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In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Japanese grammar Verb Dictionary form ＜動詞辞書形（どうし じしょけい)＞.
What is Verb Dictionary Form ?
The verb conjugated with "ます" is called "ます-form（ます形）."
The dictionary form（辞書形・じしょけい）is the form that appears in dictionaries.
Today we are going to study how to change verbs from the ます-form（ます形）" to the "dictionary form（辞書形）".
⚠ Before studying dictionary form（辞書形）, please review verb groups if you have forgotten them.
💁 Explanation of Verb Groups ↓↓
＜Group Ⅰ (Ⅰグループ)＞
Group 1: "-i-masu" changes to "-u".
Remove "ます" and change the letter in the "い-column" before ます to the "う-column".
e.g. 行きます（いきます）⇒ 行く（いく）
読みます（よみます）⇒ 読む（よむ）
買います（かいます）⇒ 買う（かう）
話します（はなします）⇒ 話す（はなす）
遊びます（あそびます）⇒ 遊ぶ（あそぶ）
＜Group Ⅱ (Ⅱグループ)＞
Group 2: Change "ます" to "る".
Remove "ます" and add "る".
e.g. 食べます（たべます）⇒ 食べる（たべる）
寝ます（ねます）⇒ 寝る（ねる）
見ます（みます）⇒ 見る（みる）
借ります（かります）⇒ 借りる（かりる）
＜Group Ⅲ (Ⅲグループ)＞
Group 3 verbs are "来る（くる）" and "する".
"来ます" becomes "来る" and "します" becomes "する".
e.g. 勉強します（べんきょうします）⇒ 勉強する（べんきょうする）
掃除します（そうじします）⇒ 掃除する（そうじする）
Suggested Study Material
Minna no Nihongo I (Main Textbook)
This grammar point appears in Minna no Nihongo(Lesson16), one of the most widely used beginner textbooks for Japanese learners.
Check textbook detailsThe main textbook is written mostly in Japanese, so many learners also use the Translation & Grammar Notes together.
Minna no Nihongo I – Translation & Grammar Notes (English)
Check translation & grammar book※Minna no Nihongo is available worldwide on Amazon. If the link does not work in your country, you can search the title on your local Amazon store.
Speaking Practice
Practice Japanese on italki
If you want to practice this grammar in real conversation, learning with a tutor can help you improve faster. Many learners find that regular speaking practice is the fastest way to become confident in Japanese.
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