0003 : Japanese basics (N5-N3) : Verbs in Japanese

grammar
20.02.2023

 

What are verbs like in Japanese?

 

 

Final sound

 

All Japanese verbs end with the sound う (u).

 

  • 書く (kaku : to write)
  • 食べる (taberu : to eat)
  • する (suru : to do)

 

3 types of verbs

 

There are 3 types of verbs in Japanese : 

 

  • a :  する(suru), 来る(kuru)
  • b :  end with –IRU or –ERU (e.g. 起きる : okIRU : wake up, 食べる : tabERU : eat)
  • c :  end with -U but not type 2 and type 3

 

Traditionally, however, these are lined up opposite each other, as found in Japanese language textbooks.

 

  • Group 1 :  end with -U but not type 2 and type 3
  • Group 2 :  end with -IRU or -ERU (e.g. 起きる : okIRU : wake up, 食べる : tabERU : eat)
  • Group 3 :  する(suru), 来る(kuru)

 

Why is it important to know the types of the verbs?

 

It’s very important to know which verb belongs to which type because a verb can be conjugated and the way it is conjugated varies depending on the type.

 

Verb form change

 

In Japanese, verbs change their form depending on 

 

  • particle (postposition)
  • auxirary

 

e.g. (書く (ka-k-U / to write))

  • 書いて (ka-i-te / *form used for many cases)
  • 書かない (ka-k-A-nai / not to write)

 

Easy tips to study Japanese :

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