How to say "can/can't/could/couldn't" in Japanese. Verb groups in Japanese

A verb is a part of speech that denotes the action or state of an object (“to be”, “to look”, “to walk”, etc.). In Japanese, the verb is the core of grammar and the center of utterance , so it has a huge number of different forms. They are formed by changing the ending, adding auxiliary verbs and suffixes, or combinations of all of these.

Verb is an inflected part of speech

Changing the verb by tenses, numbers, persons, genders and other grammatical categories is called conjugation. However, the conjugation of verbs in Japanese is somewhat different from the conjugation of verbs to which we are accustomed in Russian. The Japanese verb does not change according to person, number and gender. Textbooks understand by conjugating a verb its change according to tenses, stems, voices, moods . In Japanese there are 2 tenses: present-future and past . The basics are 5 main variants of the verb root with different endings . They can express one or another grammatical meaning on their own or in combination with various suffixes. However, there are still a huge number of different verb forms in Japanese.

This cute video will help you learn some Japanese verbs:

Expressions that will be useful to you in Japan

Below are some common or useful phrases that include the imperative mood. Some of them you probably wouldn't use in the imperative mood or use these phrases in other situations, some expressions are idiomatic, and others are just really useful or everyday.

1.腰をかけてください。 (Koshi-o tsuketekudasai). Please have a seat! The most common synonym for the word 座る (suwaru) is to sit down.

2. お帰りなさい！(Okaerinasai). Welcome home! This expression uses the imperative form: お～なさい, but it does not denote a request or order to return home. If you've learned a few phrases and basic greetings in Japanese, this expression should be familiar: it's used when you greet someone who has returned home: ただいま！ (tadaima, translation: I'm back!)－お帰りなさい！

3.気を付けてね！(Ki-o tsuketene). Be careful (or pay attention)! This idiomatic expression can often be found in colloquial speech.

4. 頑張れ! (Gambare) Hold on! (Don't give up) Can often be found in colloquial vocabulary. This is how they shout at sports competitions to athletes, or just to a friend or colleague, wishing them good luck. It can be used in another form: 頑張ろう(gambaro:), but the meaning does not change.

5. おやすみなさい！ (Oyasuminasai). Good night! As in the second expression, this phrase also uses the imperative form. This phrase can be translated as a request: go to bed.

ごめんなさい (gomennasai) and おやすみなさい are complex expressions that are used in specific ways in specific situations. Both have literal and formal meanings. 御免 (gomen) is a Chinese noun meaning 許し “forgiveness” and 許可 “permission.” Therefore, the original meaning of this expression is “please forgive me”お許してください（this expression is synonymous with ごめんなさい）. The Chinese noun + なさい– is itself a productive form, and can take the following meaning: please be patient. In addition, the expression 御免なさい used to mean a request for permission to visit.

The expression お休みなさい (oyasuminasai) was originally an expression that encourages another person to sleep (寝るneru, to sleep). This expression is derived from the verb 休む (yasumu) to rest. We can see similar expressions: お食べなさい(otabenasai) eat, お行きなさい(oikinasai), go. Originally, it is an expression that encourages another person to rest, however it can be used not only for a person trying to rest, but also for a person who is planning to sleep. Moreover, this expression, unlike the first one, can be used with various variations, for example: ゆっくりおやすみなさい (yukkuri oyasuminasai, in the literal meaning: relax slowly - enjoy your vacation). One might say that this expression is used more formally.

So, we have identified several ways to form the imperative mood. We can say a wish, request, advice, instruction, as well as prohibition in different words. However, it is important to remember to use polite, neutral-polite and colloquial speech styles.

右を見なさい.(migi-o minasai) Look to the right. 右を見てください. (migi-o mitekudasai) Please look to your right. 右をご覧ください(migi-o gorankudasai) Please look to the right! (an even more polite form) 台所に入らないでね(daidokoro-ni hairanaidene)。Do not enter the kitchen. Please don't smoke here. 私のかばんを触るな (watashi-no-kaban-o suwaru-na) Don't touch my briefcase! 注意せよ！(chu:iseyo) Be careful!

Now you know what the imperative mood is in Japanese, how it is formed and its different forms. Use this in your practice, applying it in life when communicating.

