Adjective Classes
i adjective ends in i (not i row, just i). Joins directly to nouns (ie atarashi kuruma)
na adjective everything else (including some that end in i, like kirei). Needs na to join with nouns (ie shizuka na machi)
Adjective Conjugation
Masu form
i adj i desu, ku arimasen (or ku nai desu), katta desu, ku arimasen deshita
(ie isogashii desu, isogashiku arimasen, isogashikatta desu, isogashiku arimasen deshita)
na adj desu, ja arimasen (or ja nai desu), deshita, ja arimasen deshita
(ie suki desu, suki ja arimasen, suki deshita, suki ja arimasen deshita)
Plain form
i adj i, kunai, katta, kunakatta
(ie isogashii, isogashikunai, isogashikatta, isogashikunakatta)
na adj da, ja nai (de nai), datta, ja nakatta (dewa nakatta)
(ie suki da, suki ja nai, suki datta, suki ja nakatta)
Te form
i adj drop i, replace with ku te
na adj add de
Conjunctive form
i adj drop i
na adj don't use na
Adverbial form
(turn adjective into adverb)
i adj drop i, replace with ku. (ie yasui -> yasuku. cheap->cheaply)
na adj drop na, replace with ni (ie shizuka na -> shizuka ni. quiet -> quietly).
Verb Classes
Class 1 everything else (including some that seem like they should be class 2, like kaeru)
Class 2 last character is ru, second to last character is from the i or e row
Class 3 irregular, suru and kuru
Verb Conjugation
Masu form masu, masen, mashita, masendeshita
Class 1 final character u row->i row + masu (ie kaku->kakimasu)
Class 2 drop ru replace with masu (ie miru->mimasu)
Class 3 suru->shimasu, kuru->kimasu
"conjunctive form" (aka "pre-masu form") is this form without the masu.
Class 1 negatives u row->a row + nai or nakatta (ie kakanai, kakanakatta)
Class 1 past last syllable change to
u tsu ru tta (ie kau->katta, matsu->matta, wakaru->wakatta)
mu bu nu nda (ie yomu->yonda, yobu->yonda, shinu->shinda)
su shita (ie hanasu->hanashita)
ku ita (ie kaku->kaita)
gu ida (ie oyogu->oyoida)
Class 2 drop ru replace with nai, ta, or nakatta
Class 3 suru, shinai, shita, shinakatta; kuru, kinai, kita, kinakatta
Te form (used for a number of things)
just do plain past and change the final ta to te (or da to de). Miru->mite
Negative Te form 1
make plain non-past negative (ends in nai). Treat as i-adjective (change i to ku, add te). Miru->minakute
Negative Te form 2
make plain non-past negative (ends in nai). Add de. Miru->minaide
Potential form (to be able to do)
Class 1 u row->e row + ru then conjugate as if it's Class 2 (ie hanasu->hanaseru, hanaseta)
Class 2 change ru to rareru then conjugate as if it's Class 2 (ie miru->mirareru, mirareta)
Class 3 suru->dekiru, kuru->korareru
Alternately, you can show the ability to do something with the construction
Plain form + koto ga dekiru (ie hanasu koto ga dekimasu)
Volitional form (to intend to do something)
Class 1 u row->o row + u + to omou (ie kaku->kakou to omoimasu)
Class 2 ru -> you + to omou (ie miru->miyou to omoimasu)
Class 3 suru->shiyou to omou, kuru->koyou to omou
Alternately, you can show you intend to do something with the construction
Plain form + tsumori desu
Causative form (to make/allow someone to do something)
Class 1 u row->a row + seru (ie kaku->kakaseru)
Class 2 ru -> saseru (ie taberu->tabesaseru)
Class 3 suru->saseru, kuru->kosaseru
Causative forms conjugate like a class 2 verb. (ie kakasasenai, kakasaseta, etc)
Passive voice
Class 1 u row->a row + reru (ie kaku->kakareru) (if end in u make wa)
Class 2 ru -> rareru (taberu->taberareru)
Class 3 suru->sareru, kuru->korareru
Conjuate like it's Class 2 (ie kakareta).
N1 wa N2 ni (kara, niyotte) passive verb. N1 was V-ed by N2. (ie Tanakasan wa Mimurasan ni sasowareta. Tanaka was invited by Mimura.) Use kara instead of ni if N2 is a source (something is coming from N2). Use niyotte instead of ni if N2 is a medium through which something is done, or to put extra emphasis on N2 ("This painting was painted by Picasso"). Generally, it's safest to just stick with ni.
Blunt Command form
This is very blunt. Maybe a parent would say this to a misbehaving child. Adults generally wouldn't. Also, it's only good for positive commands. Can't say not to do something with this form.
Class 1 u row -> e row (ie hanasu->hanase. Speak, you worthless piece of meat!)
Class 2 ru -> ro (ie okiru->okiro. Get up, you lazy good for nothing!)
Class 3 suru->shiro, kuru->koi
The one place where you're allowed to use this form is with "ganbare" (keep at it). Do that at a sporting event when you're cheering someone on.
Conditionals
Tara plain past form + ra
Suggestions, how about if you did? Plain past verb + ra + doudesuka. (ie Tanakasan ni hanashitemitara doudesuka? How about if you try talking with Tanakasan?)
