the patterns starting from the dictionary form.Template:Sfn

Verb base formation table

Verb base		Godan		Ichidan		Irregular				Usage
		Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn	No changes		No changes		No changes				Imperfective form
	(, Terminal)	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
	Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn (, Attributive)
Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn		Shift the kana to the row		Remove		[i]				Conditional form
(, Hypothetical)		Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
	Template:Transliteration base Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn	Shift the kana to the row				( Template:Transliteration)	( Template:Transliteration)			Potential form
	(, Potential)	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn		Shift the kana to the row		Remove [ii]			[ii]			Imperative form
(, Imperative)		Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3 ( Template:Nihongo3)	Template:Nihongo3 ( Template:Nihongo3)	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3 Template:Nihongo3
Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn		Shift the kana to the row		Remove			[v]			Negative form Passive form Causative form
(, Irrealis) [iii]		Template:Nihongo3 [iv]	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
	Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn	Shift the kana to the row					Template:Nihongo3			Tentative form
	(, Tentative)	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn		Shift the kana to the row		Remove						Conjunctive form
(, Conjunctive)		Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3
	Template:Transliteration base Template:Sfn	Remove the kana, add , , or								Perfective form te form
	(, Euphonic)	Template:Nihongo3	Template:Nihongo3

^[i] The verb Template:Nihongo krt has no dedicated kanōkei base. Instead, the passive form Template:Nihongo krt is used to express the potential sense. Template:Nihongo krt lacks a kanōkei base; instead, the suppletive ichidan verb Template:Nihongo krt is used as the potential form of Template:Nihongo krt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn See also the § Passive: Conjugation table section below.

^[ii] Template:Nihongo krt is used for the spoken imperative form, while Template:Nihongo krt is used for the written imperative form.Template:Sfn

^[iii] The meaning of the term Template:Nihongo krt originates from its archaic usage with the conditional Template:Nihongo krt suffix in Old Japanese and Classical Japanese.Template:Sfn The conjugated forms in the modern language, such as the passive and causative forms, do not invoke an irrealis mood, but the term mizenkei was retained.

^[iv] The mizenkei base for verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt appears to be an exceptional case with the unexpected Template:Nihongo krt. This realization of Template:Transliteration is a leftover from past sound changes, an artifact preserved from the archaic Japanese Template:Transliteration from Template:Transliteration verbs (which would have yielded, regularly, Template:Transliteration from Template:Transliteration from Template:Transliteration). This is noted with historical kana orthography in dictionaries; for example, Template:Nihongo krt from Template:Nihongo krt from Template:Transliteration and Template:Nihongo krt from Template:Nihongo krt (from Template:Transliteration).Template:Sfn In modern Japanese, original instances of mid‑word consonant [w] have since been dropped before all vowels except [a].Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn (For more on this shift in consonants, see Template:Slink, Template:Slink, and Template:Slink.)

^[v] There are three mizenkei bases for the verb Template:Nihongo krt, depending on the resulting conjugated form: Template:Nihongo krt for passive and causative forms, Template:Nihongo krt for the negative and volitional forms, and Template:Nihongo krt for the negative continuous form.Template:Sfn

Of the nine verb bases, the shūshikei/rentaikei, meireikei, and ren'yōkei bases can be considered fully conjugated forms without needing to append inflectional suffixes. In particular, the shūshikei/rentaikei and meireikei bases do not conjugate with any inflectional suffixes. By contrast, a verb cannot be considered fully conjugated in its kateikei, mizenkei, ishikei, kanōkei, or onbinkei base alone; a compatible inflectional suffix is required for that verb construction to be grammatical.Template:Sfn

Certain inflectional suffixes, in themselves, take on the form of verbs or i‑adjectives. These suffixes can then be further conjugated by adopting one of the verb bases, followed by the attachment of the appropriate suffix. The agglutinative nature of Japanese verb conjugation can thus make the final form of a given verb conjugation quite long. For example, the word Template:Nihongo krt is broken down into its component morphemes below:

Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt
Mizenkei base of Template:Nihongo krt	Mizenkei base of the Template:Nihongo krt causative suffix	Ren'yōkei base of the Template:Nihongo krt passive suffix	Ren'yōkei base of the Template:Nihongo krt desiderative suffix	Past‑tense ren'yōkei base of the Template:Nihongo krt negation suffix	Inflectional suffix Template:Nihongo krt, marking past tense
"to eat" (Verb stem)	Causative voice: "to make someone do"	Passive voice: "to be done"	Desiderative mood: "wanting to do something"	Negation: "not", negates whatever came before	Perfective aspect: indicates completion or past tense

Derivative verb bases

There are three modern verb base forms that are considered to be derived from older forms. These are the potential, volitional, and euphonic sub‑bases, as shown in the Verb base formation table above.

