Lesson 9: (Verb Classes)

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Lesson 9:  (Verb Classes)

 

There are 3 Classes of Verbs in Japanese and a few irregularities.  The three classes of Verbs are labeled Class I, Class II, Class III.  For now, we’ll just focus on Class II Verbs.

 

As we proceed, please refer to the Japanese Alphabet Chart below from Lesson 3.

 

       *** Note:  ALL VERBS in Japanese have an ending from the ‘u’ column (including ‘u’ itself). J

 

          Japanese Alphabet Chart:      

                                                              a     i     u    e   o                        a    i    u      e     o       

                                   

                                                             ka   ki   ku  ke ko                      ga  gi  gu   ge    go

                                   

                                                             sa  shi  su  se  so                     za   ji   zu    ze   zo

                                   

                                                             ta  tchi tsu  te  to                      da  dji dzu  de  do

                                   

                                                             na  ni   nu  ne  no

                                   

                                                             ha  hi   fu   he  ho                      pa  pi   pu   pe  po

                                                                                                                 ba  bi   bu   be  bo

                                                            ma mi  mu me mo

 

                                                            ya         yu       yo

 

                                                            ra   ri    ru   re  ro

                                                           

                                                            wa                    wo

 

                                                                                                   n

 

The Dictionary Form of Verbs have an ending from the ‘u’ column (including ‘u’ itself).

Example-  taberu  (to eat)                           

Example- kau        (to buy)                           

             Example- nomu    (to sleep)                       

 

                Class II (Identification)

It is a slight bit tricky to identify a Class II Verb, but if you just learn 2 rules, then it’ll become second nature.  Refer to the Japanese Alphabet Chart above as we proceed.

 

                Class II Verbs:

            1.)  End in -ru

                                            2.)  -ru is preceded by a character from under either the ‘i’ column or ‘e’ column

  *** (excluding ‘i’ itself or ‘e’ itself)***.

 

                                     

            Is a Class II Verb:

 

Ex.-   miru (to watch or see)

1. Ends in -ru
2. -ru is preceded by mi    (which is under the ‘i’ column)

                                                         Thus, it is a Class II Verb.

 

Ex.-  taberu (to eat)     1.)  Ends in -ru

           2.)  -ru  is preceded by be    (which is Derived under the ‘e’ column)

          Thus, it is a Class II Verb.

 

NOT a Class II Verb:

 

                                Ex.- yomu (to read)

1.  Ends in –mu     (not –ru)

Thus, it is NOT a Class II Verb

 

Ex.- wakaru (to understand)

1.  Ends in –ru    (thus it could be a Class II Verb)
2. –ru is preceded by ka   (not under the ‘i’ column or ‘e’ column)

Thus, it is NOT a Class II Verb

 

                                Ex.-  kaeru (to return)

1. Ends in –ru    (thus it could be a Class II Verb)
2. –ru is preceded by e        (remember ‘i’ or ‘e’ themselves are excluded)

Thus, it is NOT a Class II Verb.

 

                                                         (Note:  You read from left to right:  ka-e-ru.  It’s not kae-ru or ka-eru.

 There is no ‘k’ in the Japanese Alphabet Chart. 

 There is no ae or er either.  It’s ka-e-ru.  This is where having

    memorized the Japanese Alphabet Chart is essential.)

 

Please, immediately, proceed to Lesson 10 in order to remember and use what was just discussed in this lesson.