Verb conjugation in Japanese

In the dictionary, all Japanese verbs are given in dictionary form, that is, they end in the vowel “u”: う, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る (u, ku, gu, su, tsu, nu, bu, mu, ru). For example: 読む (yomu) “read”, 立つ (tatsu) “stand”, 会う (au) “meet”, etc.

According to the type of verb conjugation in Japanese, there are 1st and 2nd conjugation , as well as two irregular conjugation する (suru) and 来る (kuru).

First conjugation

It includes all verbs whose dictionary form ends inう, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る(u, ku, gu, su, tsu, nu, bu, mu, ru). For example: 買う (kau) “buy”, 書く (kaku) “write”, 泳ぐ (oyogu) “swim”, 話す (hanasu) “tell”, 待つ (matsu) “wait”, 死ぬ (shinu) “die”,飛ぶ (tobu) “to fly”, 飲む (nomu) “to drink”, 売る (uru) “to sell”.

Verbs of the 1st conjugation are modified according to the stems in the order of the vertical rows of the gojuon table (あ, か, さ (a, ka, sa), etc.). That is, the last syllable of the verb 飲む (nomu) in the 1st base will change to ま (ma), in the 2nd - み (mi), in the 3rd base it will remain む (mu), in the 4th base it will change to め (me ), in the 5th – on もう (mou). Yes, the dictionary form coincides with the 3rd stem.

This is what it looks like in the table:

Note:

1. The verb ある (aru) “to be” (for inanimate objects) is also a first conjugation, but it does not have a first stem. Its negative form isない(nai).
2. The verbs くださる (kudasaru) “to give” and なさる (nasaru) “to do” have the following 2nd stem:ください(kudasai) andなさい(nasai), respectively, that is, the ending is not り (ri), but い (i).
3. In the 5th stem, [ou] is long, which is why the 5th stem always ends with う(u).
4. わ(wa) rather than あ (a) in the 1st form

This conjugation also includes verbs that can erroneously be classified as the 2nd conjugation. The most important of them:

入る(hairu) “to enter”

走る(hashiru) "to run"

要る(iru) "to be required"

帰る(kaeru) “to return”

知る(shiru) "to know"

Second conjugation

The 2nd conjugation includes verbs ending in る (ru), but る (ru) will always be preceded by either [e], a separate letter or as part of a syllable. It turns out that verbs of the 2nd conjugation in the dictionary form end in “iru” or “eru” . For example, 見る (miru) “to watch” and 食べる (taberu) “to eat.” Look how they conjugate:

Note:

1. The 1st and 2nd bases are the same .
2. As in the first conjugation, in the 5th stem [ou] is long, which is why the 5th stem always ends with う(u).
3. There are exceptions to the 2nd conjugation . These are verbs ending in “iru” and “eru”, but they change according to the 1st conjugation type. Exceptions are listed in the paragraph about the 1st conjugation.

Incorrect conjugation

As mentioned earlier, the verbsする(suru) “to do” and来る(kuru) “to come” belong to this conjugation. The verb する (suru) is used to form verbs using kango (words written with two or more characters) and is the most common verb in the Japanese language , so it is better to remember how it is conjugated right away.

Note:

The せ (se) form of the 1st stem of the verb する (suru) is used only in some cases. The most commonly used form is し (shi).

What are the basics for? Firstly, they are used independently . For verbs of the 1st conjugation these are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stems; verbs of the 2nd conjugation have only the 2nd, 3rd and 5th stems. Secondly, stems are used to form new forms of verbs : these are the 1st, 2nd and 4th stems.

Neutral polite and polite speech

Form Vて(te)＋下さい (kudasai)

It is formed as follows: the suffix ください (kudasai) is added to the て(te)-form of the verb. It involves more of a request than a command, but is mainly applicable in cases where the speaker is confident that he will not be refused. A fairly polite form, it can be used in relation to persons equal to you in status: colleagues, friends, and so on, as well as those who are younger or have a status lower than yours, for example, children and subordinates. However, if you use it in relation to bosses and mentors, you may seem impolite - there are more polite forms for communicating with such people.

本を読んでください。 Hon wo yonde kudasai. Please read the book.

座ってください。 Suwatte kudasai. Please sit down.

塩を回してください。 Shio wo mawashite kudasai. Would you please pass the salt.