As with all languages, the Japanese language has evolved to fulfil the contemporary needs of communication. The potential form of verbs is one such example. In Old Japanese and Early Middle Japanese, potential was expressed with the verb ending Template:Nihongo krt, which was also used to express the passive voice ("to be done") and the spontaneous voice ("something happens on its own"). This evolved into the modern passive ending Template:Nihongo krt, which can similarly express potential and spontaneous senses. As usage patterns changed over time, different kinds of potential constructions emerged, such as the grammatical pattern of the rentaikei base + Template:Nihongo3, and also via the kanōkei base.Template:Sfn The historical development of the kanōkei base is disputed, however the consensus is that it stemmed from a shift wherein transitive verbs developed an intransitive sense similar to the spontaneous, passive, and potential, and these intransitive forms conjugated in the Template:Nihongo krt of the Classical Japanese of the time.Template:Sfn The lower bigrade conjugation pattern evolved into the modern ichidan pattern in modern Japanese, and these stems for godan verbs have the same form as the hypothetical stems in the table above.

The mizenkei base that ends with Template:Transliteration was also used to express the volitional mood for in Old Japanese and Middle Japanese, in combination with volitional suffix Template:Nihongo krt. Sound changes caused the resulting -amu ending to change: → → (like English "ow") → (like English "aw") → . The post‑WWII spelling reforms updated spellings to reflect this and other sound changes, resulting in the addition of the ishikei or volitional base, ending with Template:Transliteration, for the volitional mood of yodan verbs. This also resulted in a reclassification of "yodan verbs" to .Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The ren'yōkei base also underwent various euphonic changes specific to the perfective and conjunctive (te) forms for certain verb stems,Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn giving rise to the onbinkei or euphonic base.Template:Sfn In the onbinkei base, the inflectional suffixes for godan verbs vary according to the last kana of the verb's ren'yōkei base.Template:Sfn

Copula: da and desu

The copula or "to be" verb in Japanese is a special case. This comes in two basic forms, Template:Nihongo krt in the plain form and Template:Nihongo krt in the polite form. These are generally used to predicate sentences, equate one thing with another (i.e. "A is B."), or express a self‑directed thought (e.g. a sudden emotion or realization).Template:Sfn

Copula example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
It is a book.	Template:Nihongo krt	predicate
The weather was awful.	Template:Nihongo krt	copula, A is B
Ah! A cockroach!	Template:Nihongo krt	self‑directed

Copula: Conjugation table

The Japanese copula is not a standard 'verb' and conjugations are limited to a smaller subset of functions. Furthermore, this conjugates according to its own specific patterns:Template:Sfn

Dictionary form (no conjugation)	Negative (colloquial)	Negative (formal)	Perfective (past tense)	te form	Conditional	Conjecture (probably)
	[i]					[ii]
	[i]					[ii]

^[i] Template:Nihongo krt is a colloquial abbreviation of Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

^[ii] Although Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt were originally conjugations of Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt respectively, they are now also used as auxiliary verbs.Template:Sfn

Copula: Grammatical compatibility

The negative forms, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, are compatible with all negative valence conjugations (such as the negative past tense or the negative -te form).Template:Sfn However, the negative forms, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, are conjugated into the past tense by appending Template:Nihongo krt as a suffix (and are therefore incompatible with subsequent Template:Nihongo krt conjugations).Template:Sfn Furthermore, the perfective forms, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, are compatible with the ~tara conditional.Template:Sfn

Imperfective

The imperfective form (also known as the "non‑past", "plain form", "short form", "dictionary form" and the "attributive form") is broadly equivalent to the present and future tenses of English. In Japanese, the imperfective form is used as the headword or lemma. It is used to express actions that are assumed to continue into the future, habits or future intentions.Template:Sfn

Imperfective form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
(Do you eat sushi?) Yes, I eat sushi.	Template:Nihongo krt Template:Nihongo krt	assumption to continue action
I go shopping every weekend.	Template:Nihongo krt	habit / reoccurring action
I will study tomorrow.	Template:Nihongo krt	future intention

The imperfective form cannot be used to make a progressive continuous statement, such as in the English sentence "I am shopping". To do so, the verb must first be conjugated into its te form and attached to the Template:Nihongo krt auxiliary verb Template:See below.

