According to the English grammar, any kind of verb has its own conjugation in the sentence such as :
go goes went gone going
(root) (present) (past) (past particle) (present participle)
iku – to go
PRESENT TENSE PRESENT TENSE PRESENT TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
ikimasu ikimasen ikimasu ka
PAST TENSE PAST TENSE PAST TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
ikimashita ikimasen deshita ikimashita ka
mashoo – (lets) nasai – (order form)
In Nihongo, all verbs have their own conjugations, too. Most of the
common verbs have the letter “u” at the end of the word, such as “iku”.
When the verb is used in the sentence, the letter “u” can get each
conjugation depending on the use in the sentence. English and Japanese
grammars are similar to each other when it comes to adjectives and
adverbs. Adjectives modifying nouns become complements in the sentence
and adverbs modify adjectives, verbs and other adverbs.
Kare wa Midsayap e (ni) ikimasu. He goes to Midsayap.
S V S V adverb
In the example, “to Midsayap” is written after the verb “goes” but
“Midsayap e” is written before the verb “ikimasu”. Japanese adverbs
should be placed before the modified words.
1. Tanaka-san wa Cotabato e ikimashita. Mr. Tanaka went to Cotabato.
2. Kare wa gakkoo e ikimasen deshita. He did not go to school.
3. Anata wa sakki doko e ikimashita ka. Where did you go a while ago?
4. Watashi wa doko emo ikimasen deshita. I didn’t go anywhere.
5. Anata wa doko e ikimasu ka. Where will you go? (do you go)
6. Utto-san wa Davao e ikimasen. Mr. Utto will not go to Davao.
7. Watashi wa Baguer e ikimasu. I go to Baguer.
In Japanese as in other languages, there are regular and irregular
verbs. However, irregular verbs are very few in number – only two
basic verbs in all. All the rest of the verbs are regular with
exception of a few which are slightly irregular in some respects.
The Japanese verbs are of two kinds – “Godan” verbs and “ichidan”
verbs. The “godan” verbs, literally five row verbs, are so called
because they have different bases of conjugation. They are sometimes
called strong verbs or consonant verbs. The “ichidan” verbs,
literally one row verbs, are so called because they have been thought
to have only one base of conjugation. They are sometimes called weak
verbs or vowel verbs.
The dictionary form of all “ichidan” verbs ends either in “iru” or
“eru”. All other regular verbs belong to the “godan” verbs with few
exceptions. The following verbs ends in “eru” or “iru” but they are
“godan” verbs ; hairu; kaeru; mairu; iru; kiru and shiru.
Some common verbs
Group 1 (
Godan verbs) Ends in u,ku,gu,su,tsu,nu,bu,mu and ru.
-– replace final u with imasu
1. nomu – to drink
2. yomu – to read
3. kau – to buy
4. narau – to learn
5. kaku – to write
6. isogu – to hurry
7. morau – to receive; be given
8. aruku – to walk
9. hairu – to enter, get in
10. okuru – to send
11. kiru – to cut ; to wear
12. hanasu – to speak
13. iku – to go
14. oyogu – to swim
15. wakaru – to understand; to be comprehensible
16. kaesu – to return something; to give back
17. toru – to take
18. kaeru – to return
19. mairu – to come, go
20. matsu – to wait
21. shinu – to die
22. aru – to be ; exist
23. asobu – to play
24. machigau – to make a mistake
25. kasu – to lend
26. tsukau – to use
27. ageru – to give, to offer
28. taberu – to eat
29. iru – to need; to require
Group 2 (
Ichidan verbs) replace the final ru with masu.
