0081 – Japanese basics (N5-N3) – i-adjective (past)

JLPT N3-N5

 

How can I say in Japanese that it was delicious?

 

 

Adjective form change for the past tense

 

First of all, 

 

  • I-adjective : form change (present time (negative), past time (affirmative, negative)
  • Na-adjective : no form change

 

Is one of the rules for Japanese adjectives.

 

In this article, we will focus on the form change of i-adjectives for the past tense.

 

Affirmative i-adjective in the past

 

I-adjectives are adjectives that end with い (i), like おいしい (oishii – delicious). When using i-adjectives to describe the past, we need to change their form.

 

its form.

 

おいし → おいしかった 

Oisii → oisikatta

Be delicious → Was delicious

 

So, 

 

これはおいしかったです。

Kore wa oishikatta desu.

This was delicious.

 

Is an example.

 

Negative i-adjective in the past

 

When it comes to use negative i-adjectives for the past time, we also need to change its form.

 

おいしくな → おいしくなかった

Oishiku nai → oishiku nakatta

Is not delicious → Was not delicious

 

*See also : Adjective sentence 2 (negative form & question)

 

So, it is always the part of い (i) of an adjective when we change that form of i-adjective:

Present:

  • おいしoishii: is delicious
  • おいしくないoishi kunai: is not delicious

 

Past:

  • おいしかったoishi katta: was delicious
  • おいしくなかったoishi kunakatta: was not delicious

 

So, 

 

これはおいしくなかったです。

Kore wa oishiku nakatta desu.

This was not delicious.

 

Is an example.

 

A special case

 

We have to be careful when changing the form of いい (ii – good) because it changes entirely.

 

Present:

  • いい
  • よくない

 

Past:

  • よかった
  • よくなかった

 

See also : Adjective sentence 2 (negative form & question)

 

So, for example, 

 

これはよかったです。

Kore wa yokatta desu.

This was good.

 

これはよくなかったです。

Kore wa yokunakatta desu.

This was not good.

 

See also : na-adjective & noun (past)…and weather noun expression

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