Japanese Verbs; 2 Tenses

動詞 DOU SHI

There are two classes of Japanese verbs: original Japanese and non-Japanese, those are mostly Sino-Japanese verbs, from Chinese:

Original Japanese Verbs

These verbs are written in Hiragana or a combination of Kanji root and a Hiragana flection (suffix):

する SU-RU = "to do"

よむ = 読 む YO-MU = "to read"

A Kanji is read always in Japanese KUN reading , if it has a Hiragana flection (with the exception of SURU!); the same goes for Adjectives.

All Original Japanese verbs end in a Hiragana syllable ending on U, but not all syllables:

  1. う -U: 言う I-U = to say
  2. く -KU, ぐ -GU:

    書 く KA-KU = to write
    急 ぐ ISO-GU = to hurry
    belong to the same syllable because of the "smoothing" diacritics.

    聞 く KI-KU = to ask
    has some exceptions!

  3. す -SU: 話 す HANA-SU = to sepak
  4. つ -TSU: 勝 つ KA-TSU = to win
  5. ぶ -BU: 遊 ぶ;ASO-BU = to play
  6. む -MU: 読 む YO-MU = to read
  7. る -RU: 分 か る WA-KARU = to understand*
* On RU end most of all Japanese Verbs in basic forms. Sometimes, there are several Kana as a suffix after the Kanji root ,e.g. WAKARU, for historic reasons, but only the readt is changed in flections

分 か る
WA-KARU = to understand = (I/You/he ...) understand

分 か ら ない
WA-KARA-NAI = understand-not = (I/You/he ...) do not understand

分 か った
WA-KATTA = understood, "roger", "eye-eye" (informal)

分 か り ました
WA-KARI-MASHITA = understood, "roger", "eye-eye" (polite)

and so forth

Sino-Japanese / Foreign Verbs
+ SURU-Suffix

These Nouns end with the Hiragana-Suffix する SURU = "to do".

勉強 する
BENKYOU SURU = learn+to do = to learn, to study

It can be a classic Sino-Japanese Kanji word or a trendy Anglo-Japanese word, written in Katakana:

シャットダウン する
SHATTO DAUN SURU = Shutdown +to do, to shut down :)

These Kanji (often a composite of many kanji) are always read in Sino-Japanese ON reading :

These verbs do no change, only the "auxiliary verb" SURU - but that is irregular!

シャットダウン する
SHATTO DAUN SURU = Shutdown +to do, to shut down

シャットダウン します
SHATTO DAUN SHIMASU = Shutdown +to do, to shut down (polite)

シャットダウン しない
SHATTO DAUN SHINAI = Shutdown +not to do, not to shut down (informal)

シャットダウン しなかった
SHATTO DAUN SHINAKATTA = Shutdown +not-done (past tense), I did not shut down (informal)

and so forth

No Conjugation :) ...

Well, in English there are only two forms (have/has), but in Japanese, all personal forms have the same form - nice and easy :)

(German and other European languages have up to 6 forms for each tense)

German

Verb Conjugation:

(I) habe
du hast
er/sie/es hat
wir haben
ihr habt
sie haben

Swedish

No Verb Conjugation:

jag har
du har
han/hon har
vi har
ni har
de har

English

Limited Verb Conjugation:

I have
You have
he/she/it has
we have
You have
they have

-

-
-
-
-
-

Japanese

No Verb Conjugation: to have X = X GA ARU

watashi wa X GA ARU
anata wa X GA ARU
kare/kanojo wa X GA ARU
watashitachi wa X GA ARU
anatatachi wa X GA ARU
karera wa X GA ARU
(all forms informal)

WHO actually reads, is a matter of interpretation :) A demonstrative may help You, but many Japanese omit these:

わたし は 読 む WATASHI WA YOMU = I read (informal)

あなた は 読 む ANATA WA YOMU = You read (informal)

The Verb Flections

The ending syllable of the basic verb form is changed to express tenses, active/passive and politess.

This system can only be grasped if You know about the basic importance of the Hiragana-syllables! Japanese do not think in letters - we do, they think in syllables!

The expressions are:

  1. 2 tenses: 1 present tense (=future!), 1 past tense
  2. Active and passive.
  3. every variant has a negation
  4. every variant has a polite form.
  5. Potential- or Conditional form
  6. The "TE"-Form, coming near to the English "gerund form", writ-ING.

