N5Chapter 12

Verb Groups & Dictionary Form

Learning objectives

  • Understand what the 'Dictionary Form' of a verb is.
  • Classify verbs into Group 1 (u-verbs), Group 2 (ru-verbs), or Group 3 (Irregular).
  • Identify exceptions to the classification rules.
  • Explore the concept of 'Ma' in Japanese language and rhythm.
N5 context

In English, to know how to conjugate a verb, you only need to know it’s a verb (e.g., eat ➔ eating, ate, eaten). But in Japanese, knowing it’s a verb isn’t enough! Every single Japanese verb belongs to one of Three Groups. The group a verb belongs to determines exactly how it will conjugate for tense, politeness, and every other grammar rule you will ever learn.

You already used these groups to build the polite ます-form in Chapter 10. Here we formalize how to tell them apart, working from the Dictionary Form: the plain, unconjugated, casual form of the verb — the form you would look up in a dictionary. Master this and every later conjugation (て-form, potential, passive, causative…) falls into place. Let’s learn the groups!

Anime pixel-art illustration of Japanese dictionary-form verb cards sorted into three verb groups.

1. Group 1: The u-verbs (Godan Verbs)

Group 1 is the largest verb group. To identify a Group 1 verb, look at its Dictionary Form ending. If it ends in any Hiragana character from the “u” row (other than る), it is 100% guaranteed to be a Group 1 verb!

Common Endings:

  • 〜く (ku): かく (to write)
  • 〜す (su): はなす (to speak)
  • 〜つ (tsu): まつ (to wait)
  • 〜む (mu): のむ (to drink)
  • 〜う (u): かう (to buy)

The Catch: Some Group 1 verbs do end in る (ru). If the sound right before the る is an “a”, “u”, or “o” sound, it is a Group 1 verb.

  • わかる (wakaru) [to understand]
  • つくる (tsukuru) [to make]
Grammar文法
[Verb] (Ends in 'u' sound)

means Dictionary Form of Group 1 verbs.

Formation

The base form found in dictionaries.

Examples

みず を のむ。

Mizu o nomu.

I drink water. (Plain)

てがみ を かく。

Tegami o kaku.

I write a letter. (Plain)

くるま に のる。

Kuruma ni noru.

I ride in a car. (Plain)

としょかん で ほん を よむ。

Toshokan de hon o yomu.

I read a book at the library.

あした、 かいもの に いく。

Ashita, kaimono ni iku.

Tomorrow, I'll go shopping.

おんがく を きく。

Ongaku o kiku.

I listen to music.

2. Group 2: The ru-verbs (Ichidan Verbs)

Group 2 verbs are the easiest verbs to conjugate. They always end in る (ru). To identify a Group 2 verb, look at the sound right before the る. If it is an “i” sound or an “e” sound, then most of the time, it is a Group 2 verb!

  • “i” sound + る: みる (mi-ru), おきる (oki-ru)
  • “e” sound + る: たべる (tabe-ru), ねる (ne-ru)
Grammar文法
[i/e sound] ＋ る

means Dictionary Form of Group 2 verbs.

Formation

Roots ending in 'i' or 'e' sounds + る.

Examples

リンゴ を たべる。

Ringo o taberu.

I eat an apple. (Plain)

テレビ を みる。

Terebi o miru.

I watch TV. (Plain)

ベッド で ねる。

Beddo de neru.

I sleep in the bed. (Plain)

あさ、 しちじ に おきる。

Asa, shichi-ji ni okiru.

I wake up at 7:00 in the morning.

えいが を みる。

Eiga o miru.

I watch a movie.

ごはん を たべる。

Gohan o taberu.

I eat a meal.

[!WARNING] The Exceptions Trap! Some verbs look like Group 2 (end in i-ru or e-ru) but are secretly Group 1!

