ます・
ます is the polite ending for verbs, the one for people outside family and close friends. It has four shapes: do, don't, did and didn't.
How to form it
Verb stem + ます
食べる → 食べます, 書く → 書きます. ます usually sounds like "mas".
| Ending | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| do, will do | ます | 食べます |
| don't, won't | ません | 食べません |
| did | ました | 食べました |
| didn't | ませんでした | 食べませんでした |
The ending is the same for I, you, she and they. With か it becomes a question: 食べますか.
Getting the stem
Verbs come in two kinds, plus the two irregular verbs. Ichidan verbs (る-verbs) end in る with an i or e sound before it. The rest are godan verbs (う-verbs).
| Verb | Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ichidan | Drop る | 食べる → 食べます, 見る → 見ます |
| Godan | Last kana to its い sound: く → き, つ → ち, す → し | 書く → 書きます, 待つ → 待ちます, 話す → 話します |
| する, 来る | Irregular | します, 来ます |
A few common verbs look ichidan and are godan: 帰る → 帰ります, 入る → 入ります, 走る → 走ります.
Do and will do
ます covers what you do as a rule and what you will do. There is no separate future form; a word like 明日 settles which.
This train goes to Kyoto.
I will study at the library tomorrow.
My father does not work on Sundays.
It is not "am doing". Something going on right now takes ています.
Did and didn't
I watched that movie yesterday.
Mr. Yamada did not come to school last week.
ました also covers English "have done": もう食べました, "I've already eaten". "Haven't yet" is different. It is まだ with ていません, not ませんでした.
I didn't eat lunch today.
The chance has passed.
ません or ないです
In conversation you will also hear the plain negative with です added. It means the same; ません is more formal, and the one for writing.
I didn't go yesterday.
The past has both too: this, or 行きませんでした.
Words you already know
ありがとうございます, お願いします and いただきます all end in it.
分かりましたunderstood; all right
Yes, understood.
Past, because you have just understood.
分かりませんI don't know; I don't understand
Sorry, I don't understand.
Close neighbours
The same four forms in plain style. In front of a noun the verb is normally plain, even in a polite sentence.
This is the book I bought yesterday.
行く・行きますN5
When to end a sentence politely and when plainly.
The reception desk is on the second floor.
Said to a visitor.
ませんかN5
ませんか is how you invite someone: "would you like to…?"
Would you like to go to the new restaurant this weekend?
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
昨日は
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
今、
Choose an answer to see why.
3Which one fits?
今日は
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
The store opens at nine.
The children played in the park.
Because it was raining, we did not play the game.