Class 3: Verbs & Present Tense
Goal: Learn basic verbs in Japanese and how to conjugate them into the present tense (polite form).
1. Introduction to Verbs
In Japanese, verbs are at the end of the sentence. Today we’ll cover some basic verbs and how to conjugate them in the present tense (polite form).
Common Verbs:
- たべる (taberu) – to eat
- いく (iku) – to go
- みる (miru) – to see/watch
- のむ (nomu) – to drink
- する (suru) – to do
- くる (kuru) – to come
2. Verb Groups
Verbs in Japanese are classified into three groups:
- Group 1 (う-verbs): Verbs ending in u.
- Example: いく (iku) – to go.
- Group 2 (る-verbs): Verbs ending in iru or eru.
- Example: たべる (taberu) – to eat.
- Group 3 (Irregular verbs): Includes する (suru) – to do, and くる (kuru) – to come.
3. Conjugating Verbs in Present Tense (Polite Form)
To conjugate a verb into the polite form, add ます (masu) for the positive present tense and ません (masen) for the negative.
4. Vocabulary: Daily Routine Verbs
Learn some useful daily routine verbs:
- おきる (okiru) – to wake up
- ねる (neru) – to sleep
- はたらく (hataraku) – to work
- べんきょうする (benkyou suru) – to study
- あそぶ (asobu) – to play
5. Kanji (5 More Kanji)
Here are 5 new kanji to learn, related to verbs and daily activities:
6. Sentence Practice
Practice using verbs in sentences with the polite form:
- わたしはパンをたべます。 (Watashi wa pan wo tabemasu.) – I eat bread.
- かれはがっこうにいきます。 (Kare wa gakkou ni ikimasu.) – He goes to school.
- あなたはコーヒーをのみませんか？ (Anata wa koohii wo nomimasen ka?) – Don’t you drink coffee?
7. Listening Practice
Listen to short dialogues about daily activities. Try to identify the verbs and their conjugations.
8. Homework
- Write 5 sentences using verbs in the present tense (positive and negative).
- Memorize the 5 new kanji (月, 火, 水, 木, 金).
- Review the daily routine verbs.
Next time, we’ll cover adjectives and how to describe people, places, and objects. Let me know if you need any clarification!
