Basic Verbs (Groups & Dictionary Form)
Learning Objectives
- Understand what the 'Dictionary Form' of a verb is.
- Classify verbs into Group 1 (u-verbs), Group 2 (ru-verbs), or Group 3 (Irregular).
- Identify exceptions to the classification rules.
- Form simple sentences using Dictionary Form verbs.
In English, to know how to conjugate a verb, you only need to know it’s a verb (e.g., eat ➔ eating, ate, eaten). But in Japanese, knowing it’s a verb isn’t enough! Every single Japanese verb belongs to one of Three Groups. The group a verb belongs to determines exactly how it will conjugate for tense, politeness, potential, passive, causative, and every other grammar rule you will ever learn.
The way we discover a verb’s group is by looking at its Dictionary Form. This is the plain, unconjugated, casual form of the verb—the form you would look up if you were searching for it in a dictionary. Let’s learn the groups!
1. Group 1: The u-verbs (Godan Verbs)
Group 1 is the largest verb group. To identify a Group 1 verb, look at its Dictionary Form ending. If it ends in any Hiragana character from the “u” row (other than る), it is 100% guaranteed to be a Group 1 verb!
The Endings:
- 〜く (ku) - example: かく (kaku) [to write]
- 〜す (su) - example: はなす (hanasu) [to speak]
- 〜つ (tsu) - example: まつ (matsu) [to wait]
- 〜ぬ (nu) - example: しぬ (shinu) [to die]
- 〜む (mu) - example: のむ (nomu) [to drink]
- 〜う (u) - example: かう (kau) [to buy]
- 〜ぐ (gu) - example: およぐ (oyogu) [to swim]
- 〜ぶ (bu) - example: あそぶ (asobu) [to play]
The Catch: Some Group 1 verbs do end in る (ru). If the sound right before the る is an “a”, “u”, or “o” sound, it is a Group 1 verb.
- example: わかる (wakaru) [to understand]
- example: つくる (tsukuru) [to make]
- example: のる (noru) [to ride]
みず を のむ。
Mizu o nomu.
I drink water. (Plain)
てがみ を かく。
Tegami o kaku.
I write a letter. (Plain)
くるま に のる。
Kuruma ni noru.
I ride in a car. (Plain)
2. Group 2: The ru-verbs (Ichidan Verbs)
Group 2 verbs are the easiest verbs to conjugate. They always end in る (ru). To identify a Group 2 verb, look at the sound right before the る. If it is an “i” sound or an “e” sound, then ninety percent of the time, it is a Group 2 verb!
- “i” sound + る: みる (mi-ru) [to see/watch], おきる (oki-ru) [to wake up]
- “e” sound + る: たべる (tabe-ru) [to eat], ねる (ne-ru) [to sleep]
リンゴ を たべる。
Ringo o taberu.
I eat an apple. (Plain)
テレビ を みる。
Terebi o miru.
I watch TV. (Plain)
ベッド で ねる。
Beddo de neru.
I sleep in the bed. (Plain)
[!WARNING] The Exceptions Trap! There are a few infamous verbs that look like Group 2 verbs (they end in i-ru or e-ru), but are actually secretly Group 1 verbs! You just have to memorize these. The most common exceptions are:
- かえる (kaeru) - To return home
- はいる (hairu) - To enter
- はしる (hashiru) - To run
- しる (shiru) - To know / To find out
3. Group 3: Irregular Verbs
This is the best group! There are only two irregular verbs in the entire Japanese language. You just have to memorize how they behave.
- する (suru) - To do
- くる (kuru) - To come
べんきょう を する。
Benkyou o suru.
I study. (Lit: I do study).
テニス を する。
Tenisu o suru.
I play tennis. (Lit: I do tennis).
がっこう に くる。
Gakkou ni kuru.
I come to school.
Master Verb List (Dictionary Form)
| Word | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| かく | Kaku | To write | Verb (Group 1) |
| のむ | Nomu | To drink | Verb (Group 1) |
| よむ | Yomu | To read | Verb (Group 1) |
| はなす | Hanasu | To speak | Verb (Group 1) |
| わかる | Wakaru | To understand | Verb (Group 1) |
| かえる | Kaeru | To return home | Verb (Group 1 Ex.) |
| たべる | Taberu | To eat | Verb (Group 2) |
| みる | Miru | To see / watch | Verb (Group 2) |
| ねる | Neru | To sleep | Verb (Group 2) |
| おきる | Okiru | To wake up | Verb (Group 2) |
| する | Suru | To do | Verb (Group 3) |
| くる | Kuru | To come | Verb (Group 3) |
Conversation Practice
きょう、なに を する？
Kyou, nani o suru?
What are you going to do today?
ほん を よむ。たなかさん は？
Hon o yomu. Tanaka-san wa?
I'll read a book. How about you, Tanaka?
わたし は えいが を みる。
Watashi wa eiga o miru.
I will watch a movie.
そう か。あと で ごはん を たべる？
Sou ka. Ato de gohan o taberu?
I see. Will you eat a meal later?
うん、ともだち と いっしょ に たべる！
Un, tomodachi to issho ni taberu!
Yeah, I'll eat together with a friend!
いい ね。わたし も のちほど ピザ を たべる。
Ii ne. Watashi mo nochihodo piza o taberu.
That's nice. I will also eat pizza later.
Chapter Summary
- 1Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups. Finding out which group it belongs to requires looking at its Dictionary Form.
- 2Group 1 (u-verbs): End in u-sound characters (ku, su, mu, gu, etc) or 'ru' preceded by a, u, or o sounds.
- 3Group 2 (ru-verbs): End in ru, preceded by i or e sounds (e.g., mi-ru, tabe-ru).
- 4Group 3 (Irregular): Only two verbs ever: する (suru) and くる (kuru).
- 5Beware of exceptions! Words like かえる (kaeru) and はいる (hairu) look like Group 2 but are secretly Group 1.
Knowledge Check
Test your ability to classify verbs before we learn how to conjugate them!
Quiz
Which verb group does 'のむ' (nomu - to drink) belong to?