Verb ConjugationJapanese verbs have inflection and have several forms.We call this manner "Verb Conjugation".There are 17 forms which are used in ordinary modern Japanese.Plain form - Root form,naiform,taform,nakattaformGroup 1(mosti-ending verbs,kai-masu, kaki-masu, nomi-masu)StemmasuformRoot formnaiformtaformnakattaform

*

*

* irregularGroup 2(alle-ending verbs,tabe-masu, de-masuand somei-ending verbs,mi-masu)StemmasuformRoot formnaiformtaformnakattaform

e-ending

i-ending

Group 3(two irregular verbs,shimasuandkimasu)StemmasuformRoot formnaiformtaformnakattaform

TeformTheteform is made from thetaform by changingtatote.

The verb conjugations of Group 1 verbs are based on Japanese Kana table.naiformmasuformRootConditionalPotentialImperativeVolitional

Conditional - Potential - Imperative - VolitionalGroup 1Stemmasu/ Root formConditionalPotentialImperativeVolitional

Group 2

e-ending

i-ending

Group 3

*

* irregularThe potential form of Group 2 is the same to its passive form.In modern Japanese, people use mostlyinstead offor the potential form of Group 2 verbs.

The volitional form of Group 2 is made by addingto the stem.

The potential verb belongs to Group 2 and it has themasuform and the plain form.PotentialmasuPotential RootPotentialnaiPotentialtaPotentialnakatta

The negative of the conditional form iswhich is made from thenaiform.AffirmativeNegative

The negative of the imperative form is made by addingto the root form.AffirmativeNegative

Passive formThe passive verb belongs to Group 2 and it has themasuform and the plain form.Group 1Stemmasu/ RootPassivemasuPassive Root

Group 2

e-ending

i-ending

Group 3

Causative form & Causative Passive formThe causative verb belongs to Group 2 and it has themasuform and the plain formThe causative verbs also have the passive form.Group 1 verbs have two causative passive forms, a long form and short form, but() ending verbs of Group 1, and Group 2 and Group 3 verbs have only a long form.Group 1masu / RootCausative masuCausative RootCausative Passive LongCausative Passive Short

Group 2

Group 3

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