Japanese Verb Conjugation: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Why Verb Conjugation Is the Key to Japanese Fluency

If particles are the glue of Japanese grammar, verbs are the engine. Every Japanese sentence revolves around the verb, which always comes at the end. Whether you are saying "I eat sushi," "I ate sushi," "I did not eat sushi," or "please eat sushi," the sentence structure stays largely the same — only the verb ending changes.

The good news is that Japanese verb conjugation is remarkably regular. Unlike French or Spanish, where dozens of irregular verbs require individual memorization, Japanese has only two truly irregular verbs: する (suru — to do) and 来る (くる / kuru — to come). Every other verb follows predictable rules based on its group. Once you learn the patterns, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs without hesitation.

This guide walks you through everything step by step. We start by identifying the three verb groups, then cover the four most important conjugation forms: polite (ます-form), negative (ない-form), connective (て-form), and past (た-form). By the end, you will have the conjugation skills needed for JLPT N5 and a strong foundation for JLPT N4 and beyond.

The Three Verb Groups

Before you can conjugate any verb, you need to identify which group it belongs to. Japanese verbs are divided into three groups, and the conjugation rules differ between them. Identifying the group correctly is the single most important step — get it wrong, and every conjugation that follows will be wrong too.

Group 1: う-Verbs (Godan / Five-Grade Verbs)

U-verbs, also called godan (五段) verbs, are the largest group. Their dictionary form ends in one of nine possible syllables: う (u), く (ku), ぐ (gu), す (su), つ (tsu), ぬ (nu), ぶ (bu), む (mu), or る (ru). The name "godan" means "five grades" because the final consonant cycles through all five vowel rows (a, i, u, e, o) during different conjugations.

Common u-verbs include:

• 書く (かく / kaku) — to write
• 話す (はなす / hanasu) — to speak
• 待つ (まつ / matsu) — to wait
• 飲む (のむ / nomu) — to drink
• 遊ぶ (あそぶ / asobu) — to play
• 死ぬ (しぬ / shinu) — to die (the only -nu verb)
• 買う (かう / kau) — to buy
• 泳ぐ (およぐ / oyogu) — to swim
• 読む (よむ / yomu) — to read
• 聞く (きく / kiku) — to hear / to ask
• 作る (つくる / tsukuru) — to make
• 乗る (のる / noru) — to ride

Group 2: る-Verbs (Ichidan / One-Grade Verbs)

Ru-verbs, also called ichidan (一段) verbs, always end in -いる (-iru) or -える (-eru). The name "ichidan" means "one grade" because the stem never changes — you simply drop る and add the new ending. This makes ichidan verbs the easiest group to conjugate.

Common ru-verbs include:

• 食べる (たべる / taberu) — to eat
• 見る (みる / miru) — to see / to watch
• 起きる (おきる / okiru) — to wake up
• 寝る (ねる / neru) — to sleep
• 教える (おしえる / oshieru) — to teach
• 出る (でる / deru) — to go out / to leave
• 着る (きる / kiru) — to wear (upper body)
• 開ける (あける / akeru) — to open

Watch out for exceptions! Some verbs end in -iru or -eru but are actually u-verbs. The most important ones to memorize are: 帰る (かえる / kaeru — to return), 走る (はしる / hashiru — to run), 入る (はいる / hairu — to enter), 知る (しる / shiru — to know), 切る (きる / kiru — to cut), and 要る (いる / iru — to need). These look like ru-verbs but conjugate as u-verbs.

Group 3: Irregular Verbs

Japanese has only two irregular verbs: する (suru — to do) and 来る (くる / kuru — to come). These verbs do not follow the rules of either u-verbs or ru-verbs — their conjugations must be memorized individually. The good news is there are only two of them, and する is one of the most common verbs in the language, so you will learn its conjugations quickly through repetition. Many compound verbs are built with する, such as 勉強する (べんきょうする / benkyou suru — to study), 運動する (うんどうする / undou suru — to exercise), and 料理する (りょうりする / ryouri suru — to cook).

Polite Form: ます-Form (Masu-Form)

The ます-form is the polite present/future tense. It is the form most beginners learn first because it is appropriate for nearly every social situation. On the JLPT, especially at N5, the majority of sentences in the listening and reading sections use ます-form.

How to Form ます-Form

Ru-verbs: Drop る, add ます. Example: 食べる → 食べます (たべます / tabemasu).

U-verbs: Change the final -u syllable to the corresponding -i syllable, then add ます. The final syllable shifts from the u-row to the i-row of the hiragana chart.

Irregular verbs: する → します (shimasu). 来る → 来ます (きます / kimasu).

Notice the pattern for u-verbs: く→き, す→し, つ→ち, む→み, ぶ→び, う→い, ぐ→ぎ, ぬ→に. The final kana shifts from the u-row to the i-row. This is consistent and predictable once you internalize the hiragana chart.

