VERB GROUPS AND CONJUGATION

Note: In verb grouping, consider the following:

Group I: -verbs with ending syllables that belong to the following:

u,ku,su,tsu,nu,bu,mu,gu & ru (except ~iru & ~eru)

Group II: -verbs ending in ~iru & ~eru (this group takes some exception that will be
represented by putting asterisk before the word,e.g *kaeru (to go home) this takes
the form of group 1

Group III: suru (to do ) & kuru (to come) Note: suru is often paired with a noun
before it, and kuru is often paired with another verb before it, represented by a ~te
form conjugation

CONJUGATIONS AND ITS RULES:

I Changing from plain form (present/positive) to polite form: ALSO

KNOWN AS POLITE VERBS OR ~MASU FORM

Rules:
Group 1
o Drop the u sound of the last syllable, change to i sound, then add ~masu
Example:
Iku= iki masu

Group 2
o Drop ru, change to ~masu
Example:
Taberu= tabemasu

Group 3
Suru= shimasu
Kuru=kimasu

~masu pol/pres/positive
~masen- pol/pres/negative
~mashita-pol/past/positive
~masendeshita- pol/past/negative

II ~tai form or want to ~ form

Rule:
Group 1
o Drop the u sound, change to i sound, add ~tai

Group 2
o Drop ru, change to ~tai

Group 3
Suru- shitai
Kuru-kitai

~tai pres/positive (want to)

~takunai pres/negative (dont want to)
~takatta past/positive (wanted to)
~takunakatta past/negative (did not want to)

III ~te form of the verb

Functions of ~te form:

-compound verbs
-series of actions
-request form (~te kudasai)
-asking permission (~te mo ii desu ka)
-gerund

Rule:
Group 1 (Sub-groups)
A= verbs ending with u, ru, tsu & *iku
~tte drop chqnge to tte
B=verbs ending with ku
~ite
C= verbs ending with su
~shite
D=verbs ending with gu
~ide
E= verbs ending with nu, bu, mu
~nde

Group 2
o Drop ru change to ~te

Group 3
Suru= shite
Kuru=kite

IV ~te imasu/~te iru form of the verb (~ing verbs or gerunds)

Rule: for all 3 groups

o Conjugate to ~te form and then the second verb imasu/iru

~te imasu(pol/pres/positive) - is ~ing

~te imasen (pol/pres/neg) is not ~ing
~te imashita (pol/past/positive) was ~ing
~te imasendeshita (pol/past/neg) was not ~ing

~te iru(plain/pres/positive)
~te inai (plain/pres/neg)
~te ita (plain/past/positive)
~te inakatta (plain/past/neg)

VERB PLAIN FORMS

I Change from present/positive to present/ negative

Rule:
Group 1
o Drop the u sound of the last syllable, change to a sound, then add ~nai
Example:
Nomu-nomanai
Note: for the syllable u, use the wa sound instead of a

Group 2
o Drop ru, change to ~nai
Example:
Taberu- tabenai

Group 3
Suru=shinai
Kuru=kunai

II Change from present/negative to past/ negative

Rule: For all 3 groups
o Drop ~nai, change to ~nakatta
III Change from present/positive to past/ positive

Rules:
Group 1 (Sub-groups)
A=verbs ending with u, ru, tsu & *iku
~tta
B=verbs ending with ku
~ita
C= verbs ending with su
~shita
D= verbs ending with gu
~ida
E= verbs ending with nu, bu, mu
~nda

Group 2
o Drop ru change to ~ta

Group 3
Suru= shita
Kuru= kita