Polite Form (ます Form) of Japanese Verbs – Complete Guide with Usage and Grammar

Polite Form (ます Form) of Verbs

Master Formal Japanese Verb Conjugation

1. What is Polite Form?
2. How to Form ます
3. Polite Form vs Dictionary Form
4. When to Use Polite Form
5. Polite Form Tenses
6. Conjugation by Verb Group
7. Business & Formal Speech
8. Written Japanese & Documents
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid
10. Practice & Applications

1. What is Polite Form?

Polite form (丁寧語 – teineigo) uses ます endings to show respect and formality

It’s the standard form for business, strangers, and formal situations

Understanding Polite Form

Respectful Communication: Shows consideration for the listener

Social Harmony: Maintains appropriate distance and respect

Professional Standard: Essential in workplace and business contexts

Safe Choice: When in doubt, polite form is always appropriate

Cultural Foundation: Reflects Japanese values of respect and humility

Key Point: Polite form is not just about grammar – it’s about showing respect and maintaining social harmony.

2. How to Form ます

Basic Formation Pattern

Group 1 Verbs

書く → 書きます

Dictionary Form

かく

kaku

to write

Polite Form

かきます

kakimasu

write (polite)

Group 2 Verbs

食べる → 食べます

Dictionary Form

たべる

taberu

to eat

Polite Form

たべます

tabemasu

eat (polite)

Group 3 Verbs

する → します

Dictionary Form

する

suru

to do

Polite Form

します

shimasu

do (polite)

Formation Rules by Group

Group	Formation Rule	Example	Result
Group 1	Change u-sound to i-sound + ます	読む → 読み + ます	読みます
Group 2	Drop る + ます	見る → 見 + ます	見ます
Group 3	Irregular changes	来る → 来ます (kimasu)	来ます / します

3. Polite Form vs Dictionary Form

Formality Comparison

Dictionary Form	Polite Form	English	Usage Context
行く	行きます	to go	Casual vs Business
買う	買います	to buy	Friends vs Store clerk
勉強する	勉強します	to study	Diary vs Presentation
帰る	帰ります	to return	Family vs Teacher
話す	話します	to speak	Close friend vs Meeting

Social Context Guidelines

Always use Polite Form with: Customers, strangers, teachers, bosses, elderly people, formal situations

May use Dictionary Form with: Close friends, family, children, very casual settings

In Business: Polite form is the standard – shows professionalism

First Meetings: Always start with polite form, never assume casualness

4. When to Use Polite Form

Essential Usage Situations

1. Business Meetings:

明日のミーティングに参加します。

I will participate in tomorrow’s meeting.

2. Customer Service:

いらっしゃいませ。何かお探しですか。

Welcome. Are you looking for something?

3. Formal Introductions:

田中と申します。よろしくお願いします。

I’m called Tanaka. Please treat me favorably.

4. Academic Presentations:

研究結果を発表します。

I will present the research results.

Polite Form Functions

Function	Example	Translation	Context
Stating Plans	来週出張します	I will go on a business trip next week	Professional context
Making Requests	手伝ってください	Please help me	Polite request
Describing Actions	毎日運動します	I exercise every day	Formal conversation
Expressing Gratitude	ありがとうございます	Thank you very much	Showing respect

5. Polite Form Tenses

Present/Future Polite Forms

Present Habitual:

毎朝七時に起きます。

I wake up at 7 AM every morning.

Future Plans:

来月日本に行きます。

I will go to Japan next month.

General Statements:

この仕事は難しいです。

This job is difficult.

Past Polite Forms

Dictionary Form	Present Polite	Past Polite	English
行く	行きます	行きました	go/went
食べる	食べます	食べました	eat/ate
する	します	しました	do/did
来る	来ます	来ました	come/came
見る	見ます	見ました	see/saw

Negative Polite Forms

Form	Pattern	Example	Translation
Present Negative	ません	行きません	don’t/won’t go
Past Negative	ませんでした	行きませんでした	didn’t go
Present Negative (casual)	ないです	行かないです	don’t go (softer)

6. Conjugation by Verb Group

Group 1 Polite Conjugations

Dictionary Form	Stem Change	Present Polite	Past Polite	English
飲む	飲み	飲みます	飲みました	to drink
立つ	立ち	立ちます	立ちました	to stand
死ぬ	死に	死にます	死にました	to die
呼ぶ	呼び	呼びます	呼びました	to call
泳ぐ	泳ぎ	泳ぎます	泳ぎました	to swim

Group 2 Polite Conjugations

Dictionary Form	Stem	Present Polite	Past Polite	English
着る	着	着ます	着ました	to wear
出る	出	出ます	出ました	to exit
覚える	覚え	覚えます	覚えました	to remember
教える	教え	教えます	教えました	to teach
いる	い	います	いました	to exist

Group 3 Polite Conjugations

Dictionary Form	Present Polite	Past Polite	Common Compounds
する	します	しました	勉強します, 料理します, 掃除します
来る	来ます (きます)	来ました (きました)	帰って来ます, 持って来ます

7. Business & Formal Speech

Business Communication

Meetings and Presentations:

売上について説明します。

I will explain about sales figures.

Client Interactions:

資料をお送りします。

I will send you the materials.

Schedule Coordination:

来週の会議に出席します。

I will attend next week’s meeting.