Negative form respectively: V1 ＋ないで (naide)＋ください (kudasai)

走らないでください。 Hashiranaide kudasai. Please don't run.

Tabako wo suwanaide kudasai. Please don't smoke.

叫ばないでください。 Sakebanaide kudasai. Please don't shout.

These forms can be softened as follows: Vて(te)＋下さいませんか (kudasaimasenka) . This is a more polite version of the request - “would you do it?..”.

Hon wo misete kudasaimasenka? Would you show me the book?

Shukudai wo oshiete kudasaimasenka? Won't you tell me my homework?

There is another milder option: the prefix お (o)＋V２＋下さい (kudasai) .

Youshi wo okakikomi kudasai. Please fill out the form.

是非お聞きください。 Zehi okiki kudasai. Please be sure (=don't hesitate) to ask.

Another form characteristic of polite speech isご (go)＋kango＋ください (kudasai) .

ご利用ください。 Goriyou kudasai. Please use it.

ご連絡ください。 Gorenraku kudasai. Please contact me.

ご覧ください。 Goran kudasai. Look here please.

This form is more typical of polite speech: it is used by service personnel, workers in relation to bosses, and so on.

Vて＋ちょうだい (choudai)

It is formed using the participial form with the additionちょうだい (choudai) (from the verb 頂戴する (choudaisuru) “to accept with gratitude”). It sounds familiar and can be used in relation to younger people:

Kore wo katazuke choudai. Clean this up please.

Second stem of a series of verbs

These are verbsくださる(kudasaru) “to give”、なさる(nasaru) “to do”、いらっしゃる(irassharu) “to be, to come”、おっしゃる(ossharu) “to speak”。They are characteristic of polite speech, so you should not use them often in formal -polite is not the same level of politeness.

くださる (kudasaru) – ください (kudasai) “please give”

なさる (nasaru) – なさい (nasai) “please do it”

いらっしゃる (irassharu) – いらっしゃい (irasshai) “please come”

おっしゃる (ossharu) – おっしゃい (osshai) “please tell me”

If you add the suffixませ(mase), the phrase will be even more polite. Such forms are used mainly only by service personnel, for example, in stores:

いらっしゃいませ。 Irasshaimase! Welcome!

Construction ない (nai)＋ように (youni)＋お願いします (onegaishimasu)

A good way to politely ask someone NOT to do something. Characterized mainly by polite speech.

Wasuremono no nai youni onegaishimasu. Please don't forget your things.

Where in the sentence should I put the verb?

Those who have watched my video lessons on the Japanese language know that according to the rules for composing a Japanese sentence, the verb is placed at the end of the sentence (unless, of course, it is part of some grammatical construction, for example, it is not a verb attribute).

For example, in Russian we say: “I will go to the zoo on Sunday.”

And the Japanese word order in a sentence would be as follows: “I’ll go to the zoo on Sunday.”

私は日曜日（に）動物園に行きます。

Watashi wa nichiyoubi (ni) doubutsuen ni ikimasu.

Colloquial speech

Simple form of the imperative mood

For verbs of the first conjugation, this function is performed by the 4th stem :

立て (tate) "stand up"

やめ (yame) “stop”

聞け (kike) “listen”

To form a simple form of the imperative mood for verbs of the second conjugation, the suffix よ (yo) or ろ (ro) to the second stem .

見よ (miyo), 見ろ (miro) “look”

食べよ (tabeyo), 食べろ (tabero) “eat”

起きろ (okiro) “get up”

Irregular conjugation verbs have the following forms:

する (suru) – せよ (seyo), しろ (shiro) “do”

来る (kuru) – 来い (koi) “come”

The negative form is formed as follows: V3 ＋な (na)

見るな (miru na) “don’t look”

近づくな (chikazuku na) “don’t come closer”

飲むな (nomu na) “don’t drink”

This form is used mainly by men and has a rather rough tone , so it is not suitable for every occasion.

Vて (te)＋くれ (kure)

くれる (kureru) “to give” is a verb analogue of the polite verb 下さる (kudasaru) “to give”, therefore the forms of the imperative mood formed with their help are similar. The construction with くれ (kure) can be used to address friends, junior employees, children, and so on, but it is not suitable for formal communication, and especially when communicating with bosses and mentors. More typical for male speech.

