ますけいと どうしの グループ
The masu-form& verb groups
ますけい is your first polite verb form. It's also the base every later form is built from — so first, learn to sort every verb into one of just three groups.
「ます」の まえを みて。
Look at the kana before “ます”.
The single kana right before “ます” tells you the group. That's the whole trick.
「い」だん と「え」だん
Japanese kana sit in rows by their vowel. You only need two of them here: the い-row(ends in the "i" sound) and the え-row(ends in the "e" sound). 🔊 Tap any kana to hear it.
3つの グループ
Look at the kana right before “ます”. い-row → Group 1. え-row → Group 2. The two irregulars します / きます → Group 3. A handful of い-row verbs are sneaky Group 2 exceptions — those you just memorize.
🔊 Tap any verb to hear it. The colored kana is the one right before “ます” — that's your clue.
ますけいの かつよう
The good news: once a verb is in ますけい, the polite endings are the same for every group. Just swap the “ます” part. 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.
かたち Form | れい Example | いみ Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Non-past (do / will do) ひていじゃない いま・みらい | drink / will drink | |
Negative (don't / won't) ひてい いま・みらい | don't drink | |
Past (did) かこ | drank | |
Past negative (didn't) ひてい かこ | didn't drink |
グループ あてクイズ
Now prove it. Read each verb, find the kana before “ます”, and pick the group. Watch out for the exceptions!
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