4. 2 Basic verb forms - ～dictionary、～ます

There are many ways to conjugate verbs, but here we will focus on two present tense forms: "dictionary form" (also known as "plain form") and " ~masu form" (also known as "polite form")

Note

Switching between these two verb forms does not change the meaning of the verb but the dictionary form is more casual.

  • The dictionary form gets its name because it is what is found in the dictionary.
  • The dictionary form verbs ends in -u and many end in -ru.
  • The masu form verbs are so called because they always end in -masu in the present tense.
Examples
Dictionary Form -Masu Form Meaning
  • たべる
  • tabe ru
  • たべます
  • tabe masu
 Both mean "to eat"
  • のむ
  • nom u
  • のみます
  • nomi masu
 to drink
  • はしる
  • hashi ru
  • はしります
  • hashiri masu
 to run
  • する
  • su ru
  • します
  • shi masu
 to do (this is one of the 2 irregular verbs)

You will notice some other changes between the two forms. I would recommend learning about the three verb groups here, but for our purposes right now, just memorize a few examples and try to find patterns with other verbs. And remember: Mistake making is memory making! (As long as you correct yourself, of course.)