Now I list up all 7 Verb Syllable Rows: the system is not difficult, just a beginner may take some time to memorize:

Don´t worry about longer forms, they are used seldomly :)

I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  1. う -U: 言う I-U = to say

    Active

    informal / private

    言う
    I-U
    (I) say

    言った
    I-TTA
    (I) said, I did say

    言わ ない
    I-WA-NAI
    (I) say not, I do not say

    言わ なかった
    I-WA-NAKATTA
    (I) said not, I did not say

    polite / in the public

    言い ます
    I-I-MASU
    (I) say

    言い ました
    I-I-MASHITA
    (I) said

    言い ません
    I-I-MASEN
    (I) say not, I do not say

    言い ませんでした
    I-I-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) said not, I did not say

    Passive

    informal / private

    言わ れる
    I-WA-RE-RU
    (I am) said, I am told

    言わ れた
    I-WA-RE-TA
    (I was) said, I was told

    言わ れない
    I-WA-RE-NAI
    (I am) not said, I am not told

    言わ れなかった
    I-WA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I was) not said, I was not told

    polite / in the public

    言わ れます
    I-WA-RE-MASU
    (I am) said

    言わ れました
    I-WA-RE-MASHITA
    (I was) said

    言わ れません
    I-WA-RE-MASEN
    (I am) not said

    言わ れませんでした
    I-WA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I was) not said

    Potential

    informal / private

    言え る
    I-E-RU
    (I) can say

    言え た
    I-E-TA
    (I) could say

    言え ない
    I-E-NAI
    (I) can not say

    言え なかった
    I-E-NAKATTA
    (I) could not say

    polite / in the public

    言え ます
    I-E-MASU
    (I) can say

    言え ました
    I-E-MASHITA
    (I) could say

    言え ません
    I-E-MASEN
    (I) can not say

    言え ませんでした
    I-E-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not say

    て TE-Form

    The verb becomes almost an adjective:

    言って
    I-TTE
    saying

    This is pretty much the same as the English gerund

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "ITTE!" - "Say it!" or
    "ITTE-KUDASAI!" - "Please tell me!"

    The point is that many things can be put at the TE form as a suffix:

    言っている
    I-TTE-IRU
    "being-saying", "telling now",
    "I AM SAY-ING"

    The polite form is

    言っています
    I-TTE-IMASU - I am saying (polite)
    So the TE-Form is "frozen" and the suffix is changed.

    言ってある
    I-TTE-ARU
    "something being said"

    言ってあげる
    I-TTE-AGERU
    "to tell somebody"

    言ってもらう
    I-TTE-MORAU
    "to be told, to get to know"
    and so forth ...

    Active Conditional

    言えば
    I-E-BA
    if (I) would say

    言ったら
    I-TTARA
    if (I) had said

    言えなければ
    I-E-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not say

    言えなかったら
    I-E-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not said

    Passive Conditional

    言わ れば
    I-WA-RE-BA
    if I would be told

    言わ れたら
    I-WA-RE-TARA
    if I would have been told

    言わ れなければ
    I-WA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if I would not be told

    言わ れなかったら
    I-WA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if I would not have been told

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    言わ せる
    I-WA-SE-RU
    (I) let say (present)

    言わ せた
    I-WA-SE-TA
    (I) let say (past)

    言わ せない
    I-WA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not say (present)

    言わ せなかった
    I-WA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not say (past)

    polite / in the public

    言わ せます
    I-WA-SE-MASU
    (I) let say

    言わ せました
    I-WA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let say

    言わ せません
    I-WA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not say

    言わ せませんでした
    I-WA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not say

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    言わ せられる
    I-WA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to let me said, I have to hear

    言わ せられた
    I-WA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to let me said

    言わ せられない
    I-WA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to let me said

    言わ せられなかった
    I-WA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to let me said

    polite / in the public

    言わ せられます
    I-WA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to let me said

    言わ せられました
    I-WA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to let me said

    言わ せられません
    I-WA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to let me said

    言わ せられませんでした
    I-WA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to let me said

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  2. く -KU, ぐ -GU: 書 く KA-KU = to write, 急 ぐ ISO-GU = to hurry

    Active

    informal / private

    書く
    KA-KU
    (I) write

    書いた
    KA-I-TA
    (I) wrote

    書か ない
    KA-KA-NAI
    (I) write not, I do not write

    書か なかった
    KA-KA-NAKATTA
    (I) wrote not, I did not write

    polite / in the public

    書き ます
    KA-KI-MASU
    (I) write

    書き ました
    KA-KI-MASHITA
    (I) wrote

    書き ません
    KA-KI-MASEN
    (I) write not, I do not write

    書き ませんでした
    KA-KI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) wrote not, I did not write