Imperfective: Conjugation table

The imperfective form uses the shūshikei/rentaikei base, and is thus equivalent to the dictionary form.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Imperfect form
Godan verbs	No change
Template:Nihongo krt[i]	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	No change
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the imperfective conjugation, or dictionary form, is the simplest form which is syncretic with ichidan verbs.

Imperfective: Grammatical compatibility

The imperfective form can be used to issue prohibitive commands by attaching Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn For example, Template:Nihongo krt. Additionally, the imperfective form is compatible with the nominalizers Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, which repurpose the verb as a noun. For example, Template:Nihongo krt.

Negative

The negative form is broadly equivalent to the English word "not".Template:Sfn

Negative form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I don't drink alcohol.	Template:Nihongo krt	assumption to continue inaction
I won't brush my teeth.	Template:Nihongo krt	immediate inaction
I won't work tomorrow.	Template:Nihongo krt	future inaction

Negative: Conjugation table

The negative form is created by using the mizenkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Negative form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt [ii]
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the "" changes to Template:Nihongo krt in the negative conjugation. It does not change to Template:Nihongo krt.

^[ii] The negative past form of is Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Negative: Grammatical compatibility

The negative form is compatible with the Template:Nihongo krt particle for additional functions, such as requesting someone to cease/desist or joining a subordinate clause.

It is also compatible with i‑adjective inflections, since the Template:Nihongo krt suffix ends with Template:Nihongo krt.

Negative form: Grammatical compatibility example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
Please don't eat it.	Template:Nihongo krt	request to cease/desist
Without eating, I went to bed.	Template:Nihongo krt	add a subordinate clause
I didn't talk.	Template:Nihongo krt	i‑adjective inflection (example: negative past tense)

Negative continuous

The negative continuous form is created by using the mizenkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix; equivalent to replacing Template:Nihongo krt with Template:Nihongo krt in the table above. An exception is Template:Nihongo krt, which instead conjugates as Template:Nihongo krt. In this form, the negative continuous cannot terminate a sentence. The verb has the "negative continuous tense" unless followed by the Template:Nihongo krt particle, where its meaning changes to "without". The Template:Transliteration form (, without doing) is semantically interchangeable with Template:Nihongo3. However, Template:Transliteration is only used in written Japanese or formal speech.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Negative continuous form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
While not eating breakfast, I went to work.	Template:Nihongo krt	negative continuous
I went to work without eating breakfast.	Template:Nihongo krt	without doing

Perfective

The is equivalent to the English "past tense".Template:Sfn

Perfective form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I went to Japan.	Template:Nihongo krt	past tense
I practiced piano every day.	Template:Nihongo krt	simple past

Perfective: Conjugation table

The perfective form is created by using the onbinkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix. This conjugation pattern is more complex compared to other conjugations because the exact realization of the inflectional suffix—particularly in godan verbs—is based on the of the verb stem. (See also: Euphonic changes)

Dictionary form		Pattern Template:Sfn	Perfective form
Godan verbs		Various suffix-specific patterns
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt [i]	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs		Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs		Shift the kana to the row, remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt [ii]
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] Template:Nihongo krt is the only verb with the Template:Nihongo krt suffix, in the entire Japanese vocabulary.

^[ii] The negative perfective form of is Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Perfective: Grammatical compatibility

The perfective form is compatible with:

• The "tari form" (or "tari‑tari form", also known as the "tari‑tari‑suru form"), to describe a non‑exhaustive list of actions (similar to describes a non‑exhaustive lists of objects). It uses Template:Nihongo krt as the subordinate conjunction.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
• The "tara form" (or "past conditional"), to describe events that will happen as a result of completing something. It uses Template:Nihongo krt as the subordinate conjunction.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
  • It can be used to mean "if" or "when";
  • It can also be used to reveal an unexpected outcome that happened in the past.

