3.3 Verbs: Plain Form Conjugation

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Overview

Learn how Japanese verbs conjugate in the plain form. This lesson introduces the plain past (～た), plain negative (～ない), and plain past negative (～なかった).

The plain form is used in casual speech, narration, and before many grammar patterns.

The ～た form expresses a completed action in the past.

。

I ate breakfast.

。

I went to the station.

The ～ない form expresses negation in plain speech.

。

I am not going outside today.

。

I do not drink coffee.

The ～なかった form expresses that something did not happen in the past.

。

I did not watch TV.

。

I did not go to bed early.

For past negative, the verb is first made negative with ～ない, and then ～ない is conjugated like an い-adjective.

Dialogue

あさ、わたしはろくじ６時におきた起きた。しちじ７時にあさごはん朝ごはんをたべた食べた。こうひいコーヒーをのんだ飲んだ。

きのう、はちじ８時にいえ家をでた出た。えき駅にいった行った。ともだち友だちにあった会った。

きょう今日はあめ雨だ。ほかに外にいかない行かない。こうひいコーヒーものまない飲まない。

きのうはとてもいそがしかった。てれびテレビをみなかった見なかった。はやく早くねなかった寝なかった。

In the morning, I woke up at six. At seven, I ate breakfast. I drank coffee.

Yesterday, I left the house at eight. I went to the station. I met a friend.

Today it is raining. I am not going outside. I am not drinking coffee either.

Yesterday was very busy. I did not watch TV. I did not go to bed early.

New words

Grammar

Title	Description
～た	plain past
～ない	plain negative
～なかった	plain past negative

3.2 Verbs: Polite Form Conjugation

3.4 Verbs: て-form and Connecting Actions

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