彼を呼んでくれ。 Kare wo yonde kure. Call him.

外を見てくれ。 Soto wo mitekure. Look outside.

ここへ来てくれ。 Koko e kite kure. Come here.

て (te)-form

If you remove 下さい (kudasai) or くれ (kure) , you get another form of the imperative mood. It can be used both as a request and as an order in relation to close people and persons of lower status.

水を買って。 Mizu wo katte. Buy some water.

これを見て。 Kore wo mite. Look at it.

前に出て。 Mae ni dete. Come forward.

V2 ＋なさい (nasai)

Formed by adding the suffixなさい (nasai) to the second stem of the verb V2 . This is already a full-fledged command that does not allow refusal. This form can be found in dialogue between a boss and a subordinate, parents and children, and so on.

起きなさい。 Okinasai. Get up.

Setsumei wo kikinasai. Listen to the explanation.

Shukudai wo shinasai. Do your homework.

Like the 下さい form, this form can be softened slightly by using the prefixお (o) – お座りなさい (osuwari nasai) “sit down.”

We looked at basic forms that are common and suitable for almost all situations. However, in reality there are many more forms of the imperative mood. There is a vast layer of forms characteristic of polite and reduced speech, which must be studied separately, paying attention to an entire section of one or another level of politeness. As a rule, they are rarely used in everyday life, but they can be found in manga, books or films. Good luck in learning Japanese!

The imperative mood in Japanese is a topic that can be useful in everyday life. How to form imperative forms in Japanese?

Functions of verb stems

Tell your friends. Help make the site more popular.

We looked at how verbs change according to their stems in the article Types of conjugation and verb stems. Now let's study the functions of each of the stems of the verb. Some stems can perform their functions only in combination with suffixes (a list of all verbal suffixes can be found here), some - both independently and in combination with various suffixes expressing voice, tense, politeness, aspect, etc.

1st base – negative

The Japanese name is 未然形 mizenkei, which means "unfinished". It is so called because it does not perform its functions independently, but only in combination with suffixes. This framework has three functions:

1) form the negative form of the verb by adding the suffixes ない -nai (universal), ぬ -nu, ん -n, ず -zu (old written).

するーしない/せぬ/せん/せず suru – shinai, (senu, sezu, sen) to do – not to do,

読むー読まない （読まず） youmu-yomanai (yomazu) - read - don’t read,

食べるー食べない taberu – tabenai – eat – don’t eat,

来るー来ない kuru – konai – to come – not to come.

2) form collateral forms:

-by adding the suffixes れる/られる –reru/-rareru, it forms the passive voice:

するーされる suru - sareru “to do” - “to be made”

読むー読まれる youmu – yomareru “to read – to be read”,

食べるー食べられる taberu – taberareru “to eat - to be eaten”

-by adding the suffixes せる/させる -seru/-saseru, it forms the form of the imperative voice:

するーさせる suru – saseru “to do - to force to do”,

読むー読ませる youmu – yomaseru “read – encourage to read”

食べるー食べさせる taberu – tabesaseru “to eat - to force to eat”

-by adding the suffixes される -sareru/せられる -serareru/させられる -saserareru, forms the forms of the incentive-passive voice:

するーせられる suru - serareru “to do - to be forced to do”,

読むー読ませられる youmu – yomaserareru “to read – to be forced to read”

食べるー食べさせられる taberu – tabesaserareru “to eat - to be forced to eat”

3) for verbs of the 2nd and irregular conjugation, it serves to form a form of negative intention and assumption with the addition of the suffix まい -may:

食べるー食べまい taberu – tabemai “to eat - unlikely to eat”

するー す まい suru – simai “to do - is unlikely to do”

2nd base - middle

The Japanese name is ren'yōkei - 連用形 "priyōgen form." It is called so because one of its functions is to precede yogen - that is, another verb. Its functions are as follows:

1) Used independently as a medial form in written language:

雪が降り、風も吹きます。 Yuki-ga furi , kaze-mo fukimas. - It's snowing and the wind is blowing.

2) Used in the construction –を+2nd base+に+verb of movement:

手紙を送りに行く。Tegami-o okuri -ni iku – I’m going to send a letter.