    Passive

    informal / private

    書か れる
    KA-KA-RE-RU
    (it is) written

    書か れた
    KA-KA-RE-TA
    (it was) written

    書か れない
    KA-KA-RE-NAI
    (it is) not written

    書か れなかった
    KA-KA-RE-NAKATTA
    (it was) not written

    polite / in the public

    書か れます
    KA-KA-RE-MASU
    (it is) written

    書か れました
    KA-KA-RE-MASHITA
    (it was) written

    書か れません
    KA-KA-RE-MASEN
    (it is) not written

    書か れませんでした
    KA-KA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (it was) not written

    Potential

    informal / private

    書け る
    KA-KE-RU
    (I) can write

    書け た
    KA-KE-TA
    (I) could write

    書け ない
    KA-KE-NAI
    (I) can not write

    書け なかった
    KA-KE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not write

    polite / in the public

    書け ます
    KA-KE-MASU
    (I) can write

    書け ました
    KA-KE-MASHITA
    (I) could write

    書け ません
    KA-KE-MASEN
    (I) can not write

    書け ませんでした
    KA-KE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not write

    TE-Form

    書いて
    KA-ITE
    writing

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "KAITE!" - "write it!") or
    "KAITE-KUDASAI!" - "write it please!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    書いている
    KA-ITE-IRU
    "writing-being", "now writing"

    The polite form is

    書いています
    KA-ITE-IMASU
    - I am writing

    書いてある
    KA-ITE-ARU
    "written-being" - it is being written

    and so forth ...

    Active Conditional

    書えば
    KA-KE-BA
    if (I) would write

    書ったら
    KA-TTARA
    if (I) had written

    書えなければ
    KA-KE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would notwrite

    書えなかったら
    KA-KE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not written

    Passive Conditional

    書か れば
    KA-KA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be written

    書か れたら
    KA-KA-RE-TARA
    if (I) would have been written

    書か れなければ
    KA-KA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be written

    書か れなかったら
    KA-KA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) not not have been written

    All in the sense of "receiving a letter".

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    書か せる
    KA-KA-SE-RU
    (I) let write (present)

    書か せた
    KA-KA-SE-TA
    (I) let write (past)

    書か せない
    KA-KA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not write (present)

    書か せなかった
    KA-KA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not write (past)

    polite / in the public

    書か せます
    KA-KA-SE-MASU
    (I) let write (present)

    書か せました
    KA-KA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let write (past)

    書か せません
    KA-KA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not write (present)

    書か せませんでした
    KA-KA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not write (past)

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    書か せられる
    KA-KA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to let write

    書か せられた
    KA-KA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to let write

    書か せられない
    KA-KA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to let write

    書か せられなかった
    KA-KA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had to let write

    polite / in the public

    書か せられます
    KA-KA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to let write

    書か せられました
    KA-KA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to let write

    書か せられません
    KA-KA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not towriten readsen

    書か せられませんでした
    KA-KA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to let write

    The "smoothed" syllable ぐ GU (急 ぐ ISO-GU = to hurry) follows the same rules:

    急ぐ
    ISO-GU
    (I) hurry

    急いた
    ISO-I-TA
    (I) hurried

    急が ない
    ISO-GA-NAI
    (I) did not hurry

    and so forth ...

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

    CAUTION: Exceptions!!! 聞 く KI-KU = to ask, to hear

    Active

    informal / private

    聞く
    KI-KU
    (I) hear

    聞いた
    KI-I-TA
    (I) heard

    聞か ない
    KI-KA-NAI
    (I) hear not

    聞か なかった
    KI-KA-NAKATTA
    (I) heard not

    polite / in the public

    聞き ます
    KI-KI-MASU
    (I) hear

    聞き ました
    KI-KI-MASHITA
    (I) heard

    聞き ません
    KI-KI-MASEN
    (I) hear not

    聞き ませんでした
    KI-KI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) heard not

    Passive

    informal / private

    聞か れる
    KI-KA-RE-RU
    (I am) heard

    聞か れた
    KI-KA-RE-TA
    (I was) heard

    聞か れない
    KI-KA-RE-NAI
    (I am) not heard

    聞か れなかった
    KI-KA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I was) not heard

    polite / in the public

    聞か れます
    KI-KA-RE-MASU
    (I am) heard

    聞か れました
    KI-KA-RE-MASHITA
    (I was) heard

    聞か れません
    KI-KA-RE-MASEN
    (I am) not heard

    聞か れませんでした
    KI-KA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I was) not heard

