Your first verbs and particles
Put actions at the end and mark what you do with を.
What you’ll work on
- Build an object–verb sentence
- Recognize dictionary and polite verb forms
- Understand the three main verb groups
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.
- まいにち、mainichievery day
- 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.
- にほんごnihongoJapanese language
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- べんきょうします。benkyoushimasustudy (polite)勉強 means study; します is the polite form of する, “do”. Together they mean “study”.
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
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.
- よみますyomimasuread (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.
- はい。haiyes
- おちゃochatea
- もmoalso / too
- のみます。nomimasudrink (polite nonpast)
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
The verb normally comes last
A basic action sentence puts the verb after its object: 本を読みます, I read a book. を marks the direct object and is pronounced o in ordinary modern speech. It is still written を.
The same 読みます can describe I, you, or several people reading. Japanese verbs do not agree with person or number. The dictionary form 読む is the form used as the dictionary headword.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- みずmizuwater
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- のみます。nomimasudrink (polite nonpast)
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.
- ごはんgohanmeal / cooked rice
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- たべます。tabemasueat (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
Learn the group with the verb
Godan (Group 1) verbs change their final sound: 読む becomes 読みます. Ichidan (Group 2) verbs remove final る and add ます: 食べる becomes 食べます. する and 来る are the two main irregular patterns: します and 来ます（きます）.
A verb ending in an e- or i-sound plus る is often ichidan, but not always. 帰る is godan and becomes 帰ります. Use the stored group in the verb library instead of guessing from spelling.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- よむyomuread (dictionary form)
- → →changes to
- よみますyomimasuread (polite form)
Both Japanese forms mean “read”; the English labels describe the change in form.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- たべるtaberueat (dictionary form)
- → →changes to
- たべますtabemasueat (polite form)
Both Japanese forms mean “eat”; the English labels describe the change in form.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- くるkurucome (dictionary form)
- → →changes to
- きますkimasucome (polite form)来 changes its reading from く to き in this form.
Both Japanese forms mean “come”; the English labels describe their style.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 読む よむ | to read (godan) | |
| 飲む のむ | to drink (godan) | |
| 食べる たべる | to eat (ichidan) | |
| する する | to do (irregular) | |
| 来る くる | to come (irregular) | |
| 勉強する べんきょうする | to study (する compound) |
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 three things you do using noun + を + polite verb. Look up the dictionary form of each verb.
Writing practice
Write dictionary and ます forms for 読む, 食べる, する, and 来る.
Review the lesson objectives
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