Perfective form: Grammatical compatibility example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I read a book, watched TV, etc.	Template:Nihongo krt	non‑exhaustive list of actions
If I go to Japan, I want to see Mount Fuji.	Template:Nihongo krt	if or when
When I went to the cafe, I came across Suzuki.	Template:Nihongo krt	unexpected past outcome

te form

The allows verbs to function like conjunctions. Similar to the word "and" in English, the te form connects clauses to make longer sentences. Conversely, as a sentence terminal, it functions as a casual instruction (like a gentle imperative command). Finally, the te form attaches to a myriad of auxiliary verbs for various purposes.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

te form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
(I will eat breakfast. I will go to school.) I will eat breakfast and go to school.	Template:Nihongo krt Template:Nihongo krt	conjunction
Please eat.	Template:Nihongo krt	gentle instruction
I am waiting.	Template:Nihongo krt	auxiliary verb (example: present-continuous)

There are limitations where the te form cannot be used to conjugate between pairs of verbs (such as when two verbs are unrelated) and the conjunctive form is used instead.Template:Sfn Template:See below

te form: Conjugation table

The te form is created by using the onbinkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix. Just like the perfective form, this conjugation pattern is more complex compared to other conjugations because the exact realization of the inflectional suffix—particularly in godan verbs—is based on the of the verb stem. (See also: Euphonic changes)

Dictionary form		Pattern Template:Sfn	te form
Godan verbs		Various suffix-specific patterns
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
	Template:Nihongo krt [i]	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs		Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs		Shift the kana to the row, remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt		→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt [ii]		+	Template:Nihongo krt[iii]
		+	Template:Nihongo krt[iv]
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		+	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] Template:Nihongo krt is the only verb with the Template:Nihongo krt suffix, in the entire Japanese vocabulary.

^[ii] This conjugation is not reciprocated in the perfective form; the past tense of Template:Nihongo krt is Template:Nihongo krt.

^[iii] The Template:Nihongo krt form is only grammatical with verbs. It is used to emphasize negation, or otherwise used as an imperative if an auxiliary follows, e.g. Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

^[iv] The Template:Nihongo krt form is grammatical with adjectives and copula, but also with verbs when expressing a consequential human emotion or contradiction.Template:Sfn

te form: Grammatical compatibility

The te form is compatible with particles for additional functions, such as giving permission or expressing prohibition.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

te form: Particle example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
It's okay to eat here.	Template:Nihongo krt	permission
You must not eat here.	Template:Nihongo krt	prohibition

The te form is also compatible with an extensive list of auxiliary verbs. These auxiliary verbs are attached after the .Template:Sfn

te form: Auxiliary verb example sentences

Aux.	English	Japanese	Function
	I'm carrying the bag.	Template:Nihongo krt [v]	continuous action
	Some Arabic letters are written here.	Template:Nihongo krt	completed and remains to be
	I'll make a sandwich for later.	Template:Nihongo krt [vi]	prepare for future
	I'll try to climb Mount Everest.	Template:Nihongo krt	attempt
	(I ate.) I finished eating.	Template:Nihongo krt Template:Nihongo krt	emphasize completion
	I accidentally forgot my smartphone!	Template:Nihongo krt [vii]	accident/regret

^[v] Colloquially, the Template:Nihongo krt is dropped. For example, Template:Nihongo krt becomes Template:Nihongo krt.

^[vi] Colloquially, Template:Nihongo krt undergoes morpheme fusion, becoming Template:Nihongo krt. For example, Template:Nihongo krt becomes Template:Nihongo krt.

^[vii] In this case, is dropped rather than being attached to . This is because Template:Nihongo krt is a morpheme fusion of Template:Nihongo krt, which itself is a morpheme fusion of Template:Nihongo krt. Similarly, Template:Nihongo krt is also dropped when attaching to Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, which are the morpheme fusions of Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Finally, the te form is necessary for making polite requests with Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt. These honorific words are attached with their imperative forms Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, which is more socially proper than using the true imperative.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

te form: Request example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
Please lend me the book.	Template:Nihongo krt	polite request
Will you lend me the book?	Template:Nihongo krt	plain request

te form: Advanced usage

During speech, the speaker may terminate a sentence in the te form but slightly lengthen the vowel sound as a natural pause: Template:Nihongo krt. Similar to when a sentence ends with "so..." in English, this serves as a social cue that can:

• give the listener a moment to process;
• indicate the speaker is not finished speaking;
• seek permission from the listener to continue;
• imply that the listener should infer the remainder of the sentence.

