6.1 ます (masu) Form and Verb Conjugation
Having mastered the です (desu) form in previous modules, this one will introduce another polite sentence-ending form: ます (masu). We will guide you through a step-by-step process for transforming dictionary forms of verbs into ます forms, enabling you to express actions politely in both present and future tenses.
Tense
The ます form primarily indicates actions performed in the present or future tense. It’s flexible enough to convey both habitual actions and planned activities, making it indispensable for polite communication in various contexts.
Introduction to verb conjugation
When you want to talk about present and future actions in a polite way in Japanese, you need to change the verb from its dictionary form – the basic, unmodified version found in dictionaries – to its polite form or ます form.
This process is known as conjugation, which allows you to effectively convey politeness and formality in your speech.
You might be unfamiliar with the concept of verb conjugation, but don’t worry!
The good news is that there are clear patterns to follow based on the type of verb you’re using. In Japanese, we will explore three types of verbs, each with its own conjugation rules:
1. Ru-verbs (or ichi-dan verbs): Verbs ending in る (ru)
2. U-verbs (or go-dan verbs): Verbs ending in the /u/ sound, except for those in (1) and (3)
3. Irregular verbs: 来（く）る (kuru: to come), する (suru: to do) and any extension of する, such as 勉強（べんきょう）する (benkyou suru: to study).
Now let’s take a look at the following video (about 5 minutes long) created by Shiro Neko Japanese to learn how each type of verb follows a conjugation pattern:
Here is a table showing how verbs in each category conjugates in both affirmative and negative forms:
1. Ru-verbs (or ichi-dan verbs)
For ru-verbs, simply replace る with ます to make it affirmative; replace the final る (ru) with ません to make it negative.
| Dictionary form | ます | ません |
|---|---|---|
| 見（み）る (miru: to see) | 見ます | 見ません (mimasen: don’t see) |
| 食（た）べる (taberu: to eat) | 食べます | 食べません (tabemasen: don’t eat) |
2. U-verbs (or go-dan verbs)
For most u-verbs, replace the final /u/ sound with an /i/ sound and then add ます; replace the final /u/ sound with an /i/ sound, then add ません.
| Dictionary form | ます | ません |
|---|---|---|
| 飲（の）む (nomu: to drink) | 飲みます | 飲みません (nomimasen: don’t drink) |
| 読（よ）む (yomu: to read) | 読みます | 読みません (yomimasen: don’t read) |
| 帰（かえ）る (kaeru: to return) | 帰ります | 帰りません (kaerimasen: don’t return) |
3. Irregular verbs
There are two main irregular verbs, 来（く）る (come) and する (do), that have irregular conjugations in the ます-form, but follow the same ません structure.
| Dictionary form | ます | ません |
|---|---|---|
| 来る (kuru: to come) | 来（き）ます (kimasu) | 来（き）ません (kimasen: won’t come) |
| する (suru: to do) | します | しません (shimasen: don’t do) |
Any verb that ends in する, such as 勉強する (benkyou suru: to study), is treated as an irregular verb and conjugates in the same way as する. For example:
- 勉強します (benkyou shimasu) — I study
- 勉強しません (benkyou shimasen) — I don’t study
Differentiating between ru-verbs and u-verbs
As highlighted in the video, some u-verbs end in る.
To differentiate between ru-verbs and u-verbs that end in る, pay attention to the vowel sound just before る.
1. Ru-verbs ending in る
Typically, when the vowel sound preceding る is /i/ or /e/, the verb classifies as a ru-verb in most cases. For example, 見（み）る is a ru-verb because the vowel sound preceding る is /i/.
Nonetheless, exceptions to this rule are detailed at the conclusion of this section.
2. U-verbs ending in る
Conversely, if the preceding vowel sound is /a/, /u/ or /o/, the verb is consistently classified as an u-verb.
Now, let’s test your understanding:
Consider the verbs 食（た）べる (taberu) and 分（わ）かる (wakaru).
Which category do each of these belong to?
Here’s the answer:
食べる (taberu), meaning ‘to eat’, is a ru-verb, due to the preceding vowel sound /e/. On the other hand, 分かる (wakaru), meaning ‘to understand’, is an u-verb, as its preceding vowel sound is /a/. Consequently, their polite forms (ます form) are 食べます and 分かります, respectively (not 分かます).
Other cases of u-verbs ending in る
It’s important to remember that while verbs ending in る preceded by an /i/ or /e/ sound are generally ru-verbs, some are u-verbs. Notable beginner-level u-verbs ending in る with an /i/ or /e/ sound include:
| U-verb | Romaji reading | Meaning | ます form |
| 帰（かえ）る | kaeru | to return | 帰ります |
| 知（し）る | shiru | to know | 知ります |
| 入（はい）る | hairu | to enter | 入ります |
| 要（い）る | iru | to need | (…が) 要ります |
| 切（き）る | kiru | to cut | 切ります |
| 走（はし）る | hashiru | to run | 走ります |
| しゃべる | shaberu | to chat | しゃべります |
| 減（へ）る | heru | to decrease | 減ります |
Tips for changing dictionary form to ます and ません
- Memorise the patterns for each type of verb by using resources, such as verb conjugation charts or apps.
- Practise regularly to get used to the patterns.
- Read the verbs aloud in their polite forms to describe activities or actions you engage in. For example, if you regularly read books, you might say 本（ほん）を読（よ）みます for ‘I read books’.
Exercise 1
Use the resource provided by Steven Kraft to practise the conjugation of basic verbs. Visit this page and type in the ます-form of verbs for practice.
Figures
1 “Exclamation Icon” by Dave Gandy. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC by SA 3.0.
References
Kraft, Steven. “Polite Form Practice.” Accessed December 12, 2023. https://steven-kraft.com/projects/japanese/politeform/.
———. “Steven Kraft’s Japanese Projects.” Accessed December 12, 2023. https://steven-kraft.com/projects/japanese/.
Shiro Neko Japanese. “Japanese [#3-6] [GENKI L3]—Conjugate from DICTIONARY Form to MASU Form (Verb Conjugation #3).” YouTube video, 4:51. September 10, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su0kg2-BI6E.
