Plain negatives and past forms
Use plain forms inside grammar as well as casual conversation.
Ichidan negatives drop る and add ない: 食べない. Godan verbs use an a-row stem: 読まない. Final う changes to わ, as in 買わない. Irregular forms include しない, 来ない（こない）, and the negative of ある, ない.
The plain past uses the て-form sound changes with た or だ: 書いて → 書いた and 読んで → 読んだ. The negative past changes ない to なかった. Plain forms also appear inside polite sentences such as 読むつもりです.
Examples
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きょうkyoutoday
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- かわない。kawanaiwill not buy (plain)The plain negative of 買う changes う to わ before ない.
Both “I” and “it” are understood from context; neither is written here. “Plain” describes the style.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きのう、kinouyesterday
- ほんhonbook
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- よんだ。yondaread (past; plain)The plain past of 読む.
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence. “Plain” describes the style.
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 following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- こない。konaiwill not come (plain)来 is read こ in this negative form.
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence. “Plain” describes the style.
Keep in mind
The correct negative of ある is ない, not あらない; 来る changes its reading across forms.