Negative Form: ない-Form (Nai-Form)

The ない-form is the casual negative — "I don't do" or "I will not do." It is essential for everyday conversation and appears in many grammar patterns, including ないでください (naide kudasai — please don't), なければならない (nakereba naranai — must do), and なくてもいい (nakutemo ii — don't have to).

How to Form ない-Form

Ru-verbs: Drop る, add ない. Example: 食べる → 食べない (たべない / tabenai — don't eat).

U-verbs: Change the final -u syllable to the corresponding -a syllable, then add ない. Special case: verbs ending in う change to わ (not あ) before ない.

Irregular verbs: する → しない (shinai). 来る → 来ない (こない / konai).

The polite negative is even simpler: replace ます with ません. For example, 食べます → 食べません (たべません / tabemasen — don't eat, polite), 書きます → 書きません (かきません / kakimasen — don't write, polite). This works identically for all verb groups.

Connective Form: て-Form (Te-Form)

The て-form is the Swiss Army knife of Japanese conjugation. It connects verbs to other verbs, creates requests, describes ongoing actions, gives permission, and more. If you only master one conjugation beyond ます-form, make it the て-form. Dozens of grammar patterns from JLPT N5 through N1 are built on it.

Te-Form Rules for Ru-Verbs

Ru-verbs are straightforward: drop る, add て. Example: 食べる → 食べて (たべて / tabete), 見る → 見て (みて / mite), 起きる → 起きて (おきて / okite).

Te-Form Rules for U-Verbs

U-verbs have different te-form rules depending on their final syllable. This is where many beginners struggle, but the rules are consistent. Here is the complete chart:

Important exception: The verb 行く (いく / iku — to go) is an u-verb ending in く, so you might expect its te-form to be 行いて. However, 行く is irregular in this one conjugation: its te-form is 行って (いって / itte), not 行いて. This is the only exception to the te-form rules for u-verbs.

Te-Form for Irregular Verbs

する → して (shite). 来る → 来て (きて / kite). Simple as that.

Common Te-Form Uses

Here are the most important grammar patterns built on the te-form that you will need for JLPT N5 and N4:

• 〜てください (te kudasai): Polite request. 食べてください (tabete kudasai) — please eat.
• 〜ている (te iru): Ongoing action or state. 食べている (tabete iru) — is eating / am eating.
• 〜てもいい (te mo ii): Permission. 食べてもいい (tabete mo ii) — it's okay to eat / may I eat?
• 〜てはいけない (te wa ikenai): Prohibition. 食べてはいけない (tabete wa ikenai) — you must not eat.
• 〜てから (te kara): After doing. 食べてから行く (tabete kara iku) — go after eating.
• Connecting actions: 朝ご飯を食べて学校に行く (asagohan wo tabete gakkou ni iku) — eat breakfast and go to school.

Past Tense: た-Form (Ta-Form)

The た-form is the casual past tense — "I did" or "I ate." The great news is that if you already know the te-form, you already know the ta-form. The conjugation follows exactly the same pattern: replace て with た, and で with だ.

The polite past tense is formed by replacing ます with ました. For example: 食べます → 食べました (たべました / tabemashita — ate, polite), 書きます → 書きました (かきました / kakimashita — wrote, polite). The polite past negative replaces ます with ませんでした: 食べませんでした (tabemasen deshita — did not eat, polite).

Complete Conjugation Summary Chart

Here is a master reference chart showing all four conjugation forms for representative verbs from each group. Bookmark this page and come back to it whenever you need a quick refresher.

* 行く (iku) is a regular u-verb in all conjugations except te-form and ta-form, where it uses って/った instead of the expected いて/いた.

Polite vs. Casual: When to Use Each Form

Japanese has a rich system of politeness levels, and choosing the right verb form is a core part of it. If you are interested in the full depth of Japanese politeness, check out our guide to keigo (honorific language). For now, here are the basics:

Use polite form when speaking to strangers, people older than you, coworkers, teachers, customers, and anyone you do not know well. This is the safe default. Use casual form with close friends, family members, children, and in informal writing such as diaries or social media posts. On the JLPT exam, you will encounter both forms in the reading and listening sections, so you must understand both.

Notice the casual past negative: 食べなかった (tabenakatta). This is formed by taking the ない-form (食べない) and conjugating ない itself into past tense — ない → なかった. This pattern works for all verbs: 書かない → 書かなかった (kakanakatta — did not write), しない → しなかった (shinakatta — did not do).

How to Practice Verb Conjugation Effectively

Knowing the rules is not the same as being able to conjugate quickly and accurately. Here are proven strategies to build speed and confidence:

1. Start with high-frequency verbs. Focus on the 20 most common verbs first — the ones that appear in nearly every conversation. These include 食べる, 飲む, 行く, 来る, する, 見る, 聞く, 読む, 書く, 話す, 買う, ある, いる, 寝る, 起きる, 教える, 作る, 待つ, 遊ぶ, and 泳ぐ. If you can conjugate these 20 verbs in all four forms without hesitation, you have a strong foundation.