Another usage of the te form is, just as with English, the order of clauses may be reversed to create emphasis. However, unlike in English, the sentence will terminate on the te form (rather than between clauses).

te form: Advanced usage example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I'll go to the pharmacy and buy medicine.	Template:Nihongo krt	typical conjunction
I'll buy medicine, by going to the pharmacy	Template:Nihongo krt	reversed conjunction

Conjunctive

The conjunctive form (also known as the "stem form", "masu form", "i form" and the "continuative form")Template:Sfn functions like an intermediate conjugation; it requires an auxiliary verb to be attached since the conjunctive form is rarely used in isolation. It can also function to link separate clauses (hence the name "conjunctive") in a similar way to the te form above; however usage of the conjunctive form as a conjunction has restrictions. The conjunctive form can function as a gerund (a verb functioning as a noun) without the need for nominalizers, although permissible use cases are limited.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Conjunctive form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I'll meet the customer.	Template:Nihongo krt	polite language
I want to win the game.	Template:Nihongo krt	auxiliary verb (example: desire)
I'll go to see a movie.	Template:Nihongo krt	particle (example: purpose)
We're about to change trains. Don't forget your shopping!	Template:Nihongo krt Template:Nihongo krt	compound words

Conjunctive: Conjugation table

The conjunctive form uses the ren'yōkei base. It is one of the simplest conjugation patterns due to its lack of irregular conjugations. It does have an additional case for certain honorific verbs, but even those follow a consistent conjugation pattern.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Conjunctive form [i]
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove
Template:Nihongo krt		Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt		Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then remove
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Honorific verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt [ii]	→	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] The English translations use the "-ing" suffix for nominalization. Therefore, they are nouns, not present continuous verbs.

^[ii] Other honorific words, such as Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, also conjugate with this pattern.Template:Sfn

Conjunctive: Grammatical compatibility

The conjunctive form is compatible with particles for additional functions, such as expressing purposeTemplate:Sfn or a firm avoidance.Template:Sfn

Conjunctive form: Particle example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I'll go to Hiroshima to see the Itsukushima shrine.	Template:Nihongo krt	purpose
I won't talk.	Template:Nihongo krt	firm avoidance

The conjunctive form is also compatible with an extensive list of auxiliary verbs.Template:Sfn One of which, Template:Nihongo krt, has highly irregular inflections.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Conjunctive form: Auxiliary verb example sentences

Aux.	English	Japanese	Function
	I'll write a letter.	Template:Nihongo krt	polite language
	I want to buy a new computer.	Template:Nihongo krt	desire
	It's easy to learn mathematics.	Template:Nihongo krt	easy to do
	It's hard to understand classical literature.	Template:Nihongo krt	difficult to do
	I drink too much alcohol.	Template:Nihongo krt	excessiveness
	I'll drink coffee while walking to the station.	Template:Nihongo krt	simultaneous action
	Write your name here.	Template:Nihongo krt	polite imperative

Conjunctive: Advanced usage

The conjunctive form, like the te form, connects clauses in a similar way to how "and" does in English. However, the conjunctive and te forms are not usually interchangeable, and each form fulfills specific grammatical purposes. When a pair of verbs have a strong connection in context, only the te form can bridge them. When a pair of verbs are not directly related but happen during a shared period of time, only the conjunctive form can bridge them. Furthermore, if a pair of verbs are both controllable or uncontrollable in nature, the te form must bridge them; otherwise, when a verb is controllable whilst the other verb is uncontrollable, the conjunctive form must bridge them. Finally, the te and conjunctive forms are interchangeable if additional information is included between the verbs.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Conjunctive: Conjunctive form vs te form

Permissible	English	Japanese	Relationship between verbs
te form	I'll go to the department store and do some shopping.	Template:Transliteration	closely related
te form	I'll meet my friend and ask about their holiday.	Template:Transliteration	both controllable
te form	The ground shook so much in the earthquake that I couldn't stand up.	Template:Transliteration	both uncontrollable
Interchangeable	Can you open the fridge and get me the carrots from the lower right shelf?	Template:Transliteration	additional information between them
		Template:Transliteration
Conjunctive form	They were born in Japan and studied at a Japanese school.	Template:Transliteration	unrelated (birth is unrelated to studying)
Conjunctive form	It rained, so I used an umbrella.	Template:Transliteration	uncontrollable + controllable

In the case where the conjunctive form is interchangeable with the te form, there is a stylistic means where the conjunctive form is preferred. This avoids Template:Nihongo krt repetition, much like how English users might avoid saying "and...and...and...". In practice however, such a strategy is more readily accustomed to writing and more difficult to control in spoken conversation (where the te form is usually elected for every verb).Template:Sfn

