KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Verb forms and tenses

Vます／ません

Forms polite non-past and its negative

Meaning

〜ます is the positive and 〜ません the negative non-past verb form in polite style.

Formation

  1. Use the stem before ます: 書きます, 食べます; replace ます with ません for the negative.
  2. する → します／しません; 来る → 来ます（きます）／来ません（きません）.

When to use it

Habit or regular action
Politely says what someone usually does or does not do.
Future action
Expresses a plan or future action when used with a time expression.

Examples

16 sentences

  • 毎朝まいあさ七時しちじに起きおきます

    I get up at seven every morning.

  • 学校がっこうで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします

    I study Japanese at school.

  • 明日あした京都きょうとへ行きいきます

    I will go to Kyoto tomorrow.

  • コーヒーは飲みのみません

    I do not drink coffee.

  • 日曜日にちようびは働きはたらきません

    I do not work on Sundays.

  • 今晩こんばんテレビを見みません

    I will not watch television tonight.

  • 小さなちいさな荷物にもつを運びはこびます

    I will carry the small luggage.

  • 青いあおい封筒ふうとうを選びえらびます

    I will choose a blue envelope.

8 more examples

  • 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てすてます

    I will throw away the old magazines.

  • 台所だいどころの窓まどを開けあけます

    I will open the kitchen window.

  • 旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見みます

    I will look at the travel photos.

  • 短いみじかい手紙てがみを書きかきます

    I will write a short letter.

  • 友達ともだちの話はなしを聞きききます

    I will listen to my friend's story.

  • 日曜日にちようびは学校がっこうに行きませんいきません

    I do not go to school on Sundays.

  • 夜よるはコーヒーを飲みませんのみません

    I do not drink coffee in the evening.

  • 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしません

    I will not prepare dinner.

Important notes

  • The Japanese non-past form does not itself separate present and future; context and time words supply the meaning.

Common mistakes

  • Do not attach ます to the dictionary form: use 行きます, not 行くます.
  • Do not add a separate negative after ません; this form is already negative.

Check yourself

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

  1. 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てすてます
  2. 友達ともだちの話はなしを聞きききます
  3. 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしません

Similar grammar

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