KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Verb forms and tenses

V辞書形

Forms the plain dictionary verb form

Meaning

Forms the plain dictionary verb form.

Formation

  1. Group 1: the final -i syllable shifts to the -u row: 書きます → 書く, 飲みます → 飲む
  2. Group 2: ます → る: 食べます → 食べる
  3. Group 3: します → する, 来ます → 来る (kuru)

When to use it

Core use
Forms the plain dictionary verb form

Examples

13 sentences

  • 毎日まいにち日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうする

    I study Japanese every day.

  • 明日あした友だちともだちに会うあう

    I will meet a friend tomorrow.

  • 休みやすみの日ひは庭にわで野菜やさいを育てるそだてる

    On my days off I grow vegetables in the garden.

  • 小さなちいさな荷物にもつを運ぶはこぶ

    I will carry the small luggage.

  • 青いあおい封筒ふうとうを選ぶえらぶ

    I will choose a blue envelope.

  • 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てるすてる

    I will throw away the old magazines.

  • 台所だいどころの窓まどを開けるあける

    I will open the kitchen window.

  • 旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見るみる

    I will look at the travel photos.

5 more examples

  • 短いみじかい手紙てがみを書くかく

    I will write a short letter.

  • 友達ともだちの話はなしを聞くきく

    I will listen to my friend's story.

  • 駅えきの名前なまえを覚えるおぼえる

    I will memorize the station name.

  • 家いえの鍵かぎを探すさがす

    I will look for the house key.

  • 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをする

    I will prepare dinner.

Important notes

  • The dictionary form is the plain non-past affirmative. It covers habits and the future as well: 毎日読む (I read every day), 明日読む (I will read tomorrow). Many patterns attach to it: 読むつもり, 読む前に.

Common mistakes

  • Not every verb ending in る is group 2: 帰る → 帰ります, but 食べる → 食べます. Check the ます form before building other forms: 帰ます is wrong.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 短いみじかい手紙てがみを書くかく
  2. 駅えきの名前なまえを覚えるおぼえる
  3. 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをする

Similar grammar

    Hear it in podcasts

    The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

    The trainer requires a free account. Examples and practice questions on this page are available without signing up.

    All N5 grammarPractise in the app