Another common usage is to form compound words, specifically compound nouns and compound verbs. As for compound nouns, the conjunctive form attaches as a prefix to another noun. Compound verbs are formed in the same way, except the conjunctive form attaches to the imperfective form. This pattern can be used to express mutuality if a transitive verb attaches to Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Conjunctive form: Compound word examples

Verb [conjunctive form] + Noun/Verb [imperfective form]		Compound	Literal translation	Dynamic translation	Function
Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	"eating thing"	food	compound noun
Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	"cutting and separating"	to cut off	compound verb
Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Nihongo krt	"promising and uniting"	to promise each other	mutual verb

The conjunctive form is also used in formal honorifics, such as Template:Nihongo krt.

Volitional

The volitional form (also known as the "conjectural form", "tentative form", "presumptive form" and the "hortative form") is used to express speaker's will or intention (volitional), make an inclusive command or invitation (hortative or persuasive)Template:Sfn or to make a guess or supposition (presumptive).

Volitional form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I will put off this task for later.	Template:Nihongo krtTemplate:Sfn	personal volition
Let's go home!	Template:Nihongo krt	inclusive command
Shall we eat outside?	Template:Nihongo krt	inclusive invitation
There will probably be many objections at the meeting.	Template:Nihongo krtTemplate:Sfn	making a guess or supposition

Volitional: Conjugation table

The volitional form is created by using the ishikei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix. Phonetically, う is surfaced as Template:Nihongo krt in volitional form, unlike う in dictionary/imperfective form; for example, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Volitional form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Honorific verbs	Change to then add
Honorific verbs [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] Theoretical conjugation only; it's unnatural and not usually used.Template:Sfn

Volitional: Grammatical compatibility

The volitional form is also used to describe intention Template:Nihongo krtTemplate:Sfn an attempt Template:Nihongo krt or an imminent action Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Volitional form: Particle example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I think I'm going to make a salad.	Template:Nihongo krt	intention
I'll try to go to bed early.	Template:Nihongo krt	attempt
The dog is about to bark.	Template:Nihongo krt	imminent action

Passive

The refocuses the verb as the target objective of a sentence; it emphasizes the action as the detail of importance. Although a sentence can include a specific subject enacting the passive verb, the subject is not required.Template:Sfn The passive voice can nuance neutrality, a regrettable action (suffering passive) or a means of being respectful.Template:Sfn

Passive form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
This TV was made by Toshiba.	Template:Nihongo krt	neutrality
My beer was drunk by a friend.	Template:Nihongo krt	regrettable action
Where are you going?	Template:Nihongo krt	respectful language

Passive: Conjugation table

The passive form is created by using the mizenkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix. For ichidan verbs and Template:Nihongo krt, the passive form and the potential form have an identical conjugation pattern with the same Template:Nihongo krt suffix. This makes it impossible to distinguish whether an ichidan verb adopts a passive or potential function without contextual information.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Passive form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt [ii]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Honorific verbs	Change to then add
Honorific verbs [iii]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt	Does not conjugate.Template:Sfn

^[i] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the passive conjugation is syncretic with ichidan verbs.

^[ii] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the "" changes to Template:Nihongo krt in the passive conjugation. It does not change to Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

^[iii] Theoretical conjugation only; it's unnatural and not usually used.Template:Sfn

Passive: Grammatical compatibility

After conjugating into the passive form, the verbs become ichidan verbs. They can therefore be further conjugated according to any ichidan pattern. For instance, a passive verb (e.g. Template:Nihongo krt) can conjugate using the ichidan pattern for the to join sequential statements (Template:Nihongo krt), or the conjunctive form to append the polite auxiliary verb (Template:Nihongo krt).