    Potential

    informal / private

    聞こえ る
    KI-KOE-RU
    (I) can hear

    聞こえ た
    KI-KOE-TA
    (I) could hear

    聞こえ ない
    KI-KOE-NAI
    (I) can not hear

    聞こえ なかった
    I-KOE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not hear

    polite / in the public

    聞こえ ます
    KI-KOE-MASU
    (I) can hear

    聞こえ ました
    KI-KOE-MASHITA
    (I) could hear

    聞こえ ません
    KI-KOE-MASEN
    (I) can not hear

    聞こえ ませんでした
    KI-KOE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not hear

    TE-Form

    聞いて
    KI-ITE
    hearing

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "KIITE!" - "Will You listen?!") or
    "KIITE-KUDASAI!" - "Listen please!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    聞いている
    KI-ITE-IRU
    "hearing-being", "now hearing"

    The polite form is

    聞いています
    KI-ITE-IMASU
    - I am hearing

    聞いてある
    KI-ITE-ARU
    "heard-being" - it is heard

    and so forth ...

    Active Conditional

    聞えば
    KI-KOE-BA
    if (I) would hear

    聞ったら
    KI-TTARA
    if (I) had heard

    聞えなければ
    KI-KOE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not hear

    聞えなかったら
    KI-KOE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not heard

    Passive Conditional

    聞か れば
    KI-KA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be heard

    聞か れたら
    KI-KA-RE-TARA
    if (I) would have been heard

    聞か れなければ
    KI-KA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be heard

    聞か れなかったら
    KI-KA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) would not have been heard

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    聞か せる
    KI-KA-SE-RU
    (I) let hear

    聞か せた
    KI-KA-SE-TA
    (I) let hear

    聞か せない
    KI-KA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not hear (to keep it secret)

    聞か せなかった
    KI-KA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not hear

    polite / in the public

    聞か せます
    KI-KA-SE-MASU
    (I) let hear

    聞か せました
    I-KA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let hear

    聞か せません
    KI-KA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not hear

    聞か せませんでした
    KI-KA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not hear

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    聞か せられる
    KI-KA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to let heard

    聞か せられた
    KI-KA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to let heard

    聞か せられない
    KI-KA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not tolet heard

    聞か せられなかった
    KI-KA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had to let heard

    polite / in the public

    聞か せられます
    KI-KA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to let heard

    聞か せられました
    KI-KA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to let heard

    聞か せられません
    KI-KA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to let heard

    聞か せられませんでした
    KI-KA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to let heard

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  3. す -SU: 話 す HANA-SU = to speak, to talk

    Active

    informal / private

    話す
    HANA-SU
    (I) speak

    話した
    HANA-SHITA
    (I) spoke

    話さ ない
    HANA-SA-NAI
    (I) speak not, I do not speak

    話さ なかった
    HANA-SA-NAKATTA
    (I) spoke not

    polite / in the public

    話し ます
    HANA-SHI-MASU
    (I) speak

    話し ました
    HANA-SHI-MASHITA
    (I) spoke

    話し ません
    HANA-SHI-MASEN
    (I) speak not

    話し ませんでした
    HANA-SHI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) spoke not

    Passive

    informal / private

    話さ れる
    HANA-SA-RE-RU
    (I am) spoken

    話さ れた
    HANA-SA-RE-TA
    (I was) spoken

    話さ れない
    HANA-SA-RE-NAI
    (I am) not spoken

    話さ れなかった
    HANA-SA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I was) not spoken

    polite / in the public

    話さ れます
    HANA-SA-RE-MASU
    (I am) spoken

    話さ れました
    HANA-SA-RE-MASHITA
    (I was) spoken

    話さ れません
    HANA-SA-RE-MASEN
    (I am) not spoken

    話さ れませんでした
    HANA-SA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I was) not spoken

    Potential

    informal / private

    話せ る
    HANA-SE-RU
    (I) can speak

    話せ た
    HANA-SE-TA
    (I) could speak

    話せ ない
    HANA-SE-NAI
    (I) can not speak

    話せ なかった
    HANA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not speak

    polite / in the public

    話せ ます
    HANA-SE-MASU
    (I) can speak

    話せ ました
    HANA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) could speak

    話せ ません
    HANA-SE-MASEN
    (I) can not speak

    話せ ませんでした
    HANA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not speak

    TE-Form

    話して
    HANA-SHITE
    speaking

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "HANA-SHITE!" - "Speak!") or
    "HANA-SHITE-KUDASAI!" - "Please talk!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    話している
    HANA-SHITE-IRU
    "seaking-being", "now speaking"

    The polite form is

    話しています
    HANA-SHITE-IMASU
    - I am speaking

    話してある
    HANA-SHITE-ARU
    "spoken-being", it is talked about
    and so forth ...

