Greetings, 皆さん‼
Whether you are starting out or studying for JLPT, mastering verb conjugation especially the Ichidan Verbs is crucial for acing Japanese and Ichidan verbs essential to your Japanese grammar journey.
What are Ichidan Verbs?
Imagine a smooth, one-level path. That’s the essence of Ichidan verbs (一段動詞, Ichidan dōshi). Unlike their Godan verb counterparts, Ichidan verbs require only one conjugation pattern regardless of tense or mood. They all conveniently end in the hiragana character る (ru) in their dictionary form (exceptions: する (suru) and くる (kuru), which are Godan verbs).
Identifying Ichidan Verbs:
Spotting these verbs is a breeze! Look for verbs that end in る (ru) in their dictionary form, with the exceptions mentioned above. Here are some examples:
- 見る (miru) – to see
- 話す (hanasu) – to speak
- 食べる (taberu) – to eat (yes, taberu is Ichidan!)
- 開ける (akeru) – to open
- 勉強する (benkyou suru) – to study (remember, suru itself is Godan)
Conjugating Ichidan Verbs:
The beauty of Ichidan verbs lies in their predictability. Here’s the magic formula:
- Verb stem + conjugation suffix
The verb stem is the part of the verb without the る (ru) ending. Here’s a breakdown of some common conjugations you’ll encounter in the JLPT exam:
- Present (Positive): Verb stem + る (ru)
- 見る (miru) + る (ru) = 見る (miru) – I see, I watch
- 話す (hanasu) + る (ru) = 話す (hanasu) – I speak, I talk
- Past (Plain): Verb stem + た (ta) (Note: This follows the Godan verb pattern)
- 見る (miru) + た (ta) = 見た (mita) – I saw, I watched
- 話す (hanasu) + た (ta) = 話した (hanashita) – I spoke, I talked
- Negative: Verb stem + ない (nai)
- 見る (miru) + ない (nai) = 見ない (minai) – I don’t see, I won’t see
- 話す (hanasu) + ない (nai) = 話さない (hanasanai) – I don’t speak, I won’t speak
- Te-form (present/past): Verb stem + て (te)
- 見る (miru) + て (te) = 見て (mite) – seeing, having seen
- 話す (hanasu) + て (te) = 話して (hanashite) – speaking, having spoken
Tips for JLPT Success:
- Master the conjugation suffixes: Focus on memorizing the suffixes for different tenses and moods (e.g., -ましょう (mashou) for suggestion, -ません (masen) for negative polite).
- Practice with sample sentences: Create sentences using Ichidan verbs in various conjugations. This reinforces their usage in context and prepares you for the JLPT format.
- JLPT Resources: Utilize JLPT practice tests and resources that specifically focus on Ichidan verb conjugations.
Remember: Consistency is key! Regularly practice using Ichidan verbs in different contexts to solidify your understanding and conquer the JLPT verb section with confidence.
頑張ってください！(Ganbatte kudasai!) – Good luck with your Japanese Learning