Causative

The is used to express that a subject was forced or allowed to do something.Template:Sfn

Causative form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I make them work hard.	Template:Nihongo krt	forced to
I let them play outside.	Template:Nihongo krt	allowed to
The baseball coach made the players exercise.	Template:Nihongo krt[i]	forced to by

^[i] The director causing the action can be specified with the Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt particle, whilst the people forced to do the action are specified with the Template:Nihongo krt particle.Template:Sfn

Causative: Conjugation table

The causative form is created by using the mizenkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Causative form [ii]
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt [iii]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Honorific verbs	Change to then add
Honorific verbs [iv]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt	Does not conjugate.Template:Sfn

^[ii] The causative form has a shortened variation, where the Template:Nihongo krt suffix undergoes morpheme fusion and becomes Template:Nihongo krt; however, the short form is less commonly used than the standard conjugation.Template:Sfn

^[iii] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the "" changes to Template:Nihongo krt in the causative conjugation. It does not change to Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

^[iv] Theoretical conjugation only; it's unnatural and not usually used.Template:Sfn

Causative: Grammatical compatibility

After conjugating into the causative form, the verbs become ichidan verbs. They can therefore be further conjugated according to any ichidan pattern. For instance, a causative verb (e.g. Template:Nihongo krt) can conjugate using the ichidan pattern for the to join sequential statements (Template:Nihongo krt), or the conjunctive form to append the polite auxiliary verb (Template:Nihongo krt).

Causative passive

The causative passive form expresses that a reluctant subject was positioned (or forced) into doing something they would rather avoid. The causative passive form is obtained by conjugating a verb into its causative form and further conjugating it into the passive form. However, because words such as Template:Nihongo krt are considered difficult to pronounce, the conjugational suffix is often contracted in colloquial speech. Specific to godan verbs only, the Template:Nihongo krt contracts into Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Causative passive form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I'm made to study by my parents.	Template:Nihongo krt	formal
I'm made to wait.	Template:Nihongo krt	colloquial present
I was made to buy something.	Template:Nihongo krt	colloquial past

Imperative

The imperative form functions as firm instructions do in English. It is used to give orders to subordinates (such as within military ranks, or towards pet animals) and to give direct instructions within intimate relationships (for example, within family or close friends). When directed towards a collective rather than an individual, the imperative form is used for mandatory action or motivational speech.Template:Sfn The imperative form is also used in reported speech.

Imperative form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
To a pet dog: Sit!	Template:Nihongo krt	giving orders
Traffic signage: STOP	Template:Nihongo krt	mandatory action
Do your best!	Template:Nihongo krt	motivation speech
Direct speech: "Please begin." I was told to begin.	Template:Nihongo krt Template:Nihongo krt	reported speech

File:Stop sign 202412, Machida.jpg

STOP signs in Japan use the imperative form of Template:Nihongo krt to command mandatory action.

However, the imperative form is perceived as confrontational or aggressive when used for commands; instead, it is more common to use the te form (with or without the Template:Nihongo krt suffix), or the conjunctive form's polite imperative suffix, Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn

Imperative: Conjugation table

The imperative form uses the meireikei base.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn		Imperative form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add or [i]
Template:Nihongo krt	+		Template:Nihongo krt
			Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+		Template:Nihongo krt
			Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt[i]	→		Template:Nihongo krt
			Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Honorific verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	→		Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt [ii]	→		Template:Nihongo krt

^[i] Template:Nihongo krt has been characterized as used for speech, while Template:Nihongo krt as used for writing.Template:Sfn In actuality, this corresponds to a difference between , the modern form of Japanese, and , various stages of premodern Japanese used exclusively in writing. However, the difference between -ro and -yo forms is actually a dialectal one: -ro is characteristic of Kantō (eastern Japan), and -yo is of Kansai (western Japan). Both -ro and -yo were interjectional particles in Old Japanese,Template:SfnpTemplate:Efn and were sometimes optional, sometimes obligatory with non-godan verbs. -yo became obligatory with non-godan verbs toward Early Middle Japanese, during which its variant -i aroseTemplate:Sfnp (compare the alternative forms of , and ). Historically, , , , (all ichidan), and were theoretically all possible,Template:Sfnp with -yo and -i being the prestigious western forms, and -ro being the less documented eastern form. The division between western -yo/-i and eastern -ro still exists today. In modern Tokyo Japanese (eastern), -yo largely displaced -ro in non-imperative contexts; -yo can be optionally added to modern imperative forms with no historical -yo, as in , , , .

^[ii] Theoretical conjugation only; it's unnatural and not usually used.Template:Sfn However, there exists the biblical phrase where are is used a "command" to conjure up something.

Non‑volitional verbs, such as Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt, have imperative forms (for these two verbs, Template:Nihongo krt and Template:Nihongo krt), but these appear to be relatively recent innovations, and usage may be limited to informal contexts.

