N3Chapter 41Unit 1 · Intermediate Foundations

Reviewing Verb Forms (動詞の活用)

Learning objectives

  • Recognize the dictionary, ます, て, た, and ない forms in longer sentences.
  • Rebuild potential and volitional forms from the dictionary form.
  • Recognize imperative and prohibition forms and their strength of tone.
  • Use a form's final verb to identify the role it plays in a sentence.
N3 context

N3 grammar combines forms you already know. Before learning longer patterns, make the basic forms automatic: find the final verb, identify its form, then ask what that form contributes—statement, connection, past event, negation, ability, intention, command, or prohibition. This chapter is a fast, practical reset rather than a first introduction.

1. Form recognition starts with the dictionary form

The dictionary form (辞書形) is the plain non-past affirmative form used in dictionaries: 読む, 食べる, する, 来る. It can describe a future or habitual action, and it is the base used to build many N3 patterns.

Vocabulary語彙
6 terms

  • 活用

    noun

    かつよう

    katsuyou

    conjugation; change of a word's form

  • 辞書形

    noun

    じしょけい

    jishokei

    dictionary form

  • 可能形

    noun

    かのうけい

    kanoukei

    potential form

  • 意志形

    noun

    いしけい

    ishikei

    volitional form

  • 禁止

    noun

    きんし

    kinshi

    prohibition

  • 間に合う

    verb

    まにあう

    maniau

    to be in time; make it

Conjugation活用

読む (yomu, Group 1) — key forms at a glance

FormJapaneseMeaning
Dictionary読むyomuread; will read
Polite読みますyomimasuread (polite)
て-form読んでyonderead and…; please read
Past読んだyondaread (plain past)
Negative読まないyomanaido not read
Potential読めるyomerucan read
Volitional読もうyomoulet's read; I will read
Imperative読めyomeread! (strong command)

For Group 1 verbs, the final u-sound changes to e-sound + る for the potential form, and to o-sound + う for the volitional form.

毎朝、ニュースを読んでから仕事を始めます。

maiasa, nyuusu o yonde kara shigoto o hajimemasu.

Every morning, I read the news and then start work.

読んで connects the first action to the next one.

2. The five forms that hold a sentence together

Grammar文法
Dictionary / ます / て / た / ない

means Core forms for non-past actions, politeness, connection, past events, and negation.

Formation

Use the verb group to conjugate from the dictionary form.

Examples

時間があれば、参加する。

jikan ga areba, sanka suru.

If I have time, I will participate. (dictionary form)

資料を確認します。

shiryou o kakunin shimasu.

I will check the documents. (polite form)

駅に着いて、友達に電話した。

eki ni tsuite, tomodachi ni denwa shita.

I arrived at the station and called my friend. (て-form)

昨日見た映画は感動的だった。

kinou mita eiga wa kandouteki datta.

The film I watched yesterday was moving. (た-form before a noun)

まだ返事が来ない。

mada henji ga konai.

A reply has not come yet. (ない form)

The same form can appear inside a longer structure. In 昨日見た映画 (the film I watched yesterday), 見た is not the sentence’s final action; it modifies 映画. Locate the final predicate first, then trace the earlier forms.

Do not treat every て-form as “and”

〜て can connect actions, give a reason, make a request, or form a larger pattern such as 〜ている and 〜てしまう. Read what follows before translating it.

3. Ability and intention: potential and volitional forms

Grammar文法
Potential form: V-える / V-られる / できる

means Can do; be able to do.

Formation

Group 1: 書く → 書ける. Group 2: 食べる → 食べられる. する → できる. 来る → 来られる.

Examples

この漢字は読めますか。

kono kanji wa yomemasu ka.

Can you read this kanji?

ここから海が見られます。

koko kara umi ga miraremasu.

You can see the sea from here.

明日は参加できないかもしれません。

ashita wa sanka dekinai kamoshiremasen.

I might not be able to participate tomorrow.
Grammar文法
Volitional form: V-よう / V-おう

means Let's…; I will…; an intention to act.

Formation

Group 1: 行く → 行こう. Group 2: 食べる → 食べよう. する → しよう. 来る → 来よう.

