Japanese Grammar – Negative Plain Form

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Japanese Grammar – Verbs: Plain form to Masu form – Review Notes

As we learned in our last Japanese grammar lesson, there are 3 types of Japanese verbs.

In today’s grammar lesson, we learned how to change verbs in each of the 3 verb classes from Plain Present Affirmative form to Plain Present Negative form, also known asnai-form.

In these video review notes we will go over today’s Japanese grammar in greater detail and see a list of verbs!

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Today’s Grammar Lesson:

today

โ˜…ใ€€Today we will learn how to change verbs from plain present affirmative form to plain present negative form, also known as “nai-form”

3 types

โ˜…ใ€€We learned last time that there are 3 classes of Japanese verbs:

โ˜…ใ€€ใ†-verbs (u-verbs)

โ˜…ใ€€ใ‚‹-verbs (ru-verbs)

โ˜…ใ€€irregular verbs

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Changing ใ†-verbs (u-verbs) to negative

u verbs

โ˜…ใ€€The first type of Japanese verbs is called ใ†-verbs (u-verbs).

โ˜…ใ€€To change an ใ†-verb (u-verb) from affirmative to negative form:

ย ย ย ย ย ย  โ˜…ใ€€change the final ใ† sound (‘u’ sound) to an ใ‚ sound (‘a’ sound)

ย ย ย ย ย ย  โ˜…ใ€€add ใชใ„ (nai) to the end

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Note:

โ˜…ใ€€In the case of a verb that ends in ใ† (u), you have to be a little careful.

โ˜…ใ€€For verbs ending in ใ† (u) (in other words, they end with two vowels), changeย ใ† (u) to ใ‚ (wa).

โ˜…ใ€€For example, ๆด—ใ† (ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ† – arau) – to wash – changes to ๆด—ใ‚ใชใ„ (ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚ใชใ„ – arawanai) – to not wash.

โ˜…ใ€€An exception to the rules is the verb ใ‚ใ‚‹ (aru) – to exist. The negative form is not ใ‚ใ‚‰ใชใ„ (aranai), just ใชใ„ (nai).

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hanasu

โ˜…ใ€€่ฉฑใ™๏ผˆใฏใชใ™ – hanasu) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to speak”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ่ฉฑใ™๏ผˆใฏใชใ™ – hanasu) is ่ฉฑใ•ใชใ„๏ผˆใฏใชใ•ใชใ„ – hanasanai) – to not speak.

owaru

โ˜…ใ€€็ต‚ใ‚ใ‚‹๏ผˆใŠใ‚ใ‚‹ – owaru) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to end”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ็ต‚ใ‚ใ‚‹๏ผˆใŠใ‚ใ‚‹ – owaru) is ็ต‚ใ‚ใ‚‰ใชใ„๏ผˆใŠใ‚ใ‚‰ใชใ„ – owaranai) – to not end.

nomu

โ˜…ใ€€้ฃฒใ‚€๏ผˆใฎใ‚€ – nomu) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to drink”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ้ฃฒใ‚€๏ผˆใฎใ‚€ – nomu) is ้ฃฒใพใชใ„๏ผˆใฎใพใชใ„ – nomanai) – to not drink.

asobu

โ˜…ใ€€้Šใถ๏ผˆใ‚ใใถ – asobu) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to play”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ้Šใถ๏ผˆใ‚ใใถ – asobu) is ้Šใฐใชใ„๏ผˆใ‚ใใฐใชใ„ – asobanai) – to not play.

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Changing ใ‚‹-verbs (ru-verbs) to Negative

ru verbs

โ˜…ใ€€The second type of Japanese verbs is called ใ‚‹-verbs (ru-verbs).

โ˜…ใ€€To change a ใ‚‹-verb (ru-verb) from affirmative to negative:

ย ย ย ย ย  โ˜…ใ€€Take off ใ‚‹ (ru)

ย ย ย ย ย  โ˜…ใ€€Add ใชใ„ (nai)

wasureru

โ˜…ใ€€ๅฟ˜ใ‚Œใ‚‹๏ผˆใ‚ใ™ใ‚Œใ‚‹ – wasureru) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to forget”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ๅฟ˜ใ‚Œใ‚‹๏ผˆใ‚ใ™ใ‚Œใ‚‹ – wasureru) is ๅฟ˜ใ‚Œใชใ„๏ผˆใ‚ใ™ใ‚Œใชใ„ – wasurenai) – to not forget.

oboeru

โ˜…ใ€€่ฆšใˆใ‚‹๏ผˆใŠใผใˆใ‚‹ – oboeru) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to memorize,” “to learn,” or “to remember.”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ่ฆšใˆใ‚‹๏ผˆใŠใผใˆใ‚‹ – oboeru) is ่ฆšใˆใชใ„๏ผˆใŠใผใˆใชใ„ – oboenai).

makeru

โ˜…ใ€€่ฒ ใ‘ใ‚‹๏ผˆใพใ‘ใ‚‹ – makeru) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to lose”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ่ฒ ใ‘ใ‚‹๏ผˆใพใ‘ใ‚‹ – makeru) is ่ฒ ใ‘ใชใ„๏ผˆใพใ‘ใชใ„ – makenai)

yameru

โ˜…ใ€€่พžใ‚ใ‚‹๏ผˆใ‚„ใ‚ใ‚‹ – yameru) is the plain present affirmative form of the verb meaning “to quit”

โ˜…ใ€€The negative form of ่พžใ‚ใ‚‹๏ผˆใ‚„ใ‚ใ‚‹ – yameru) is ่พžใ‚ใชใ„๏ผˆใ‚„ใ‚ใชใ„ – yamenai)

