4. 2 Basic verb forms - ～dictionary、～ます

There are many ways to conjugate verbs, but here we will focus on two present tense forms: "dictionary form" (also known as "plain form") and " ~masu form" (also known as "polite form")

Note Switching between these two verb forms does not change the meaning of the verb but the dictionary form is more casual.

• The dictionary form gets its name because it is what is found in the dictionary.
• The dictionary form verbs ends in -u and many end in -ru.
• The masu form verbs are so called because they always end in -masu in the present tense.

Examples

Dictionary Form	-Masu Form	Meaning
たべる tabe ru 00:00	たべます tabe masu 00:00	Both mean "to eat"
のむ nom u 00:00	のみます nomi masu 00:00	to drink
はしる hashi ru 00:00	はしります hashiri masu 00:00	to run
する su ru 00:00	します shi masu 00:00	to do (this is one of the 2 irregular verbs)

You will notice some other changes between the two forms. I would recommend learning about the three verb groups here, but for our purposes right now, just memorize a few examples and try to find patterns with other verbs. And remember: Mistake making is memory making! (As long as you correct yourself, of course.)