    Active Conditional

    話せば
    HANA-SE-BA
    if (I) would speak

    話したら
    HANA-SHITARA
    if (I) had spoken

    話さなければ
    HANA-SA-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) not would speak

    話さなかったら
    HANA-SA-NAKATTARA
    if (I) not had spoken

    Passive Conditional

    話さ れば
    HANA-SA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be spoken to

    話さ れたら
    HANA-SA-RE-TARA
    if (I) would have been spoken to

    話さ れなければ
    HANA-SA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be spoken to

    話さ れなかったら
    HANA-SA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) would not have been spoken to

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    話さ せる
    HANA-SA-SE-RU
    (I) let speak (present)

    話さ せた
    HANA-SA-SE-TA
    (I) let speak (past)

    話さ せない
    HANA-SA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not speak (present)

    話さ せなかった
    HANA-SA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not speak (past)

    polite / in the public

    話さ せます
    HANA-SA-SE-MASU
    (I) let speak (present)

    話さ せました
    HANA-SA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let speak (past)

    話さ せません
    HANA-SA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not speak (present)

    話さ せませんでした
    HANA-SA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not speak (past)

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    話さ せられる
    HANA-SA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to speak

    話さ せられた
    HANA-SA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to speak

    話さ せられない
    HANA-SA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to speak

    話さ せられなかった
    HANA-SA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to speak

    polite / in the public

    話さ せられます
    HANA-SA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to speak

    話さ せられました
    HANA-SA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to speak

    話さ せられません
    HANA-SA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to speak

    話さ せられませんでした
    HANA-SA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to speak

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  4. つ -TSU: 勝 つ KA-TSU = to win

    Active

    informal / private

    勝つ
    KA-TSU
    (I) win

    勝っ た
    KA-TTA
    (I) won

    勝た ない
    KA-TA-NAI
    (I) do not win, I miss

    勝た なかった
    KA-TA-NAKATTA
    (I) did not win, I missed

    polite / in the public

    勝ち ます
    KA-CHI-MASU
    (I) win

    勝ち ました
    KA-CHI-MASHITA
    (I) won

    勝ち ません
    KA-CHI-MASEN
    (I) do not win, I miss

    勝ち ませんでした
    KA-CHI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) did not win, I missed

    Passive

    informal / private

    勝た れる
    KA-TA-RE-RU
    (I am) won

    勝た れた
    KA-TA-RE-TA
    (I was) won

    勝た れない
    KA-TA-RE-NAI
    (I am) not won

    勝た れなかった
    KA-TA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I was) not won

    polite / in the public

    勝た れます
    KA-TA-RE-MASU
    (I am) won

    勝た れました
    KA-TA-RE-MASHITA
    (I was) won

    勝た れません
    KA-TA-RE-MASEN
    (I am) not won

    勝た れませんでした
    KA-TA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I was) not won

    Potential

    informal / private

    勝て る
    KA-TE-RU
    (I) can win

    (Alltag →
    勝つ のは できる
    KA-TSU NO HA DEKIRU)(I) can win

    勝て た
    KA-TE-TA
    (I) could winn

    勝て ない
    KA-TE-NAI
    (I) can not win

    勝て なかった
    KA-TE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not win

    polite / in the public

    勝て ます
    KA-TE-MASU
    (I) can win

    勝て ました
    KA-TE-MASHITA
    (I) could win

    勝て ません
    KA-TE-MASEN
    (I) can not win

    勝て ませんでした
    KA-TE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not win

    TE-Form

    勝って
    KA-TTE
    winning

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "KA-TTE!" - "Win!") or
    "KA-TTE-KUDASAI!" - "Please win!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    勝っている
    KA-TTE-IRU
    "winning-being", "now winning"

    The polite form is

    勝っています
    KA-TTE-IMASU
    - I am winning

    Active Conditional

    勝せば
    KA-TE-BA
    if (I) would win

    勝したら
    KA-TTARA
    if (I) had won

    勝たなければ
    KA-TA-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not win

    勝たなかったら
    KA-TA-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not won

    Passive Conditional

    勝た れば
    KA-TA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be won

    勝た れたら
    KA-TA-RE-TARA
    if (I) would have been won

    勝た れなければ
    KA-TA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be won

    勝た れなかったら
    KA-TA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) would not have been won

