-MASU (-ます) -MASEN (-ません) -MASHITA (-ました)

The suffix -MASU (ます) is attached to the conjunctive base of a verb to make one's statement polite.

VERB (conjunctive base) + MASU

Here’s a brief reminder of the construction of the conjunctive base of a verb:

For “godan” verbs, replace the ending U with an I, then add the suffix -MASU.

For “ichidan” verbs, replace RU with -MASU.

There are a few irregular forms that must be learned by heart:

ARU “ある” and IRU “いる” become ARIMASU “あります” and IMASU “います” respectively.

MASU (ます) is actually the present and future form. To express the negative form or the past tense, other forms exist of course.

PRESENT

FUTURE

PAST

NEGATIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM OF THE PAST

Always keep in mind that ます let's you express yourself in a polite way. In dictionaries, verbs are not found in this form, but in the plain form (also called the dictionary form, for this reason). The plain form is very often used to talk to friends or family. To make the difference clear, observe again the difference in verb endings in the plain and polite forms:

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Posted on Mar 21, 2020, 12:29:36 AM	#2
Goldenangel3341 It will be cool to hover over Japanese words that we don't know to see what they mean. Or we could click them.

Posted on Sep 27, 2016, 5:15:47 PM	#1
WhyCoy I enjoyed the condensed yet concise instruction. For me, it's just a review of grammar, so I'm not sure in my observation that if I were a beginner, that I would understand completely. Cheers.

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