JLPT N5 Class 5: Past Tense Verb Conjugation

Class 5: Past Tense Verb Conjugation

Goal: Learn how to conjugate Japanese verbs into the past tense (polite form) and practice using past tense in sentences.

1. Past Tense in Japanese

In Japanese, to express actions that happened in the past, verbs are conjugated to the past tense polite form. Like in the present tense, there are two forms: positive and negative.

2. Conjugating Verbs to Past Tense

The past tense forms of verbs depend on their group:

Group 1 Verbs (う-verbs):

Replace ます (masu) with ました (mashita) for the positive past tense.
Replace ません (masen) with ませんでした (masen deshita) for the negative past tense.

Group 2 Verbs (る-verbs):

Replace ます (masu) with ました (mashita) for the positive past tense.
Replace ません (masen) with ませんでした (masen deshita) for the negative past tense.

Group 3 Verbs (Irregular verbs):

する (suru) and くる (kuru) conjugate irregularly in the past tense.

3. Examples of Past Tense Sentences

Let's see how these forms are used in sentences:

わたしはパンをたべました。 (Watashi wa pan wo tabemashita.) – I ate bread.
かれはみずをのみませんでした。 (Kare wa mizu wo nomimasen deshita.) – He didn’t drink water.
きのうがっこうにいきました。 (Kinou gakkou ni ikimashita.) – I went to school yesterday.

4. Time Words to Use with the Past Tense

Here are some useful time expressions to indicate past actions:

Example:

せんしゅう、わたしはほんをよみました。 (Senshuu, watashi wa hon wo yomimashita.) – I read a book last week.

5. Vocabulary: Past Activities

Here are some useful verbs in past tense sentences:

6. Kanji (5 More Kanji)

Here are 5 new kanji related to past actions and time:

7. Sentence Practice

Practice making sentences in the past tense:

わたしはきょねんにほんへいきました。 (Watashi wa kyonen Nihon e ikimashita.) – I went to Japan last year.
きのう、コーヒーをのみませんでした。 (Kinou, koohii wo nomimasen deshita.) – I didn’t drink coffee yesterday.