The ren'youkei + ます (masu) is the neutral polite form. This auxiliary
verb can only be combined with verbs, not with verbal adjectives.
Verbal adjectives are made polite by adding です (desu) to the rentaikei
conjugation.
The ren'youkei + ます (masu) is conjugated to create the past tense,
the subjunctive form, and the negative form. This form can normally
only be used for the main (or closing) verb. The only occasion where
the ren'youkei + ます (masu) is as the main verb of the coordinate
clause, or as the main verb of the quoted sentence in direct speech.
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明日、します。 (Ashita, shimasu.)
I'm going to buy it tomorrow.
日本に行きますか。 (Nihon ni ikimasu
ka.)
Are you going to Japan? |
| |
The past
tense is constructed by adding た (ta) to the ren'youkei conjugation
of ます (masu).
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もうやりました。 (Mou yarimashita.)
I've already done it. |
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The subjunctive
form of ます (masu) is irregular. It is constructed as ましょう (mashou).
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始めましょう。 (Hajimemashou.)
Let's begin. |
| |
The negative
form is of ます (masu) is a leftover from Classical Japanese when
the negative verb ぬ (nu) was added to the izenkei conjugation. The
negative form is therefore ません (masen). To put the negative form
in the past tense でした (deshita) is added after ません (masen).
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ガソリンスタンドで灯油を売りませんね。 (Gasorinsutando de
touyu wo urimasen ne.)
They don't sell kerosine at gasstations, do they?
分かりませんでした。 (Wakarimasen deshita.)
I didn't understand. |
| |
Related pages:
Negative
forms
Polite forms
Subjunctive
forms
Tenses |
