Your first verbs and particles
Put actions at the end and mark what you do with を.
Build an object–verb sentence.
Hear the lesson phrases
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback.
Read the audio transcript
毎日、何をしますか。
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
Read each word aloud, then test your recall of its meaning.
| 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
Answer the questions and read the explanations. You can repeat the exercises.
Understand the three main verb groups.