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    勝た せる
    KA-TA-SE-RU
    (I) let win

    勝た せた
    KA-TA-SE-TA
    (I) let win

    勝た せない
    KA-TA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not win

    勝た せなかった
    KA-TA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not win

    polite / in the public

    勝た せます
    KA-TA-SE-MASU
    (I) let win

    勝た せました
    KA-TA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let win

    勝た せません
    KA-TA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not win

    勝た せませんでした
    KA-TA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not win

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    勝た せられる
    KA-TA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to be won

    勝た せられた
    KA-TA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to be won

    勝た せられない
    KA-TA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to be won

    勝た せられなかった
    KA-TA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to be won

    polite / in the public

    勝た せられます
    KA-TA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to be won

    勝た せられました
    KA-TA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to be won

    勝た せられません
    KA-TA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to be won

    勝た せられませんでした
    KA-TA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to be won

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  5. ぶ -BU: 遊 ぶ;ASO-BU = to play

    Active

    informal / private

    遊ぶ
    ASO-BU
    (I) play

    遊ん だ
    ASO-N-DA
    (I) plaid

    遊ば ない
    ASO-BA-NAI
    (I) play not

    遊ば なかった
    ASO-BA-NAKATTA
    (I) plaid not

    polite / in the public

    遊び ます
    ASO-BI-MASU
    (I) play

    遊び ました
    ASO-BI-MASHITA
    (I) plaid

    遊び ません
    ASO-BI-MASEN
    (I) play not

    遊び ませんでした
    ASO-BI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) plaid not

    Passive

    informal / private

    遊ば れる
    ASO-BA-RE-RU
    (it) is plaid

    遊ば れた
    ASO-BA-RE-TA
    (it) was plaid

    遊ば れない
    ASO-BA-RE-NAI
    (it) is not plaid

    遊ば れなかった
    ASO-BA-RE-NAKATTA
    (it) was not plaid

    polite / in the public

    遊ば れます
    ASO-BA-RE-MASU
    (it) is plaid

    遊ば れました
    ASO-BA-RE-MASHITA
    (it) was plaid

    遊ば れません
    ASO-BA-RE-MASEN
    (it) is not plaid

    遊ば れませんでした
    ASO-BA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (it) was not plaid

    Potential

    informal / private

    遊べ る
    ASO-BE-RU
    (I) can play

    遊べ た
    ASO-BE-TA
    (I) could play

    遊べ ない
    ASO-BE-NAI
    (I) can not play

    遊べ なかった
    ASO-BE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not play

    polite / in the public

    遊べ ます
    ASO-BE-MASU
    (I) can play

    遊べ ました
    ASO-BE-MASHITA
    (I) could play

    遊べ ません
    ASO-BE-MASEN
    (I) can not play

    遊べ ませんでした
    ASO-BE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not play

    TE-Form

    遊んで
    ASO-NDE
    playing

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "ASON-NDE!" - "Play!") or
    "ASON-NDE-KUDASAI!" - "Play please! Enjoy Yourself")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    遊んでいる
    ASO-NDE-IRU
    "playing-being", "now playing"

    The polite form is

    遊んでいます
    ASO-NDE-IMASU - I am playing

    Active Conditional

    遊せば
    ASO-BE-BA
    if (I) would play

    遊ん だら
    ASO-N-DARA
    if (I) had plaid

    遊ばなければ
    ASO-BA-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not play

    遊ばなかったら
    ASO-BA-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not plaid

    Passive Conditional

    遊ば れば
    ASO-BA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be plaid

    遊ば れたら
    ASO-BA-RE-TARA
    if (I) would have been plaid

    遊ば れなければ
    ASO-BA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be plaid

    遊ば れなかったら
    ASO-BA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) would not have been plaid

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    遊ば せる
    ASO-BA-SE-RU
    (I) let play (present)

    遊ば せた
    ASO-BA-SE-TA
    (I) let play (past)

    遊ば せない
    ASO-BA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not play (present)

    遊ば せなかった
    ASO-BA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not play (past)

    polite / in the public

    遊ば せます
    ASO-BA-SE-MASU
    (I) let play (present)

    遊ば せました
    ASO-BA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let play (past)

    遊ば せません
    ASO-BA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not play (present)

    遊ば せませんでした
    ASO-BA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not play (past)

