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Recognizing Japanese Verb Groups - Part I

Would you like to find out what group is the verb (ます form ) belongs to? You can easily find dictionary forms of the verbs. There are only three types of Japanese verbs (conjugation ) patterns.

How to find a dictionary form of Japanese verbs

The dictionary forms are the basic form of a verb, which are the forms given in the dictionary. The method by which the dictionary form is created from the ます-form depends on which group the verb belongs to. 

 

1) Group 1 verb

In Group 1 verb group, the last sound of the ます form, which is always in the い -column, is changed to a corresponding sound in the う -column. 

ます → か 

いそます → いそぐ 

よみます → よ

あそます → あそ 

ます → とる 

ます→ま

ます → すう 

はなます → はなす 

 

Note: followings are identical in dictionary forms in writing but different verb groups (and pitches are different):

ます → いる (V1 need)

かえます → かえる (V1 go home)

ます→ いる (V2 exist)

ます→  かえる (V2 change)

 

ます → きる (V1 cut)

ます→ きる (V2 wear)

ます→ くる (V3 Irregular)

 

2) Group 2 verb

In Group 2 verb group, remove ます and add る  instead. You don’t change verb stems. It’s simple!

たベます → たべ

みます → みる 

 

3) Irregular verb

Changes are irregular. This group has only します and きます.  

します→する

きます→くる

You can check verb conjugations in the following section:

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