Examples

週末に復習しよう。

shuumatsu ni fukushuu shiyou.

Let's review at the weekend.

もう一度説明を聞こうと思う。

mou ichido setsumei o kikou to omou.

I think I will listen to the explanation once more.

早めに出発しようか。

hayame ni shuppatsu shiyou ka.

Shall we leave a little early?

Potential particle note: with a potential verb, が often marks what is possible: 日本語が話せる. In everyday Japanese, を is also common with some verbs, especially 読む and 話す; learn the whole expression rather than forcing one rule everywhere.

4. Imperatives and prohibitions: recognize the tone

The plain imperative (急げ, 待て, 食べろ) is forceful. You may encounter it in sports, emergencies, fiction, instructions, or close relationships, but it is usually inappropriate in polite conversation.

Grammar文法
V-るな / V-てはいけない

means Don't do… / must not do…

Formation

Dictionary form + な is a strong prohibition. て-form + はいけない is less abrupt and common in rules.

Examples

ここに入るな。

koko ni hairu na.

Do not enter here. (strong sign or command)

試験中にスマホを使ってはいけません。

shikenchuu ni sumaho o tsukatte wa ikemasen.

You must not use a smartphone during the exam.

あきらめるな。

akirameru na.

Don't give up. (encouraging but strong)

For a polite request, choose 〜てください or a softer request such as 〜てもらえますか, not an imperative.

5. Context dialogue: before the presentation

Preparing for a presentation会話
Mika

明日の発表、もう練習した？

ashita no happyou, mou renshuu shita?

Have you practised for tomorrow's presentation yet?

Ren

まだ全部はできていないけど、今夜もう一度読んでみる。

mada zenbu wa dekite inai kedo, konya mou ichido yonde miru.

I have not done all of it yet, but I will try reading it once more tonight.

Mika

分からない言葉があったら、調べられるように辞書を持っていこう。

wakaranai kotoba ga attara, shiraberareru you ni jisho o motte ikou.

Let's bring a dictionary so we can look up any words we do not understand.

Ren

そうしよう。焦らないで、ゆっくり話せば大丈夫だよ。

sou shiyou. aseranaide, yukkuri hanaseba daijoubu da yo.

Let's do that. If you do not rush and speak slowly, you will be fine.

6. Guided practice

  1. Change 書く into the potential form.
  2. Choose the best form: 昨日（見る）ドラマは面白かった。
  3. Change 食べる into the volitional form.
  4. Turn ここで写真を撮る into a clear rule: “You must not take photographs here.”
Check your answers
  1. 書ける
  2. 見た — a plain past form modifies ドラマ.
  3. 食べよう
  4. ここで写真を撮ってはいけません。

7. Reading practice: a note from a study group

来週から、図書館でN3の勉強会を始めます。毎週土曜日の午後二時に集まって、短い記事を読んだり、文法を復習したりします。参加したい人は、金曜日までに名前を書いてください。難しい問題があっても、すぐにあきらめないで、一緒に考えましょう。

Reading check: Which forms express (1) the group’s plan, (2) activities that will happen at the meeting, and (3) the request to participants? Identify them before reading the translation.

Translation: “Starting next week, we will hold an N3 study group at the library. We will meet at 2 p.m. every Saturday, read short articles, and review grammar. If you want to join, please write your name by Friday. Even if there is a difficult problem, do not give up immediately; let’s think about it together.”

8. Communication and flashcard review

Speak or write: describe a study plan using one volitional form, one potential form, and one negative form. For example: “This week, I will…, so that I can…; I will not….”

Review flashcards: 辞書形 → role and example; 可能形 → how to form it; 意志形 → invitation vs personal intention; 〜るな → tone and safer alternatives.

Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1The dictionary form is the anchor for recognizing and building other forms.
  • 2The て-form has several jobs, so interpret it with the words that follow.
  • 3Plain past forms often modify a noun: 昨日見た映画.
  • 4Potential forms express ability or possibility; volitional forms express an invitation or intention.
  • 5Imperatives and dictionary form + な are strong; use polite request forms in normal conversation.

Knowledge Check

Practice quiz
1 / 6

Which is the potential form of 書く?