1. okiru – to get up ; to wake up
2. oshieru – to teach
3. miseru – to show , to let someone see
4. hajimeru – to begin
5. akeru – to open
6. neru – to sleep ; to go to sleep
7. wasureru – to forget
8. miru – to see ; to watch ; to look at
9. shimeru – to shut
Group 3 (
Irregular verbs)
1. kuru – to come
2. suru – to do
3. itte kuru – to go and come back
4. katte kuru – to go and buy
5. kiite kuru – to go and inquire
6. totte kuru – to fetch
7. motte kuru – to bring
8. mite kuru – to go and see
9. karite kuru – to go and borrow
10. chumon suru – to order; to give an order
11. ryori suru – to cook; to prepare food
12. sentaku suru – to wash ( clothing )
13. benkyo suru – to study; to work
Dictionary form Present tense Past tense
nomu nomimasu nomimashita
kasu kashimasu kashimashita
aruku arukimasu arukimashita
Present negative Past negative Meaning
nomimasen nomimasen deshita drink
kashimasen kashimasen deshita lend
arukimasen arukimasen deshita walk
New words
1. riyu – a reason
2. imi – meaning
3. koppu – a glass; tumbler
4. kotoba –a word;a language
5. machi – a town;a street
6. yane – roof
7. tarai – basin
8. ame – rain
9. shiyakusho –City hall
10. chawan – cup
11. saji – a spoon
12. banjo – toilet
13. dempo - telegram
14. kagi – key
15. hari – needles
16. tamago – eggs
17. denwa – telephone
18. tama – ball
19. ana – hole
20. fujin – lady
21. gohan – meal
22. bara – rose
23. nezumi – mouse
24. koori – ice
25. sakki – a while ago
26. doko emo – anywhere
27. doko nimo – nowhere
28. depaato – department
29. yuubinkyoku– post office
30. shokudoo – dining room
31. kado – corner
32. kusuriya – drugstore
33. Rizal kooen – Rizal Park
34. Santiago Yoosai–Fort Santiago
35. ginkoo – bank
36. shootengai–shopping district
37. taiikukan – gymnasium
38. keibajoo – horse racing track
39. teiryuujoo–stopping place,bus stop
40. Kokunai kuukoo – Domestic Airport
41. shoogakkoo – elementary school
42. taishikan – embassy
43. hakubutsukan – museum
44. Monbushoo – Ministry of Education
45. kootoogakkoo – senior high school
46. toshokan – library
47. chuugakkoo – junior high school
48. kissaten – coffee shop
49. eigakan – movie theater
50. asoko – over there
51. soko – there
52. koko – here
53. resutoran – restaurant
54. toire – comfort room
55. juutakuchi – residential area
56. rajio kasetto – radio cassette
57. suupaamaaketto – supermarket
58. eki – station
59. yomikata– reading;how to read
60. ichiba – market ( place )
61. Bunka Kaikan – Cultural Center
62. Kokusai kuukoo – International Airport
63. nyuugaku shaken – entrance examination
64. Nihon taishikan – Embassy of Japan
65. Gaimushoo – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
66. daigakusei – university student
67. gimukyooiku – compulsory education
68. daigaku – university / college
69. Kokusai kaigijoo – International Convention Center
Nani ka Nani ga Nani mo
Nani ga is use as a subject, nani mo is use with negative
expressions.
Ya – ya and to are different in what they imply; i. e.
Anata to watashi == you and I
Anata ya watashi == you and I and other people like us.
Nado – and so forth; and the like; and so on.
Nado is used as a final element in enumerating.
Ex. Hon ya jibiki ya empitsu nado ga arimasu
==> There are books, dictionaries pencils and the like.
Expression of Existence
a) Ga arimasu – is used inanimate things
(things which cannot move by itself)
b) Ga imasu – is used for animate things.
1. Nani ka arimasu ka.
-- Is there anything?(inanimate object)
2. Nani ga arimasu ka.
-- What is there?(inanimate object)
3. Nani mo arimasen.
-- There is nothing.
4. Nani ka imasu ka.
-- Is there one?(living object)
5. Dare ka imasu ka.
-- Is there anybody?
6. Dare ga imasu ka.
-- Who is there? (people only)
7. Iie, nani mo arimasen.
-- No, there is nothing.(inanimate object)
8. Iie, dare mo imasen
-- No, there is nobody. (people only)
9. Nani ga imasu ka.
-- What is there? (animate object)
Sentences :
1. Anatagata no gakkoo wa doko ni arimasu ka.
-- Where is your school ?
2. Watashi no gakkoo wa Nihon Taishikan no soba ni arimasu.
-- Our school is beside the Japnese embassy.
3. Rustan depaato wa doko ni arimasu ka.
-- Where is Rustan department store ?
4. Intercontinental Hoteru no mae ni arimasu.
-- It is in front of Intercontinental hotel.
5. Taishikan no soba ni nani ga arimasu ka.
-- What is beside the embassy ?
