Verb Group Descriptions

Verb Groups – Descriptions   

どうし　の　クループ　の　せつめい

 Up to now, we have used one level of verbs, verbs in the masu (mashita)/desu (deshita) forms.  This level is known as "neutral polite."  Now we have to learn the fundamental form, the plain (informal) “infinitive” form.  This form is also known as the "dictionary form" because this is how verbs are listed in dictionaries.   In order to learn this conjugational form, we have to learn about the three groups of verbs, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. 

①   　一ばん　の　グループ：Also known as　う, “strong” verbs or “consonant” verbs

            Most numerous group

            In the “masu” form, always has an extra “i” syllable before the “masu”

            In the plain negative form, always has an extra “a” syllable before the “nai”

            Complex but regular conjugation

Plain/dictionary form always ends in an “u” syllable

from the same hiragana line as the extra “i” syllable

会います　meets　　会う　 to meet　　あわない

書きます　writes 　　書く     to write　　かかない

話します　speaks　　話す   to speak　　はなさない

            たちます　stands　　たつ    to stand　　　たたない

            しにます　dies    　　しぬ    to die　　　　しなない

            Use the Te Form Song to figure out how to change from Masu form to Te form

②   　ニばん　の　グループ: Also known as　る “weak” verbs or “ru” verbs

            Second most numerous group

            Easiest form to conjugate in the “te” form: take off the “masu” and put on the “te”

            Easiest form to conjugate in plain/dictionary form: take off “masu”, put on “ru”

            All these verbs end in either “eru” or “iru” in the plain/dictionary form.

                                                食べます  eats　　　食べる  to eat　　たべない

　　　　　　　　　　　    あけます  opens　　 あける  to open　　あけない

　　　　　　　　　　　    見ます     sees　　　見る    to see　　　みない

　　　　　　　　　　　    おきます   gets up　  おきる  to get up　　おきない

                        (But  かえる to return home、andねじる to swivel, twist, are group 1)

③　三ばん　の　クループ: Also known as “irregular” verbs

            Smallest group – only 2 verbs are included

            Most difficult to conjugate because there are no rules

              

                                    します　does/plays (sports)　する    to do, play (sports)

                                                                                    （しない　Doesn’t do）

　　　　　　　　    来ます  comes                             来る（くる）   to come

                                                                           (来ない　こない　Doesn’t come)