3.2 Verbs: Polite Form Conjugation

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Overview

Learn how Japanese verbs express tense and negation in polite speech using ～ます, ～ました, ～ません, and ～ませんでした.

In polite Japanese, verbs change their endings to express tense and negation.

The non-past polite form uses ～ます. It is used for both present and future actions.

。

I drink coffee every morning.

。

The teacher will come tomorrow.

The polite past form replaces ～ます with ～ました.

、。

Yesterday

I watched a movie.

。

I ate breakfast.

The polite negative replaces ～ます with ～ません.

。

I am not going outside today.

。

I do not drink coffee.

The polite past negative replaces ～ます with ～ませんでした.

。

Yesterday

I did not study.

。

I did not watch TV.

All four forms are built from the same verb stem.

In the morning, I wake up at six. At seven, I eat breakfast. I drink 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 also do not drink coffee.

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

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