Formal vs Business vs Casual

Situation	Casual	Polite	Business Formal
Making plans	明日映画を見る	明日映画を見ます	明日の会議に参加いたします
Asking questions	何する？	何をしますか？	いかがなさいますか？
Declining	行かない	行きません	申し訳ございませんが、参りません
Completing tasks	終わった	終わりました	完了いたしました

Email Communication: Always use polite form in business emails

Phone Conversations: Standard polite form for professional calls

Presentations: Polite form shows respect to your audience

Customer Service: Essential for maintaining professional relationships

8. Written Japanese & Documents

Polite Form in Writing

Business Reports:

今月の売上が上がりました。来月も継続します。

This month’s sales increased. We will continue next month too.

Formal Letters:

お忙しい中、ありがとうございます。資料をお送りします。

Thank you for your time despite being busy. I will send the materials.

Academic Writing:

この研究では新しい方法を使用します。

In this research, we will use a new method.

Document Types and Politeness

Document Type	Formality Level	Example Usage	Key Points
Business Email	Polite Form	明日伺います	Always respectful
Instructions	Mixed	ボタンを押します	Clear and direct
News Articles	Formal/Polite	首相が発表しました	Objective tone
Personal Blog	Varies	今日は映画を見ました	Audience dependent

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Conjugation Errors

Don’t mix up verb groups:

❌ 食べります (incorrect Group 1 conjugation)

✅ 食べます (correct Group 2 conjugation)

Don’t forget stem changes:

❌ 読むます (no stem change)

✅ 読みます (u→i change for Group 1)

Don’t use wrong irregular forms:

❌ 来ります (incorrect reading)

✅ 来ます (きます – kimasu)

Formality Mistakes

Being too casual in formal situations:

❌ 先生、明日学校に行く。(too casual to teacher)

✅ 先生、明日学校に行きます。(appropriate politeness)

Inconsistent formality:

❌ 今日は映画を見ますが、面白い。(mixed levels)

✅ 今日は映画を見ますが、面白いです。(consistent polite)

Overusing polite form with close friends:

❌ With best friend: 一緒に行きますか？ (unnecessarily formal)

✅ With best friend: 一緒に行く？ (natural casualness)

Common Error Patterns

Error Type	Wrong	Correct	Explanation
Double politeness	行きますです	行きます	Don’t add です after ます
Wrong negative	行くません	行きません	Use stem + ません
Past form error	食べますた	食べました	ます + た = ました
Question confusion	行きますか？です	行きますか？	Don’t add です to questions

10. Practice & Applications

Daily Business Applications

Morning Meetings:

今日のスケジュールを確認します → 資料を準備します → プレゼンをします

Check today’s schedule → Prepare materials → Give presentation

Client Communication:

来週お客様にお会いします。新しい提案をします。

I will meet with the client next week. I will make a new proposal.

Professional Development:

新しいスキルを学びます。セミナーに参加します。

I will learn new skills. I will participate in seminars.

Practice Exercises

Exercise Type	Task	Example	Goal
Work schedule	Describe your work day formally	九時から会議をします	Professional expression
Formal requests	Make polite business requests	資料をお送りください	Appropriate politeness
Future planning	Discuss formal future plans	来月新しいプロジェクトを始めます	Professional planning
Presentations	Practice formal presentations	結果について説明します	Public speaking

Building Professional Communication

Consistency is Key: Maintain polite form throughout formal conversations

Listen and Mirror: Match the formality level of others in professional settings

When in Doubt: Choose polite form – it’s always safer in professional contexts

Practice Switching: Learn to adjust between casual and polite smoothly

Cultural Sensitivity: Polite form shows respect for Japanese business culture

Advanced Professional Applications

Making Announcements:

新しい方針について発表します。

I will announce about the new policy.

Expressing Opinions Formally:

この案に賛成します。

I agree with this proposal.

Making Commitments:

責任を持って対応します。

I will respond with responsibility.

Polite Form Mastery Achieved!

You’ve learned the essential skill of formal Japanese communication! Polite form is your key to professional success and respectful interactions in Japanese society.

Remember: Polite form = respect and professionalism. It’s the foundation of Japanese business communication!

Next Steps: Practice using polite form in professional settings and master the art of appropriate formality levels!

Polite Form (ます Form) – Interactive Quiz

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Table of Contents

1. What is Polite Form?

Understanding Polite Form

2. How to Form ます

Basic Formation Pattern

Group 1 Verbs

Dictionary Form

Polite Form

Group 2 Verbs

Dictionary Form

Polite Form

Group 3 Verbs

Dictionary Form

Polite Form

Formation Rules by Group

3. Polite Form vs Dictionary Form

Formality Comparison

Social Context Guidelines

4. When to Use Polite Form

Essential Usage Situations

Polite Form Functions

5. Polite Form Tenses

Present/Future Polite Forms

Past Polite Forms

Negative Polite Forms

6. Conjugation by Verb Group

Group 1 Polite Conjugations

Group 2 Polite Conjugations

Group 3 Polite Conjugations

7. Business & Formal Speech

Business Communication

Formal vs Business vs Casual

8. Written Japanese & Documents

Polite Form in Writing

Document Types and Politeness

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Conjugation Errors

Formality Mistakes

Common Error Patterns

10. Practice & Applications

Daily Business Applications

Practice Exercises

Building Professional Communication

Advanced Professional Applications

Polite Form Mastery Achieved!

Exercise 1: Basic Understanding

Exercise 2: Group 1 Conjugation

Exercise 3: Group 2 Conjugation

Exercise 4: Group 3 Irregular

Exercise 5: Appropriate Context

Exercise 6: Past Tense

Exercise 7: Negative Form

Exercise 8: Business Situation

Exercise 9: Question Form

Exercise 10: Past Negative

Exercise 11: Formality Consistency

Exercise 12: Common Mistake

Exercise 13: Professional Email

Exercise 14: Schedule Discussion

Exercise 15: Customer Service

How did you do?

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