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Changing Irregular Verbs to Negative

irregular

โ˜…ใ€€There are only 2 irregular verbs in Japanese:

โ˜…ใ€€ๆฅใ‚‹๏ผˆใใ‚‹ – kuru) which means ‘to come’

โ˜…ใ€€ใ™ใ‚‹ (suru) which means ‘to do’

shinai konai

โ˜…ใ€€ๆฅใ‚‹ (ใใ‚‹ – kuru) changes to ๆฅใชใ„๏ผˆใ“ใชใ„ – konai) – “to not come”

โ˜…ใ€€ใ™ใ‚‹ (suru) changes to ใ—ใชใ„ (shinai) – “to not do”

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List of Japanese Verbs in Nai-Form:

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List of some common ใ†-verbs in ใชใ„ – form:

ๆด—ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€arawanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not wash

ๆญฉใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€arukanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not walk

ไผšใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€awanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not meet

้ป™ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ ใพใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€damaranaiใ€€ใ€€ to not be silent

้จ™ใ•ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ ใพใ•ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€damasanaiใ€€ ย  ย  to not trick

้ธใฐใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใˆใ‚‰ใฐใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€erabanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not choose / pick

ๅคชใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใตใจใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€futoranaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not gain weight

้ ‘ๅผตใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใŒใ‚“ใฐใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ganbaranaiใ€€ใ€€to not do one’s best

ๅ…ฅใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใฏใ„ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€hairanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย  to not enter

่ฉฑใ•ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใฏใชใ•ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€hanasanaiใ€€ย ย ย ย ย  to not speak / talk

ๆ‰•ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใฏใ‚‰ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€harawanaiใ€€ใ€€ to not pay

ๅ…‰ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใฒใ‹ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€hikaranaiใ€€ใ€€ ย  to not shine

่กŒใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ„ใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ikanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย  to not go

่ฒทใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‹ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€kawanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not buy

่žใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€kikanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย  to not listen

ๅฎˆใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใพใ‚‚ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€mamoranaiใ€€ to not protect

ๅพ…ใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใพใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€matanaiใ€€ใ€€ ย ย  to not wait

ๆŒใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚‚ใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€motanaiใ€€ใ€€ ย ย  to not hold / haveใ€€

ๆณฃใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใชใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€nakanaiใ€€ใ€€ ย ย  to not cry

ๆ€’ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŠใ“ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€okoranaiใ€€ใ€€ย  to not get angry

ๆ€ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŠใ‚‚ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€omowanaiใ€€ ย  to not think / believe

ๆณณใŒใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŠใ‚ˆใŒใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€oyoganaiใ€€ย  ใ€€to not swim

็Ÿฅใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ—ใ‚‰ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€shiranaiใ€€ใ€€ ย  to not know

็ซ‹ใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŸใŸใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€tatanaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย  to not stand

ไฝฟใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใคใ‹ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€tsukawanaiใ€€ to not use

ๅ‹•ใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ†ใ”ใ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ugokanaiใ€€ใ€€ to not move

ๆญŒใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ†ใŸใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€utawanaiใ€€ใ€€ to not sing

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List of some common ใ‚‹-verbs in ใชใ„- form:

้–‹ใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚ใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€akenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย ย ย  to not open

่ค’ใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใปใ‚ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€homenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not praise

ๅ…ฅใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ„ใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€irenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not put in

่€ƒใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‹ใ‚“ใŒใˆใชใ„ใ€€kangaenaiใ€€ ใ€€to not think

ๅ€Ÿใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‹ใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€karinaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ย ย  to not borrow

็‰‡ไป˜ใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€ใ‹ใŸใฅใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€katazukenaiใ€€ to not tidy up

ๆ•ฐใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‹ใžใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€kazoenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not count

ๆถˆใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€kienaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not disappear

่žใ“ใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใใ“ใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€kikoenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not hear

็ญ”ใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ“ใŸใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€kotaenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not answer

่ฆ‹ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใฟใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€minaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not see / look

่ฆ‹ใ›ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใฟใ›ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€misenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not show

่ฝใกใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŠใกใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ochinaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not fall

ๆ•™ใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŠใ—ใˆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€oshienaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not teach

ๆจใฆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ™ใฆใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€sutenaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ to not throw away

ๅŠฉใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŸใ™ใ‘ใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€tasukenaiใ€€ใ€€ to not help / save

่ถณใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใŸใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€tarinaiใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€to not be enough

็–ฒใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใคใ‹ใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€tsukarenaiใ€€ใ€€to not get tired

ๅฟ˜ใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€ใ‚ใ™ใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€€ใ€€wasurenaiใ€€ใ€€ to not forget

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Example Sentence 1:

ใŠ้‡‘ใŒ่ถณใ‚Šใชใ„ใ€‚

Okane ga tarinai.

There is not enough money.

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Example Sentence 2:

ไธ€็”Ÿๅฟ˜ใ‚Œใชใ„ใ€‚

Isshล wasurenai.

I won’t ever forget.

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Example Sentence 3:

ใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“ใ‚’่ฆ‹ใชใ„ใ€‚

Terebi o minai.

I don’t watch TV.

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Next Grammar Lesson:

next lesson

โ˜…ใ€€Next time we will learn how to make the Plain Past Affirmative Form of verbs!

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one comment

  1. I love learning new things about the Japanese language! I’ve never been particularly interested in learning the culture of another country, and in reality, all I do is watch anime all day, but I still really appreciate being able to understand what it is that I’m hearing. I hope I can learn more here at PuniPuni.

    Comment by Glen756 on 12/02/2014 at 4:08 am

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