6. Ginkko ya depaato ya suupaamaketto nado ga arimasu.
-- There are banks, department store,supermarket and others.
7. Kusuriya mo arimasu ka.
-- Is there a drugstore too ?
8. Iie, kusuriya wa arimasen.
-- No, there is no drugstore.
9. Anata no uchi wa doko ni arimasu ka.
-- Where is your house ?
10. Watashi no uchi wa Tokyoo ni arimasu.
-- My house in in Tokyo.
11. Tokyoo no doko ni arimasu.
-- Where is it in Tokyo ?
12. Tokyoo no Meguro ni arimasu.
-- It is in Meguro, Tokyo.
13. Meguro yuubinkyoku no chikaku desu.
-- It is near the Meguro post office.
14. Sato-san wa doko ni imasu ka.
-- Where is Mr. Sato ?
15. Toire wa asoko ni arimasu.
-- The comfort room is over there.
Numerals and Counting
Rudiments of Japanese counting : Native Japanese counting system
Hitotsu – one
Futatsu – two
Mittsu – Three
Yottsu – four
Itsutsu – five
muttsu – six
nanatsu – seven
yattsu – eight
kokonotsu – nine
too – ten
Chinese Counting system used by the Japanese
rei – zero ( 0 )
Ichi – one ( 1 )
Ni – two ( 2 )
San – three ( 3 )
Shi/yon – four ( 4 )
Go – five ( 5 )
roku – six ( 6 )
shichi/nana – seven ( 7 )
hachi – eight ( 8 )
kyuu – nine ( 9 )
juu – ten ( 10 )
juuichi – eleven
juuni – twelve
juusan – thirteen
juushi,etc, – fourteen , etc.
nijuu – twenty
nijuuichi – twenty one
nijuuni – twenty two
nijuusan – twenty three
nijuusan – twenty three
nijuushi,etc.– twenty four, etc.
sanju – thirty
sanjuu-ichi – thirty one
yonjuu – forty
yonjuu-ichi – forty one
guu/ gojuu – fifty
gojuu-ichi – fifty one
hyaku – one hundred
nihyaku – two hundred
sen – one thousand
juuman – one hundred thousand
Numeral Classifiers or Counters
1. nin – for persons
2. wa – for birds
3. hiki – for animals and fish
4. hon – for long or cylindrical objects
5. hai – for cupfuls, containerful
6. mai – for flat things
7. tsu – for pairs
8. en – suffix for Japanese money
9. dai – for vehicles
10. ken – for houses and buildings
11. choo – for things with handles
12. soku – for things worn on feet,
pairs of footwears
13. soo – for ships or boats
14. kai – for number of times,
classifier for floors or storeys
15. ko – for bundles, parcels
Days of the week :
1. Nichiyoobi – Sunday
2. Getsuyoobi – Monday
3. Kayoobi – Tuesday
4. Suiyoobi – Wednesday
5. Mokuyoobi – Thursday
6. Kinyoobi – Friday
7. Doyoobi – Saturday
Months of the Year :
1. ichigatsu – January
2. nigatsu – February
3. sangatsu – March
4. shigatsu – April
5. gogatsu – May
6. rokugatsu – June
7. shichigatsu – July
8. hachigatsu – August
9. kugatsu – September
10. juugatsu – October
11. juuicjigatsu – November
12. juunigatsu – December
Counting People
1. hitori – one
2. futari – two
3. sannin – three
4. yunin – four
5. gonin – five
6. rokunin – six
7. sichinin – seven
8. hachinin – eight
9. kyuunin – nine
10. juunin – ten
Counting in multiples of ten
10 – juu
20 – nijuu
30 – sanjuu
40 – yonjuu
50 – gojuu
60 – rokujuu
70 - nanajuu
80 - hachijuu
90 – kyuujuu
100 – hyaku
Counting in multiples of one hundred
100 – hyaku
200 – nihyaku
300 – sanhyaku
400 – yonhyaku
500 – gohyaku
600 – roppyhaku
700 – nanahyaku
800 – happyaku
900 – kyuuhyaku
1000 – sen
Counting in multiples of one thousand
1,000 – sen
2,000 – nisen
3,000 – sanzen
4,000 – yonsen
5,000 – gosen
6,000 – rokusen
7,000 – nanasen
8,000 – hassen
9,000 – kyuusen
10,000 – ichiman
100,000 – juuman
1,000,000 – hyakuman
10,000,000 – senman
100,000,000– ichioku
How to tell the time?
