Doing and changing verbs in Japanese

Level A1

Doing and changing verbs in Japanese

Japanese verbs do not change for each subject, and the subject is often omitted when context makes it clear. Particles mark how words relate to the verb. Non-past forms can express habits or future events; 学んでいます and 育っています describe ongoing learning and growth. For “try doing,” attach みる to a verb’s て-form, as in 話してみます. Use polite forms ending in ます with people you do not know well and in formal situations, and plain forms with close friends and family. English verbs do not mark this politeness distinction. 君 is a familiar “you” whose use depends on the relationship; it is not a neutral way to address everyone.

Verbs for actions and change

When activities start and finish

Japanese distinguishes starting an activity from the activity itself starting. 始める means to start an activity, while 始まる means that an activity starts; these examples use 始まる: “９時に始まります” and “学校は何時に始まる？” 終わる likewise describes an activity coming to an end: “宿題はいつ終わる？” The activity can be the topic, marked by は, rather than an English-style person subject. 始まる and 終わる are plain forms; 始まります and 終わります are polite forms. The plain questions here use question words and questioning intonation; る itself does not mark a question.

活動が始まる／終(お)わる。

Helping, learning, and explaining something

The particle を marks a direct object, as in “新しい生徒にルールを説明しますか？”; に marks the recipient, the new students. In “職場では誰を手伝いますか？” the question word 誰 is the person helped. Japanese often leaves out the subject when context makes it clear, so an English subject such as “she” or “we” need not appear. The non-past form can describe a habit or a future event, while “学校でフランス語を学んでいます” uses 学んでいます for ongoing learning. This section includes both polite forms such as “説明しますか” and plain forms such as “彼女は家で新しい言葉を学んでいる.”

対象を手伝(てつだ)う／学ぶ／説明する。

Trying an action with the て-form and みる

To say that you try doing something, attach みる to the verb’s て-form: “フランス語を話してみます.” Here 話して is the て-form of 話す, and みます is the polite form of みる. With a plain tone, use みる, as in “彼は妹を手伝ってみる.” This pattern presents the action as something tried; it is not formed by putting a separate word meaning “try” before an infinitive.

動作のて形みる／みます。

Deciding what or where to do something

Put か after a question word and the plain verb form to make an embedded choice, then follow it with 決める or 決めます: “何を食べるか決めます.” The question word is part of the decision, not a direct question to the listener. “行き先は君が決める” says that you decide the destination; 君 is familiar and depends on the relationship, so it is not a neutral form of address. The polite 決めます and plain 決める show different levels of politeness.

疑問詞を含む疑問文か決(き)める／決めます。

Talking about events that happen

Use 起こる for something that happens. In “次は何が起こりますか？” が marks 何, the thing that happens. In “そういうことは毎日起こるよ,” は marks そういうこと as the topic. Japanese can leave out the subject when the context makes it clear. 起こります is polite, while the plain form 起こる is casual here.

出来事が起(お)こる／起こります。

Talking about something becoming something else

Use なる for becoming or changing into a state. The thing that changes is marked with は in these examples, and the new state comes before なる: “水は氷になります” and “子どもは大人になる.” The になります form is polite; になる is plain.

変化するものは変化後のものになる／なります。

Talking about living things growing

Use 育つ for a living thing growing or developing. The non-past 育つ can describe a general fact, as in “この植物は早く育つ.” The form 育っています describes growth in progress: “赤ちゃんは毎日少しずつ育っています.” The ています form highlights an ongoing process, unlike the simple non-past form.

生き物は育(そだ)つ／育っています。

Plain and polite non-past forms

説明する contains the irregular verb する: its polite non-past form is 説明します. なる is regular, and its polite non-past form is なります. Japanese does not have a second irregular verb among this lesson’s vocabulary. The non-past forms can describe habits or future events; the table compares plain and polite forms, not different tenses.

VerbPlain non-pastPolite non-past
動詞普通形（非過去）丁寧形（非過去）
説明(せつめい)する（する：不規則）説明(せつめい)する説明します
なる（規則動詞）なるなります

Talking politely and casually about work and helping

The work questions use polite forms ending in ます, such as “お仕事は何時に始まりますか？” and “5時に終わりますか？” The replies use the same polite level. The questions about helping and explaining use plain forms, such as “弟の宿題を手伝うの？” and “新しい言葉はどうやって説明するの？”; 君 is a familiar “you” and is appropriate only when the relationship allows it. English verbs do not show this politeness distinction in their endings.

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