Lesson 1-4:
* only 5 vowels: Ah (a), we (i), soon (u), get (e), old (o).
but the 'U' sound is without the pursing of the lips. Nouns have no gender or singular/plural form. Verb conjugation is not affected by gender or singular/plural and only have 2 tenses; past and present. It also comes at the end of a sentence (which at times omits the object) which is a very important in understanding what you are saying. I have my work cut out for me as it seems its pretty hard to learn the verbs but the rules are easy to learn. The first-, second, and third-person are not used. Roughly vers are divided in to 3 groups according to their dictionary form (basic form - is the informal, present affirmative form of the verb. This form is used among close friends and family in informal situations. ).
Group 1: ~ U ending Verbs called Consonant-stem verbs or Godan-doushi (Godan verbs).
hanasu- to speak
kaku - to write
kiku - to listen
matsu - to wait
nomu - to drink
Group 2: ~ Iru and ~ Eru ending Verbs called Vowel-stem-verbs or Ichidan-doushi (Ichidan verbs).
~ iru ending
kiru - to wear
miru - to see
okiru - to get up
oriru - to get off
shinjiru - to believe
~ eru ending
akeru - to open
ageru - to give
deru - to go out
neru - to sleep
taberu - to eat
Some exceptions, verbs belong to Group 1, though they end with "~ iru" or "~ eru".
hairu - to enter
hashiru - to run
iru - to need
kaeru - to return
kagiru - to limit
kiru - to cut
shaberu - to chatter
shiru - to know
Group 3: Irregular Verbs only two irregular verbs, kuru (to come) and suru (to do).
The verb "suru" is probably the most often used verb in Japanese. It is used as "to do," "to make," or "to cost". It is also combined with many nouns (of Chinese or Western origin) to make them into verbs.
benkyousuru - to study
ryokousuru - to travel
yushutsusuru - to export
dansusuru - to dance
shanpuusuru - to shampoo
The ~ masu Form (Formal Form)
The suffix "~ masu" is added to the dictionary form of the verbs to make sentence polite. Aside from changing the tone, it has no meaning. This form is used in situations required politeness or a degree of formality, and is more appropriate for general use.
* only 5 vowels: Ah (a), we (i), soon (u), get (e), old (o).
but the 'U' sound is without the pursing of the lips. Nouns have no gender or singular/plural form. Verb conjugation is not affected by gender or singular/plural and only have 2 tenses; past and present. It also comes at the end of a sentence (which at times omits the object) which is a very important in understanding what you are saying. I have my work cut out for me as it seems its pretty hard to learn the verbs but the rules are easy to learn. The first-, second, and third-person are not used. Roughly vers are divided in to 3 groups according to their dictionary form (basic form - is the informal, present affirmative form of the verb. This form is used among close friends and family in informal situations. ).
Group 1: ~ U ending Verbs called Consonant-stem verbs or Godan-doushi (Godan verbs).
hanasu- to speak
kaku - to write
kiku - to listen
matsu - to wait
nomu - to drink
Group 2: ~ Iru and ~ Eru ending Verbs called Vowel-stem-verbs or Ichidan-doushi (Ichidan verbs).
~ iru ending
kiru - to wear
miru - to see
okiru - to get up
oriru - to get off
shinjiru - to believe
~ eru ending
akeru - to open
ageru - to give
deru - to go out
neru - to sleep
taberu - to eat
Some exceptions, verbs belong to Group 1, though they end with "~ iru" or "~ eru".
hairu - to enter
hashiru - to run
iru - to need
kaeru - to return
kagiru - to limit
kiru - to cut
shaberu - to chatter
shiru - to know
Group 3: Irregular Verbs only two irregular verbs, kuru (to come) and suru (to do).
The verb "suru" is probably the most often used verb in Japanese. It is used as "to do," "to make," or "to cost". It is also combined with many nouns (of Chinese or Western origin) to make them into verbs.
benkyousuru - to study
ryokousuru - to travel
yushutsusuru - to export
dansusuru - to dance
shanpuusuru - to shampoo
The ~ masu Form (Formal Form)
The suffix "~ masu" is added to the dictionary form of the verbs to make sentence polite. Aside from changing the tone, it has no meaning. This form is used in situations required politeness or a degree of formality, and is more appropriate for general use.
