Plain forms for everyday grammar
Learn dictionary, ない, and た forms and choose an appropriate register.
What you’ll work on
- Distinguish plain forms from polite forms
- Build basic plain negatives and past forms
- Recognize common irregular negatives
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Kana readings help you read the written words; they do not show pitch accent.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- なにnaniwhat
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- しますshimasudo (polite nonpast)
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ほんhonbook
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- よむyomuread (dictionary form)
- つもりです。tsumoridesuintend to / plan toFollows a plain verb form to express an intention.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- えいがeigafilm
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- みませんmimasennot watch (polite negative)With か, a negative question can be used as an invitation.
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
A negative question can invite someone to do something. The Japanese subject is understood from context.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あしたashitatomorrow
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- みないつもりです。minaitsumoridesuintend not to watchLiterally, the intention is not to watch. The natural English wording differs.
The film and the speaker are understood from context. English supplies “I” and “one”.
Plain does not simply mean rude
Plain forms are used in casual conversation and inside many grammatical patterns, including polite sentences. Dictionary 読む and past 読んだ are plain; 読みます and 読みました are polite. Choose sentence endings for the relationship and situation.
For the plain past, change the て-form ending て to た or で to だ: 食べて → 食べた; 読んで → 読んだ; 行って → 行った. This reuses the same sound changes.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- たべた。tabetaate (plain past)
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- よんだ。yondaread (plain past)
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- いった。ittawent (plain past)
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
Build a plain negative carefully
Ichidan 食べる becomes 食べない. Godan 読む changes its final sound to the a-row: 読まない. A godan final う becomes わない, so 買う → 買わない. する → しない; 来る → 来ない（こない）.
The existence verb ある has the special negative ない. The past negative changes ない to なかった: 読まなかった. Attach でください to a plain negative to request that someone not do something.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- かわない。kawanaido not / will not buy (plain)
The plain nonpast negative can describe a habit or a future action. English supplies “I” here.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- こない。konaido not / will not come (plain)
来 is read ko in this negative form. The plain nonpast negative can describe a habit or a future action; “I” is understood.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ここkokohere
- でdeplace or means marker
- たべないでください。tabenaidekudasaiplease do not eatないでください requests that someone not do an action.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 買う かう | to buy (godan) | |
| 見る みる | to see / watch (ichidan) | |
| 読む よむ | to read (godan) | |
| つもり つもり | intention | |
| ない ない | not exist; negative form | |
| 明日 あした | tomorrow |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Punctuation and spacing do not affect your score. Use the displayed Japanese spelling or the complete kana reading; mixed spellings are accepted only when explicitly listed. Long vowels, small kana, and verb endings matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Say the polite and plain versions of one action in nonpast, negative, and past forms.
Writing practice
Write negative forms for 食べる, 読む, 買う, する, 来る, and ある. Check the three irregular patterns.
Review the lesson objectives
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