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.
かきます → かく
いそぎます → いそぐ
よみます → よむ
あそびます → あそぶ
とります → とる
まちます→まつ
すいます → すう
はなします → はなす
Note: followings are identical in dictionary forms in writing but different verb groups (and pitches are different):
いります → いる (V1 need)
かえります → かえる (V1 go home)
います→ いる (V2 exist)
かえます→ かえる (V2 change)
きります → きる (V1 cut)
きます→ きる (V2 wear)
きます→ 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 → たべる
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:
Created by Pine Language Lessons