1. ichiji – 1 o’clock
2. niji – 2 o’clock
3. sanji – 3 o’clock
4. yoji – 4 o’clock
5. goji – 5 o’clock
6. rokuji – 6 o’clock
7. shichiji – 7 o’clock
8. hachiji – 8 o’clock
9. kuji – 9 o’clock
10. juuji – 10 o’clock
11. juuichiji – 11 o’clock
12. juuniji – 12 o’clock
“ji” – means o’clock and “nanji” means what time?
Counter for number of minutes:
“fun” or “pun” is the numeral classifier for minute
and “nanpun” means “how many minutes”
1. ippun – 1 minute
2. nifun – 2 minutes
3. sanpun – 3 minutes
4. yonfun – 4 minutes
5. gofun – 5 minutes
6. roppun – 6 minutes
7. nanafun – 7 minutes
8. happun – 8 minutes
9. kyuufun – 9 minutes
10.juppun – 10 minutes
11. juugofun – 15 minutes
12. nijuppun – 20 minutes
13. nijuugofun – 25 minutes
14. sanjuppun – 30 minutes
15. sanjuugofun – 35 minutes
16. yojuppun – 40 minutes
17. yonjuugofun – 45 minutes
18. gojuppun – 50 minutes
19. gojuugofun – 55 minutes
20. rokujuppun – 60 minutes
Examples :
8:15 – hachiji juugofun
10:20 – juuji nijuppun
11:45 – juuichiji yonjuugofun
12:10 – juuniji juppun
9:10 – kuji juppun
3:35 – sanji sanjuugofun
2:25 – niji nijuugofun
1:30 – ichiji han
5:30 – goji han
4:30 – yoji han
5 minutes before three
– sanji gofun mae
10 minutes before 12
– juuniji juppun mae
15 minutes before 10
– juuji juugofun mae
5 minutes past 9
– kuji gofun sungi.
10 minutes past 12
– juuniji juppun sugi.
It’s 5 minutes advanced
– gofun susundeimasu
It’s 10 minutes advanced
– juppun susundeimasu
It’s 20 minutes advanced
– Nijuppun susundeimasu
It’s 5 minutes late.
– gofun okureteimasu.
It’s 10 minutes late.
– juppun okureteimasu.
NOTES:
susudeimasu – means “It’s advanced”.
okurete – means “it’s late”
7:30 AM – gozen shichiji han 4:30 PM – gogo yoji han
11:30 AM – gozen juuichiji han 5:30 PM – gogo goji han
from 8:00 to 5:00 – hachiji kara goji made
from 10:30 in the morning to 9:00 in the evening
– asa juuji han kara yoru kuji made
Dialogue I (taiwa)
A: Ima nanji desu ka.
What time is it now?
B: Rokuji desu.
It’s six o’clock.
A: Nihon wa ima nanji desu ka.
What time is it now in Japan?
B: Kuji desu.
It’s nine o’clock.
A: Gogo kuji desu ka.
Is it 9 PM ?
B: Hai, soo desu.
Yes it is.
Dialogue II
A: Sumimasen, nanji desu ka ?
Excuse me, what time is it?
B: Yoji nijuupun desu.
It’s four twenty.
A: Arigatoo gozaimasu.
Thank you.
B: Doo itashimashite.
You’re welcome.
