1. fall into the first group, the Godan (五段) verbs. These verbs always conjugate the same way with only
one exception. These verbs have five changes that follow the order of the Japanese vowels, hence the
name Godan (meaning 5 levels or steps), and then the "te" and "ta" forms that are common to all verbs.
Here's an example:
Romaji
漢字 ­ Kanji ひらがな ­ Hiragana Verb Base
(English Letters)
話す はなす hanasu (to speak)
話さ はなさ hanasa Base 1
話し はなし hanashi Base 2
話す はなす hanasu Base 3
話せ はなせ hanase Base 4
話そう はなそう hanasou Base 5
話して はなして hanashite Base "te"
話した はなした hanashita Base "ta"
n are listed here. Ichidan verbs also follow a simple conjugation pattern that is somewhat similar to that
of the Godan verbs. Here's an example:
Romaji
漢字 ­ Kanji ひらがな ­ Hiragana Verb Base
(English Letters)
食べる たべる taberu (to eat)
食べ たべ tabe Base 1
食べ たべ tabe Base 2
食べる たべる taberu Base 3
食べれ たべれ tabere Base 4
食べよう たべよう tabeyou Base 5
食べて たべて tabete Base "te"
食べた たべた tabeta Base "ta"
Here are some Ichidan verbs. Try conjugating them on a piece of paper using what you have just
learned. Click here for the answers.
Romaji
漢字 ­ Kanji ひらがな ­ Hiragana English Meaning
(English Letters)
to exist (animate), to be
いる いる iru
somewhere
見る みる miru to see
寝る ねる neru to sleep
着る きる kiru to wear, put on

2. 出来る できる dekiru can do
覚える おぼえる oboeru to remember
ouns can be used as a verb simply by putting "suru" right after them. It is probably the most used of all
Japanese verbs. The second Irregular verb is kuru (to come).
Romaji
漢字 ­ Kanji ひらがな ­ Hiragana Verb Base
(English Letters)
する する suru (to do)
し し shi Base 1
し し shi Base 2
する する suru Base 3
すれ すれ sure Base 4
しよう しよう shiyou Base 5
して して shite Base "te"
した した shita Base "ta"
nly be used as the "if verb".
The rude command form is "Shiro".
Romaji
漢字 ­ Kanji ひらがな ­ Hiragana Verb Base
(English Letters)
来る くる kuru (to come)
来 こ ko Base 1
来 き ki Base 2
来る くる kuru Base 3
来れ くれ kure Base 4
来よう こよう koyou Base 5
来て きて kite Base "te"
来た きた kita Base "ta"