4) Used independently as a verbal noun 話 hanashi - “conversation” (from 話す hanasu - “to talk”)

5) Used as the first component in complex verbs and wago adjectives:走り続けるhashiri tsuzukeru - “keep running”,分かりやすい wakariyasui - “easy to understand”.

6) is used to form the final form of the predicate in a neutral-polite style, adding the suffix –mas:

読むー読みます youmu - yomi mas, 食べるー食べます taberu - tabe mas, するーします suru - si mas.

7) used when forming polite forms of the verb:

お書きになる o- kaki -ni naru – deign to write, お座りになる o- suvari -ni naru – deign to sit down.

8) is used to form the past tense form with the suffix た–ta, gerundial forms in て-te), representative form (…たり -tari), conditions in たら –tara, concessions (ても -temo) for verbs of the 1st conjugation ending on す –su, 2 verbs and irregular conjugation:

話す hanasu – “to speak”, 話して hanasite – “saying”, 話した hanashita – “said”, 話したら hanashitara – “if said”, 話したり hanashitari – says, spoke (from time to time), 話しても hanasitemo — “even though he speaks.”

する suru - “to do”, して site - “doing”, した sita - “did”, したら sitara - “if done”, したり sitari - “did, does” (from time to time), しても sitemo - “even though he did.”

9) is used to form the gerund participle of simultaneity, adding the suffixes ながら -nagara, つつ -tsutsu:

読むー読みながら、読みつつ youmu – yominagara, yomitsu – “reading”

食べるー食べながら、食べつつ taberu – tabenagara – “eating”

10) forms the form of the desired mood using the suffixes ...たい -tai, ...たがる -tagaru:

読むー読みたい、よみたがる yomu – yomitai, yomitagaru – “I want to read”,

食べるー食べたい、食べたがる taberu – tabetai, tabetagaru – “I want to eat”

するーしたい、したがる suru – sitai, shitagaru – “I want to do.”

11) verbs of the 2nd conjugation attach the suffixes ろ –ro and よ -yo to the 2nd stem, forming a form of rough command (see Colloquial and familiar forms of the imperative mood):

食べろ tabero – eat! 来い koi – come here! しよ、しろ siyo, shiro – do it!

3rd base – final

The Japanese name is 終止形 shu:shikei - “final form”. It is called so because of its first function.

1) Acts as a final predicate of the present-future tense in informational and colloquial styles:

明日学校へ行く。 Ashita gakko:-e iku . I'm going tomorrow .

2.) Acts as a attributive form (before a noun)書く人kaku hito – writing person, 咲く花 saku hana – blooming flowers

3) Used in dictionaries as the initial form of a verb

4) Attaches the suffix な –na (a gross prohibition in common speech) (see Colloquial and familiar forms of the imperative mood): するーするな suru – suruna – don’t do it!

5) Attaches the negative presupposition suffix まい –mai (verbs 1 and irregular conjugation):

書くー書くまい kaku-kakumai - “unlikely to read”, するーするまい suru-surumai - “unlikely to do”

6) adds the suffix …べき -beki (obligation): するーするべき、すべき suru - surubeki, subeki - should be done 読むー読むべき yōmu - yōmubeki - the one that should be read.

4th base – conditional

Japanese names: 仮定形 kateikei – “conventional form”, 已然形 ijenkei – “complete form”, 命令形 meireikei – “imperative form”.

Used both independently and in combination with suffixes.

1) Acts as a form of rude command (only for verbs of the 1st conjugation):

読め yome! - read!

急げ isoge! - hurry up!

2) adds the conditional suffix ば–ba:

読むー読めば yōmu – yomeba – if you read.

3) Attaches the suffix る –ru (only for verbs of 1 conjugation). forming the form of possibility:

読むー読める yōmu – yomeru – to be able to read.

5th basis – conjectural.

The Japanese name is 推量形 suiryo:kei "presumptive form". It has only independent use and is used in two meanings:

1) Assumption in informational and colloquial styles:

明日雨が降ろう。Ashita ame-ga furo: . - Tomorrow it will probably rain,

2) Invitation to joint action in common parlance:

帰ろう kaero: - we're coming back!

読もう yomo: - we honor

食べろう tabero: — let's eat
Did you find an error in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.