Verbs

Groups & Stem Form

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

3 groups of verbs:

1. -ru verbs
2. -u verbs
3. irregular verbs

Identifying what group a verb belongs to can make it

easier to conjugate a verb.

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Ways to identify the group of a verb.

1. -ru verbs: vowels that precedes a -ru verb are e and i.

Examples: hajimeru, dekiru, miru, miseru

Exceptions:
kaeru - to return; go home
hairu - to enter
shaberu - to talk

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

2. -u verbs: consonants precedes an -u verb.
Examples: yasumu, kiku, hanasu, yomu, kaku, iku

verbs that may appear as -ru verb but are classified as

-u verbs are when the vowels that precedes those
verbs are not e and i.
Examples:
toru, owaru

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

3. irregular verbs: all verbs that does not qualify as
either -ru or -u verbs are classified as irregular verbs.

Irregular verbs commonly ends with suru which means

“to do.”

Example: benkyou suru

Another irregular verb is kuru which means “to come.”

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Kuru when conjugated to its present affirmative
becomes kimasu.

While the rest of the irregular verbs with suru becomes

shimasu.

Example: benkyou suru > benkyou shimasu

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

~masu form of the verb

• A verb with ~masu works as predicate.

• ~masu makes a sentence polite.
• ~masu is used when a sentence expresses a habitual
thing or a truth.
• It is also used when a sentence expresses a thing that
will occur in the future.

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

 Other forms of and tenses of verbs

non-past past
(future/present)
affirmative ~masu ~mashita
negative ~masen ~masen deshita

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Conjugating -ru verbs

• Drop -ru, then add the appropriate suffix.

Conjugating -u verbs

• Change -u to -i, then add the appropriate suffix.

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Dictionary Form English Meaning Group Stem Form ~Masu Form

toru to take (pictures) u tori torimasu

hajimeru to start, to begin ru hajime hajimemasu
yasumu to rest, to take a break u yasumi yasumimasu
owaru to end, to finish u owari owarimasu
dekiru to be able ru deki dekimasu

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Dictionary Form English Meaning Group Stem Form ~Masu Form

kiku to hear, to listen u kiki kikimasu

iu to say, to utter u ii iimasu
miru to watch, to look ru mi mimasu
hanasu to speak u hanashi hanashimasu
yomu to read u yomi yomimasu

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA

Dictionary Form English Meaning Group Stem Form ~Masu Form

kaku to write, to draw u kaki kakimasu

miseru to show, to display ru mise misemasu
kuru to come irregular ki kimasu
aru to have (inanimate things) u ari arimasu
iku to go, to move u iki ikimasu

Instructor: Jinky R. Delantar, MBA, CPA