Days of the Month
tsuitachi – 1st day
futsuka – 2nd day
mikka – 3rd day
yokka – 4th day
itsuka – 5th day
muika – 6th day
nanoka – 7th day
yooka – 8th day
kokonoka – 9th day
tooka – 10th day
juuichinichi – 11th day
juuninichi – 12th day
juusannichi – 13th day
juuyokka – 14th day
juugonichi – 15th day
juurokunichi – 16th day
juushichinichi – 17th day
juuhachinichi – 18th day
juukunichi – 19th day
hatsuka – 20th day
nijuuichinichi – 21st day
nijuuninichi – 22nd day
nijuusannichi – 23rd day
nijuuyokka – 24th day
nijuugonichi – 25th day
nijuurokunichi – 26th day
nijuushichinichi – 27th day
nijuuhachinichi – 28th day
nijuukunichi – 29th day
sanjuunichi – 30th day
sanjuuichinichi – 31st day
Vocabulary words:
takusan – many, a lot, plenty
ten–in – sales clerk
peso – peso
doru – dollar
sangurasu – sunglasses
koohii – coffee
ocha – green tea
koocha – black tea
miruku – milk
koora – coke
biiru – beer
pan – bread
gohan – rice ( cooked )
mizu – water
juusu – juice
choodo – exactly ; just
yoru – night; evening
kara – from
made – until ; up to
susundeimasu – advanced/ be too fast
okureteimasu – late / be too slow
hiru – afternoon
shoogo – noon
kinoo – yesterday
ashita – tomorrow
konban – tonight
asatte – the day after tomorrow
tokidoki – sometimes
sengetsu – last month
konshuu – this week
raishuu – next week
kyonen – last year
nin – numeral classifier for persons. It is added to
the Chinese-style numerals.
ikutsu – how many ( inquire about the number of things);
how old ( inquire about somebody’s age )
mise – store; shop
nannin – how many (persons)
Ikura – how much
kippu – ticket
tamago – egg
Nihon ryoori – Japanese food
Chuuka ryoori – Chinese food
Firipin ryoori – Filipino food
Kankoku ryoori – Korean food
Kaisen ryoori – seafoods
ebi – fish
sakana – fish
yasai – vegetables
niku – meat
ima – now
asa – morning
mae – before
sugi – past
han – half past
ji – o’clock
pun/ fun – minute
tokei – watch; clock
atteimasu – right; keep good time
kyoo – today
yuube – last night
ototoi – the day before yesterday
mainichi – everyday
kongetsu – this month
raigetsu – next month
senshuu – last week
kotoshi – this month
rainen – next year
Sentences :
1. Anata wa nani o nomimasu ka.
-- What do you drink?
2. Watashi wa koocha o nomimasu.
-- I drink tea.
3. Anata wa biiru o nomimasu ka.
-- Do you drink beer?
4. Hai, biiru o nomimasu.
-- Yes, I drink beer.
5. Anata wa doo desu ka.
-- How about you ?
6. Watashi mo biiru o nomimasu.
-- I drink beer, too.
7. I eat Japanese food.
-- Watashi wa Nihon ryoori o tabemasu.
8. She doesn’t eat Chinese food.
-- Kanojo wa Chuuka ryoori o tabemasen.
AI NI TSUITE (ABOUT LOVE)
1. ai suru – to love
2. honto ni – truly
3. ai – love
4. eien ni – forever
5. watashi aishiteimasu ka – do you love me
6. deto – date
7. koi ni chiru – fall in love
8. kudoku – woe
9. hatsukoi – first love
10. kokorogawari nai – will never change
11. Aishiteimasu – I love you
12. rabureta – love letter
13. konyaku – engagement
14. kisu – kiss
15. daku – hug
16. aibu – caress
17. yakimochi – jealous
18. ki ga au – compatible
19. ki ga awa nai – incompatible
20. yakusoka – promise
21. aishiau – love each other
22. aishiaimasho – let us love each other
23. kekkon shimasho – let us get married
24. aishimasho – let us make love
25. shinkon ryoko - honeymoon
26. uwaki – unfaithful
27. wakareru – break-up / separate
28. rikon suru – divorce
29. kinenbi – anniversary
30. tanoshimimasu – enjoy
31. funo – impotent
32. dosei suru – live together out of wedlock
33. ai no monogatari – love story
34. konyakusha/ koibito – sweetheart
35. konyakuchu no otoko – fiance ( nobyo )
36. konyakuchu no onna – fiancée ( nobya )
37. Shinumade hanasanai – Till Death do us part
38. renai kankei – love affair
39. joji – romance
40. koi wazurai – love-sick
41. iro jikake – fake love
42. renai kekkon – love marriage
43. miai kekkon – arranged marriage
44. au basho – meeting place
45. kekkon mae no sekkus – premarital sex
46. ninshin – pregnant
47. ryuzan – abortion
48. akachan o orosu – miscarriage
49. aibiki – secret rendezvous
