Plain FormPlain Form

Verb Groups in JapaneseVerb Groups in Japanese• As we have already learnt there are 3

verb groups in Japanese.

– Group 1 (Strong)– Group 2 (Weak)– Group 3 (Irregular)

Group 1 (Strong)• These are the biggest group of verbs.

To identify these verbs look at the verb stem (without the ます ) and if it ends in an い sound it is a Group 1 verb.E.g. あいます、あるきます、およぎます、はなします、たちます、あそびます、のみます、しにます .

Group 2 (Weak)• Group 2 (Weak) verbs differ from Group 1

verbs in the following ways.– The last syllable of the verb stem ends in an え

sound. E.g. あけます、たべますOR

– They are verbs with a one syllable stem. E.g. ねます、でます

OR– They are the potential form of the verb

Group 3 (Irregular)

• These are the verbs that you must remember by heart, as there is no rules to help you remember them.

E.g. します　 and きます (come)

Introduction to Plain Form• All the verbs that you know end in ます . When you use these verbs you are using polite form.

• Now we are going to learn how to form the plain form

Uses of the Plain Form• The plain form (often referred to as the

‘Dictionary Form’) is used in informal language.

• The plain form is also required when we are forming many grammatical patterns.

Formation• As we have just learnt there are

different ways of forming the て form depending on what verb group they are. The formation plain form also has rules depending on what verb group they belong to.

Formation of Group 1 (Strong) Verbs

• When you change Group 1 verbs into the plain form you drop the ます and change the final い sound to the corresponding う sound.

• Look at the following chart to help clarify it for you.

Examplesはなします　　　　　 はなす

ききます きく

あそびます あそぶ

つくります つくる

ExercisesLook at the following polite forms and put them in their Plain form

のみます

あらいます

いきます

たちます たつ

いく

あらう

のむ

Formation of Group 2 (Weak) Verbs

• It is much easier to change Group 2 verbs into the plain form. You simply drop the ます and add る . As you continue your study of Japanese you will realise that Group 2 verbs are much easier to conjugate.

Examplesあけます　　　　　 あける

みます みる

でかけます でかける　

ねます ねる

ExercisesLook at the following polite forms and put them in their Plain form

できます

います

たべます

みえます みえる

たべる

いる

できる

Important Note• It is important to remember that there

are a few exceptions to the rule. The following verbs look like Group 1 verbs however they are Group 2:

おきます and あびます . Therefore their plain forms are おきる and あび

る respectively.

Formation of Group 3 (Irregular) Verbs

• The only way to remember these verbs is by heart. The two irregular verbs are:

します する

きます (come) くる

Conclusion

• Group 1 - Change the final い sound of the verb stem to its’ corresponding う　　 sound

• Group 2 - Add る to the verb stem

• Group 3 - Remember by heart