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    遊ば せられる
    ASO-BA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to play

    遊ば せられた
    ASO-BA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to play

    遊ば せられない
    ASO-BA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to play

    遊ば せられなかった
    ASO-BA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to play

    polite / in the public

    遊ば せられます
    ASO-BA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to be plaid

    遊ば せられました
    ASO-BA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to be plaid

    遊ば せられません
    ASO-BA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to be plaid

    遊ば せられませんでした
    ASO-BA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to be plaid

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  6. む -MU: 読 む YO-MU = to read

    Active

    informal / private

    読む
    YO-MU
    (I) read

    読ん だ
    YO-N-DA
    (I) read

    読ま ない
    YO-MA-NAI
    (I) read not

    読ま なかった
    YO-MA-NAKATTA
    (I) read not

    The English syntax is unchanged, but the pronounciation changes ...

    polite / in the public

    読み ます
    YO-MI-MASU
    (I) read

    読み ました
    YO-MI-MASHITA
    (I) read

    読み ません
    YO-MI-MASEN
    (I) read not

    読み ませんでした
    YO-MI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) read not

    Passive

    informal / private

    読ま れる
    YO-MA-RE-RU
    (it) is read

    読ま れた
    YO-MA-RE-TA
    (it) was read

    読ま れない
    YO-MA-RE-NAI
    (it) is not read

    読ま れなかった
    YO-MA-RE-NAKATTA
    (it) was not read

    polite / in the public

    読ま れます
    YO-MA-RE-MASU
    (it) is read

    読ま れました
    YO-MA-RE-MASHITA
    (it) was read

    読ま れません
    YO-MA-RE-MASEN
    (it) is not read

    読ま れませんでした
    YO-MA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (it) was not read

    Potential

    informal / private

    読め る
    YO-ME-RU
    (I) can read

    読め た
    YO-ME-TA
    (I) could read

    読め ない
    YO-ME-NAI
    (I) can not read

    読め なかった
    YO-ME-NAKATTA
    (I) could not read

    polite / in the public

    読め ます
    YO-ME-MASU
    (I) can read

    読め ました
    YO-ME-MASHITA
    (I) could read

    読め ません
    YO-ME-MASEN
    (I) can not read

    読め ませんでした
    YO-ME-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not read

    TE-Form

    読んで
    YO-NDE
    reading

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "YO-NDE!" - "Read!") or
    "YO-NDE-KUDASAI!" - "Read please!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    読んでいる
    YO-NDE-IRU
    reading-being", "now reading"

    The polite form is

    読んでいます
    YO-NDE-IMASU - I am reading

    Active Conditional

    読せば
    YO-ME-BA
    if (I) read would

    読ん だら
    YO-N-DARA
    if (I) read had

    読まなければ
    YO-MA-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) not read would

    読まなかったら
    YO-MA-NAKATTARA
    if (I) not read had

    Passive Conditional

    読ま れば
    YO-MA-RE-BA
    if it read would

    読ま れたら
    YO-MA-RE-TARA
    if it read

    読ま れなければ
    YO-MA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if it not read would

    読ま れなかったら
    YO-MA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if it not read

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    読ま せる
    YO-MA-SE-RU
    (I) let read

    読ま せた
    YO-MA-SE-TA
    (I) let read

    読ま せない
    YO-MA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not read

    読ま せなかった
    YO-MA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not read

    polite / in the public

    読ま せます
    YO-MA-SE-MASU
    (I) let read

    読ま せました
    YO-MA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let read

    読ま せません
    YO-MA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not read

    読ま せませんでした
    YO-MA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not read

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    読ま せられる
    YO-MA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to read

    読ま せられた
    YO-MA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to read

    読ま せられない
    YO-MA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to read

    読ま せられなかった
    YO-MA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to read

    polite / in the public

    読ま せられます
    YO-MA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to read

    読ま せられました
    YO-MA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to read

    読ま せられません
    YO-MA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to read

    読ま せられませんでした
    YO-MA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to read

    I added also forms that would not make sense to apply, just to show what is possible. The potential form is often replaced with KOTO GA DEKIRU (to be able to do this, "to can").