Requests, suggestions, volition, prohibition. Tara clause + main clause. (ie Atarashi kuruma o kattara, misetekudasai. If (when) you buy a new car, please show it to me.)
If, when, after. Tara clause + main clause. To emphasize "if" over "when" start sentence with moshimo or moshi. (ie Moshimo ame ga futtara, pikunikku wa arimasen. If it rains there will be no picnic.)
Wish, regret, suggestion. Tara ii. (ie Ashita haretara ii desu ne. It will be good if its clear weather tomorrow.)
Hypothetical statements tara clause + main clause in past tense + to omou. (ie Motto okane ga attara, nihon e itta to omoimasu. I've I'd had more money, I would have gone to Japan.)
"When" for past events and actions (if main clause is past, tara clause means "when"). There's a sense of the action being unexpected. (ie Uchi ni kaettara, dare mo imasendeshita. When I went home, no one was there.)
To Plain nonpast (affrim or neg) + to
Factual statements that are true for everyone or true every time for someone. Whenever, when, if, as if. (ie Haru ni naru to atatakakunarimasu. When it becomes spring, it becomes warm. Osake wo nomu to kao ga akakunarimasu. Whenever I drink Sake, my face becomes red.)
Logical cause and effect relationships. Inevitable, natural, habitual consequence of an action. Whenever. (ie Benkyoshina to tesuto ga dekimasen. If you don't study, you won't be able to do the test.)
"I hope" ~to ii desu ne. (ie motto suzushikunaru to ii desu ne. I hope it becomes cooler (it would be good if it became cooler, wouldn't it?)).
to conditional + main clause with past ending. When (the event was unexpected). (ie eki ni iku to tomodachi ni aimashita. When I went to the train station I bumped into my friend.)
Special Constructions
n desu plain form + n desu Use this if you're giving an excuse, or you want to more involve the speaker. (ie shitsumon ga arun desu.) Also no desu. Plain is n da or no da.
mono da plain form + mono da (desu). Colloquial, shows a speakers strong emotional involvement with an event. Can be an excuse. Can be the additon of emotional intensity (usually conveyed with tone of voice in English). Can be "because" if used as an excuse. If used with a past tense verb, can be reminiscing. In extremely colloquial speech, "mono da" becomes "mon da."
I think plain form + to omou (omoimasu)
probably plain form + deshou
might plain form + kamoshiremasen
let's conjunctive form + mashou
I choose to do conjunctive form + mashou
Only, nothing but noun + bakari (ie koohii bakari nomu no wa warui desu. Drinking nothing but coffee is bad.)
Do only, nothing but te form + bakari (ie koohii wo nonde bakari wa warui desu. Only drinking coffee is bad.)
Not only A, but also B A dake de naku, B mo (ie Sumisu-san wa, nihongo dake de naku chugokugo mo hanasemasu. Smith can speak not only Japanese, but also Chinese.)
No wonder, so that's why S1, S2 plain form (or noun + to iu) wake desu (ie Mai nichi benkyoshiteimasu, jyouzu na wake desu. He studies every day, no wonder he's so good.)
In other words, to sum up plain form + to iu wake desu. (ie Tanakasan wa kubi ni natta to iu wake desu. In other words, Tanakasan was fired.)
change in state ni naru.
noun + ni naru.
na adj + ni naru. (no na)
i adj, drop i replace with ku + naru.
gradual change in state plain form verb + you ni naru
Unlike ni naru, which is a single occasion, this is the beginning of a new ability or habit, or a change that takes place gradually.
requests
for in group te form + kudasai, kuremasuka, kuremasenka
for out group te form + kudasaimasuka, kudasaimasenka, itadakemasuka, itadakemasenka
negative requests (please don't do)
negative te form 2 + one of the following: kure, (nothing), kudasai, kudasaimasenka. (ie Koko de tobako wo suwanaide kudasai. Please don't smoke here.)
"without doing" (ie Eigo wo tsukawanaide, hanashite kudasai. Please speak without using english.) If the following clause expresses emotions, judgements, or reasons, can use negative te form 1 (nakute) instead. (ie Sensei to hanasanakute, iin desu ka? Would it be good to not speak with the teacher?)
"without doing things like" tari shinai de (ie Tonari no hito no cotae wo mitari shinaide kudasai. Please don't do things like look at your neighbor's answers.)
continuing action, state of being te form + iru (ie someone is drinking right now = nondeimasu)
have the experience of doing
do have plain past affirmative + koto ga aru (arimasu)
don't have plain past affirmative + koto ga nai (arimasen)
there are times when plain nonpast + koto ga aru
desire for objects hoshii
1st person Watashi wa atarashi kuruma ga hoshii desu.
Direct question Tanaka-san wa atarashi kuruma ga hoshii desu ka? (talking to Tanaka)
3rd person Tanaka-san wa atarashi kuruma wo hoshigatteiru to omoimasu.
Indirect question Tanaka-san wa atarashi kuruma wo hoshigatteimasu ka? (asking someone else)
In 3rd person hoshigaru is habitual desire, hoshigatteiru is what you want right now.
desire to do something
1st person, direct question ...
ni-chan