Potential

The potential form describes the capability of doing something.Template:Sfn It is also used to ask favors from others, just as "Can you...?" does in English. However, unlike in English, the potential form does not request permission; the phrase Template:Nihongo krt is always understood to mean "Do I have the ability to eat this apple?" or "Is this apple edible?" (but never "May I eat this apple?" ).

Potential form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I can read Japanese.	Template:Nihongo krt	capability
Can you buy some coffee?	Template:Nihongo krt	requesting favors

For transitive verbs, the potential form uses the Template:Nihongo krt particle to mark direct objects, instead of the Template:Nihongo krt particle.

Potential: Conjugation table

The potential form is created by using the kanōkei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix. Template:Nihongo krt has its own suppletive potential form Template:Nihongo krt. For ichidan verbs and Template:Nihongo krt, the potential form and the passive form have an identical conjugation pattern with the same Template:Nihongo krt suffix. This makes it impossible to distinguish whether an ichidan verb adopts a passive or potential function without contextual information.

However, in colloquial speech the Template:Nihongo krt is removed from Template:Nihongo krt in a phenomenon known as Template:Nihongo krt.Template:Sfn For example, Template:Nihongo krt becomes Template:Nihongo krt. This contraction is specific to the potential form, and is not reciprocated in the passive form.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Potential form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→	Template:Nihongo krt
Special exceptions
Template:Nihongo krt [ii]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	Does not conjugate.Template:Sfn

^[i] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the potential conjugation is syncretic with the colloquial form of ichidan verbs.

^[ii] Theoretical conjugation only; it's unnatural and not usually used. Template:Nihongo krt expresses potential innately without having to conjugate it to the potential form.

Potential: Grammatical compatibility

After conjugating into the potential form, the verbs become ichidan verbs. They can therefore be further conjugated according to any ichidan pattern. For instance, a potential verb (e.g. Template:Nihongo krt) can conjugate using the ichidan pattern for the to join sequential statements (Template:Nihongo krt), or the conjunctive form to append the polite auxiliary verb (Template:Nihongo krt).

Conditional

The conditional form (also known as the "hypothetical form", "provisional form" and the "provisional conditional eba form") is broadly equivalent to the English conditionals "if..." or "when...". It describes a condition that provides a specific result, with emphasis on the condition.Template:Sfn The conditional form is used to describe hypothetical scenarios or general truths.Template:Sfn

Conditional form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
If you see it, you'll understand.	Template:Nihongo krt	hypothetical
When you multiply 3 by 4, it becomes 12.	Template:Nihongo krt	general truths

Conditional: Conjugation table

The conditional form is created by using the kateikei base, followed by the Template:Nihongo krt suffix.

Dictionary form	Pattern Template:Sfn	Conditional form
Godan verbs	Shift the kana to the row, then add
Template:Nihongo krt [i]	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Ichidan verbs	Remove then add
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	+	Template:Nihongo krt
Irregular verbs
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt
Special conjugations
Template:Nihongo krt	→ +	Template:Nihongo krt [ii]

^[i] For godan verbs ending in Template:Nihongo krt, the conditional conjugation is syncretic with ichidan verbs.

^[ii] Colloquially the Template:Nihongo krt form is contracted to Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt, which comes from Template:Nihongo krt. For example, Template:Nihongo krt could become Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt.

Conditional: Advanced usage

In its , the conditional form can express obligation or insistence by attaching to Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt. This pattern of grammar is a double negative which loosely translates to "to avoid that action, will not happen". Semantically cancelling out the negation becomes "to do that action, will happen" ; however the true meaning is "I must do that action".Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Conditional form example sentences

English	Japanese	Function
I have to help.	Template:Nihongo krt	obligation
I must go to the dentist.	Template:Nihongo krt	insistence
Your self‑introduction has to be in Japanese.	Template:Nihongo krt	obligation / insistence

See also

• Japanese godan and ichidan verbs
• Honorific speech in Japanese
• Japanese adjectives
• Japanese particles
• Japanese grammar

Bibliography

• Template:Cite thesis

External links

• Japanese Verb Conjugator, online tool giving all forms for any verb
• Japanese Verb Conjugator, online tool with romaji, kana, and kanji output
• JLearn.net, an online Japanese dictionary that accepts conjugated terms and returns the root verb
• [1] Guide to conjugation te form of Japanese verbs
• [2] List of Free Online Verb Dictionaries
• [3] Handbook of Japanese Verbs - National Institute of Japanese Language and Linguistics