  • かえる (kaeru) - To return home
  • はいる (hairu) - To enter
  • はしる (hashiru) - To run

3. Group 3: Irregular Verbs

There are only two irregular verbs in the entire Japanese language.

  1. する (suru) - To do
  2. くる (kuru) - To come
Grammar文法
する ／ くる

means The two irregular verbs in Japanese.

Formation

Memorize these two separately.

Examples

べんきょう を する。

Benkyou o suru.

I study.

テニス を する。

Tenisu o suru.

I play tennis.

あした くる。

Ashita kuru.

I will come tomorrow.

かいもの を する。

Kaimono o suru.

I do shopping.

ここに くる。

Koko ni kuru.

I come here.

さんぽ を する。

Sanpo o suru.

I take a walk.

4. Cultural Note: The Concept of ‘Ma’ (間)

In Japanese culture, Ma (間) refers to the “space,” “interval,” or “pause” between things. This concept is vital in everything from architecture and gardens to the Japanese language itself.

  • In Language: ‘Ma’ is the silence between words or the pause before a verb. It allows the listener to process information and adds weight to what is said.
  • In Rhythm: Japanese verbs often dictate the rhythm of a sentence. Understanding the group helps you maintain the correct ‘Ma’ during conjugation.
  • In Art: A minimalist Japanese painting uses empty space (Ma) to highlight the subject. Similarly, a well-timed pause in conversation is seen as a sign of intelligence and respect.

Conversation Practice

Anime pixel-art illustration of friends planning weekend activities with dictionary-form verb cards for よむ, みる, する, たべる, and おきる.
Weekend Plans (Plain Style)会話
Tanaka

あした、 なに を する？

Ashita, nani o suru?

What are you going to do tomorrow?

Smith

ほん を よむ。 たなかさん は？

Hon o yomu. Tanaka-san wa?

I'll read a book. How about you, Tanaka?

Tanaka

わたし は えいが を みる。 それから、 かいもの を する。

Watashi wa eiga o miru. Sorekara, kaimono o suru.

I will watch a movie. And then, I'll do some shopping.

Smith

いい ね。 いっしょ に たべる？

Ii ne. Issho ni taberu?

That's nice. Want to eat together?
Daily Routine会話
Ken

毎日、 なんじ に おきる？

Mainichi, nanji ni okiru?

What time do you wake up every day?

Yumi

ろくじ に おきる。 それから、 はしる。

Rokuji ni okiru. Sorekara, hashiru.

I wake up at 6:00. And then, I run.

Ken

すごい ね。 わたし は しちじ に おきる。

Sugoi ne. Watashi wa shichiji ni okiru.

That's impressive. I wake up at 7:00.

Yumi

よる は いつ ねる？

Yoru wa itsu neru?

When do you go to sleep at night?

Chapter Summary

Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1Japanese verbs are classified into three groups: Group 1 (u-verbs), Group 2 (ru-verbs), and Group 3 (Irregular).
  • 2The Dictionary Form is the plain, 'root' form of a verb.
  • 3Group 1 verbs end in any 'u' sound (ku, su, mu, etc.) or 'ru' preceded by a/u/o.
  • 4Group 2 verbs end in 'ru' preceded by i/e sounds.
  • 5Group 3 consists only of する (to do) and くる (to come).
  • 6The concept of 'Ma' emphasizes the importance of pauses and space in communication.

Knowledge Check

Test your ability to classify verbs!

Practice quiz
1 / 15

Which verb group does 'のむ' (to drink) belong to?

Applied review

Use what you learned

Focus: Dictionary form and verb groups. Try the task before revealing the model.

Guided practice練習

Produce the Japanese sentence, then compare it with the model answer.

  1. 1.Give the dictionary forms of 行きます, 食べます, and します.

Reading practice読解

Dictionary form and verb groups in context

N5 mini-reading

Target: 1 minute
休みの日は、音楽を 聞くことと、本を 読むことが 好きです。
  1. Name the speaker’s two preferred activities.