  7. る -RU: 分 か る WA-KARU = to understand

    Active

    informal / private

    分かる
    WAKA-RU
    (I) understand

    分かった
    WAKA-TTA
    (I) understood

    分から ない
    WAKA-RA-NAI
    (I) understand not

    分から なかった
    WAKA-RA-NAKATTA
    (I) understood not

    polite / in the public

    分かり ます
    WAKA-RI-MASU
    (I) understand

    分かり ました
    WAKA-RI-MASHITA
    (I) understood

    分かり ません
    WAKA-RI-MASEN
    (I) understand not

    分かり ませんでした
    WAKA-RI-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) understood not

    WAKANNAI is a short form of WAKARANAI ~ "donno, WTF"

    Passive

    informal / private

    分から れる
    WAKA-RA-RE-RU
    (I am) understood

    分から れた
    WAKA-RA-RE-TA
    (I was) understood

    分から れない
    WAKA-RA-RE-NAI
    (I am) not understood

    分から れなかった
    WAKA-RA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I was) not understood

    polite / in the public

    分から れます
    WAKA-RA-RE-MASU
    (I am) understood

    分から れました
    WAKA-RA-RE-MASHITA
    (I was) understood

    分から れません
    WAKA-RA-RE-MASEN
    (I am) not understood

    分から れませんでした
    WAKA-RA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I was) not understood

    Potential

    informal / private

    分かれ る
    WAKA-RE-RU
    (I) can understand

    分かれ た
    WAKA-RE-TA
    (I) could understand

    分かれ ない
    WAKA-RE-NAI
    (I) can not understand

    分かれ なかった
    WAKA-RE-NAKATTA
    (I) could not understand

    polite / in the public

    分かれ ます
    WAKA-RE-MASU
    (I) can understand

    分かれ ました
    WAKA-RE-MASHITA
    (I) could understand

    分かれ ません
    WAKA-RE-MASEN
    (I) can not understand

    分かれ ませんでした
    WAKA-RE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) could not understand

    TE-Form

    分かって
    WAKA-TTE
    understanding

    This form is also an order or a polite request:
    "WAKA-TTE!" - "Will You get it?!") or
    "WAKATTE-KUDASAI!" - "Please understand!")

    The point is that other things can be suffixed to TE:

    分かっている
    WAKA-TTE-IRU
    "understanding-being", "now understanding"

    The polite form is

    分かっています
    WAKA-TTE-IMASU - Now I understand

    WAKATTE-MASU is a short form of it, stressing that You did understand, You were just not supposed to ...

    分かってある
    WAKA-TTE-ARU
    "understood-to-be" - it is understood
    and so forth ...

    Active Conditional

    分かれば
    WAKA-RE-BA
    if (I) would understand

    分かったら
    WAKA-TTARA
    if (I) had understood

    分からなければ
    WAKA-RA-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not understand

    分からなかったら
    WAKA-RA-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not understood

    Passive Conditional

    分から れば
    WAKA-RA-RE-BA
    if (I) would be understood

    分から れたら
    WAKA-RA-RE-TARA
    if (I) had been understood

    分から れなければ
    WAKA-RA-RE-NAKERE-BA
    if (I) would not be not understood

    分から れなかったら
    WAKA-RA-RE-NAKATTARA
    if (I) had not been understood

    Active Enforcement

    ("to order something to be done")

    informal / private

    分から せる
    WAKA-RA-SE-RU
    (I) let understand, I make clear

    分から せた
    WAKA-RA-SE-TA
    (I) let understand, I made clear

    分から せない
    WAKA-RA-SE-NAI
    (I) let not understand, I do not make clear

    分から せなかった
    WAKA-RA-SE-NAKATTA
    (I) let not understand, I did not make clear

    polite / in the public

    分から せます
    WAKA-RA-SE-MASU
    (I) let understand, I make clear

    分から せました
    WAKA-RA-SE-MASHITA
    (I) let understand, I made clear

    分から せません
    WAKA-RA-SE-MASEN
    (I) let not understand, I do not make clear

    分から せませんでした
    WAKA-RA-SE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) let not understand, I did not make clear

    Passive Enforcement

    ("to endure something to be done")

    informal / private

    分から せられる
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-RU
    (I) have to understand

    分から せられた
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-TA
    (I) had to understand

    分から せられない
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-NAI
    (I) have not to understand

    分から せられなかった
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-NAKATTA
    (I) had not to understand

    polite / in the public

    分から せられます
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-MASU
    (I) have to understand

    分から せられました
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-MASHITA
    (I) had to understand

    分から せられません
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-MASEN
    (I) have not to understand

    分から せられませんでした
    WAKA-RA-SERARE-MASEN DESHITA
    (I) had not to understand


I am not a Japanese, so if You see any error, please drop me a line (j_gelbrich@gmx.net) ... Sorry. Nobody is perfect.