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JLPT N5Verb Forms

Dictionary Form— The Plain Base

The plain, uninflected base form of a verb (the form listed in dictionaries). Used in casual speech for present/future actions, and as the required base for many later grammar patterns.

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Pro lessonUNIT 24 · VERB FORMS

Structure · 形

All dictionary-form verbs end in an -u vowel sound: う, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る.

Examples · 例文

  • 明日、アニメを見る。

    Ashita, anime o miru.

    I'll watch anime tomorrow.

    明日 (tomorrow) + アニメを (anime, object) + 見る (watch, dictionary form — no ます, casual)

  • 毎朝コーヒーを飲む。

    Maiasa koohii o nomu.

    I drink coffee every morning.

    飲む (drink, dictionary form) — the plain form states a habit in casual speech

  • 今日は早く寝る。

    Kyou wa hayaku neru.

    I'll go to bed early today.

    寝る (sleep, dictionary form) — the plain form also covers future intentions

Usage notes · 注意

  • Tense architecture: Japanese has no separate 'future tense.' The dictionary form covers BOTH habit (I watch anime) AND future intent (I will watch anime); context supplies the timeline.
  • Register: Dictionary form is plain/casual. For polite speech, switch to the ます form (見ます).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones Dictionary is tested against.

vsDictionary form vs ます form

Same meaning; different politeness. 見る is plain/casual (friends, family); 見ます is polite (strangers, work). The dictionary form is also what attaches to grammar like 〜前に, 〜つもり, 〜こと.

More verb forms

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