2. Use spaced repetition. Flashcard apps that use spaced repetition algorithms show you verbs right before you are about to forget them, which is the most efficient way to build long-term memory. JLPTLord includes conjugation practice as part of its vocabulary review system.

3. Practice in sentences, not isolation. Instead of drilling "飲む → 飲みます" over and over, practice with full sentences: 毎朝コーヒーを飲みます (まいあさコーヒーをのみます / maiasa koohii wo nomimasu — I drink coffee every morning). This reinforces both the conjugation and the particle usage.

4. Learn to read hiragana and katakana fluently. Conjugation becomes much easier when you can read the kana without hesitation. If you are still building that skill, check out our hiragana guide and katakana guide first.

5. Do not memorize charts — use them as references. The goal is not to recite a conjugation table from memory. The goal is to hear a verb in context and instantly produce the right form. The charts above are reference tools. Real mastery comes from practice with sentences and conversations.

Verb Conjugation on the JLPT

Verb conjugation is tested at every level of the JLPT, from N5 to N1. Here is what to expect at each level:

JLPT N5: You need to conjugate verbs into ます-form, ない-form (ません), て-form, and past tense (ました/た). Questions are typically fill-in-the-blank where you choose the correct conjugated form from four options. Knowing the verb group and the basic conjugation rules covered in this guide is sufficient.

JLPT N4: You encounter more complex grammar patterns that build on the basic conjugation forms: potential form (can do), volitional form (let's do), conditional forms (if), and passive voice. All of these are built by modifying the verb stem in predictable ways — the foundation you are building now.

JLPT N3 and above: Conjugation is no longer tested directly — it is assumed you know it. Instead, the exam tests advanced grammar patterns, nuanced uses of conjugated forms in context, and your ability to read long passages where verbs appear in many different forms. If your conjugation foundation is shaky, everything at N3+ becomes exponentially harder.

For a comprehensive study plan, see our guide on the best way to learn Japanese in 2026.

Common Verb Conjugation Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the mistakes we see most often from beginners, along with how to fix them:

Mistake 1: Treating exception verbs as ru-verbs. Verbs like 帰る (かえる / kaeru — to return) and 走る (はしる / hashiru — to run) end in -eru and -iru but are u-verbs. If you conjugate 帰る as a ru-verb, you get 帰ない (wrong) instead of the correct 帰らない (かえらない / kaeranai). Always check the verb group when learning a new verb.

Mistake 2: Forgetting the special う → わ change. For u-verbs ending in う, the negative is not あない but わない. 買う → 買わない (kawanai), not 買あない. This is the only u-verb ending where the -a shift uses a different character.

Mistake 3: Mixing up te-form sound changes. The te-form for 書く (kaku) is 書いて (kaite), but the te-form for 話す (hanasu) is 話して (hanashite). Each ending has its own rule. The most reliable fix is to practice the five te-form patterns (って, んで, いて, いで, して) with multiple example verbs until the patterns become automatic.

Mistake 4: Using casual form in polite situations. Saying 食べる (taberu) to a teacher or stranger sounds rude. Always default to 食べます (tabemasu) unless you are sure casual form is appropriate. When in doubt, be polite.

Mistake 5: Forgetting that 行く (iku) is irregular in te-form. 行く looks like a regular く-ending u-verb, so you might expect 行いて. The correct te-form is 行って (itte). This is the only exception, and it trips up beginners constantly.

Beyond the Basics: What Comes Next

Once you have mastered the four forms in this guide (ます, ない, て, た), you are ready to tackle the next set of conjugation forms. Here is a preview of what you will learn at JLPT N4 and N3:

• Potential form (可能形 / かのうけい): Expresses ability — "can do." 食べられる (taberareru — can eat), 書ける (kakeru — can write).
• Volitional form (意向形 / いこうけい): Expresses intention or suggestion — "let's do." 食べよう (tabeyou — let's eat), 書こう (kakou — let's write).
• Conditional form (仮定形 / かていけい): Expresses "if." 食べれば (tabereba — if you eat), 書けば (kakeba — if you write).
• Passive form (受身形 / うけみけい): Expresses receiving an action. 食べられる (taberareru — is eaten), 書かれる (kakareru — is written).
• Causative form (使役形 / しえきけい): Expresses making or letting someone do something. 食べさせる (tabesaseru — make/let eat).

Each of these builds on the same verb stem and group identification skills you have learned here. The patterns remain predictable: ru-verbs drop る and add a new ending, u-verbs change their final vowel, and the two irregular verbs have their own forms. The foundation you build now with ます, ない, て, and た will make every future conjugation form easier to learn.

For a structured path through all JLPT levels, explore our JLPT N5 study guide and JLPT N4 study guide, or learn about how kanji learning fits into your overall study plan.

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