Japanese verbs conjugation-past tense

There are three groups for Japanese verb conjugation.

In this article, I will teach you plain form and polite form past tense in each groups.

If you don’t know three groups, please read this article first.

Japanese verb conjugation rule with chart

Polite form

There are two types of expressions in Japanese, polite form and plain form.

Polite form is more polite than plain form, so it’s better to use polite form for older people.

Group 1

Group 1 is verb ending with a “u” sound.

When you change to past tense, you change u into i sound and add ました(mashita).

For example,

か（kaku）→かき(kaki)→かきました(kakimashita)

かう(kau)→かい(kai)→かいました(kaimashita)

Group 2

Group 2 is easier than group 1.

You take る and add ました。

みる→み→みました。

たべる→たべ→たべました。

Group 3

These are irregular verbs, so you will need to remember them.

する, which means do, becomes しました.

くる, which means come, becomes きました.

Polite form chart

Plain form

We call plain form past tense ”ta form” as well because verbs end with た(ta).

Group 1

The conjugation is the same as “te form”.

te changes ta.

If you don’t know “te form”, please read this article first.

Learning Japanese Conjugation te Form

For example,

かう→かいます→か→かって→かった

よぶ→よびます→よ→よんで→よんだ

およぐ→およぎます→およ→およいで→およいだ

Group 2

Group 2 is easier.

You take る and add た。

みる→み→みた

たべる→たべ→たべた

Group 3

Group 3 is irregular verbs.

する→した

くる→きた

Plain form chart

れんしゅう

You can print it out and fill out.

If you have questions, please comment below.

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