Japanese Verb Types
Master the Three Groups of Japanese Verbs
Table of Contents
1. Overview & Classification System
Japanese verbs are classified into THREE groups based on their conjugation patterns
Understanding verb groups is essential for correct conjugation in all tenses and forms
Verb Group System (動詞の分類)
Group 1 (五段動詞): u-verbs, godan verbs – most irregular conjugations
Group 2 (一段動詞): ru-verbs, ichidan verbs – most regular conjugations
Group 3 (不規則動詞): irregular verbs – only する and 来る (+ compounds)
Importance: Each group follows different conjugation rules for tense, politeness, and form
2. Group 1 Verbs (五段動詞 – Godan Verbs)
To Read
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Write
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Speak
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Buy
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Wait
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Die
Dictionary Form
Stem
Group 1 Characteristics
Ending Pattern: End in -u but NOT -eru or -iru (with exceptions)
Stem Changes: The consonant before -u changes in conjugation
Name Origin: “Godan” (五段) means “five steps” referring to five vowel sounds
Complexity: More complex conjugation patterns but very common verbs
Group 1 Ending Patterns
| Ending | Example | Romaji | English | Conjugation Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -ku | 書く | kaku | to write | ka- |
| -gu | 泳ぐ | oyogu | to swim | oyoga- |
| -su | 話す | hanasu | to speak | hana- |
| -tsu | 待つ | matsu | to wait | ma- |
| -nu | 死ぬ | shinu | to die | shi- |
| -bu | 呼ぶ | yobu | to call | yoba- |
| -mu | 読む | yomu | to read | yoma- |
| -ru | 作る | tsukuru | to make | tsukura- |
| -u | 買う | kau | to buy | kawa- |
3. Group 2 Verbs (一段動詞 – Ichidan Verbs)
To Eat
Dictionary Form
Stem
To See
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Sleep
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Get Up
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Teach
Dictionary Form
Stem
To Give
Dictionary Form
Stem
Group 2 Characteristics
Ending Pattern: End in -eru or -iru
Simple Conjugation: Just drop る and add the appropriate ending
Name Origin: “Ichidan” (一段) means “one step” – simple one-step conjugation
Regularity: Most predictable conjugation pattern in Japanese
Common Group 2 Verbs
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Stem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 食べる | たべる | taberu | to eat | tabe- |
| 見る | みる | miru | to see/watch | mi- |
| 寝る | ねる | neru | to sleep | ne- |
| 起きる | おきる | okiru | to wake up | oki- |
| 着る | きる | kiru | to wear | ki- |
| 出る | でる | deru | to exit | de- |
| 忘れる | わすれる | wasureru | to forget | wasure- |
| 覚える | おぼえる | oboeru | to remember | oboe- |
4. Group 3 Verbs (不規則動詞 – Irregular Verbs)
To Do
Dictionary Form
Special Conjugation
To Come
Dictionary Form
Special Conjugation
Group 3 Characteristics
Only Two Verbs: する (to do) and 来る (to come)
Compound Verbs: Many verbs are formed by adding する to nouns
Irregular Patterns: Must be memorized individually
High Frequency: These verbs and their compounds are extremely common
する Compound Verbs
| Compound Verb | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勉強する | べんきょうする | benkyou suru | to study |
| 料理する | りょうりする | ryouri suru | to cook |
| 掃除する | そうじする | souji suru | to clean |
| 運転する | うんてんする | unten suru | to drive |
| 散歩する | さんぽする | sanpo suru | to take a walk |
| 買い物する | かいものする | kaimono suru | to go shopping |
5. How to Identify Verb Groups
Step-by-Step Identification Process
Step 1: Check if it’s する or 来る
If yes → Group 3 (Irregular)
Step 2: Check the ending
If it ends in -eru or -iru → Probably Group 2
If it ends in other -u sounds → Group 1
Step 3: Test Group 2 exceptions
Some verbs ending in -eru/-iru are actually Group 1
Group Identification Chart
| Ending | Group | Example | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| -eru | Group 2 | 食べる (taberu) | 帰る (kaeru) – Group 1 |
| -iru | Group 2 | 見る (miru) | 走る (hashiru) – Group 1 |
| -aru | Group 1 | 分かる (wakaru) | None |
| -oru | Group 1 | 座る (suwaru) | None |
| -uru | Group 1 | 作る (tsukuru) | None |
| -ku, -gu, -su, etc. | Group 1 | 書く (kaku) | None |
Tricky Group 1 Verbs (Look like Group 2)
These verbs end in -eru/-iru but are Group 1:
• 帰る (kaeru) – to return
• 走る (hashiru) – to run
• 知る (shiru) – to know
• 切る (kiru) – to cut
• 入る (hairu) – to enter
• 要る (iru) – to need
6. Basic Conjugation Patterns
Masu Form (Polite Present)
| Group | Rule | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Change u → i + ます | 読む → よみます | yomimasu |
| Group 2 | Drop る + ます | 食べる → たべます | tabemasu |
| Group 3 | Irregular | する → します 来る → きます | shimasu kimasu |
Te-form (て形)
| Group | Ending | Te-form Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | -ku | → いて | 書く → 書いて |
| -gu | → いで | 泳ぐ → 泳いで | |
| -su | → して | 話す → 話して | |
| -tsu, -ru, -u | → って | 待つ → 待って | |
| -nu, -bu, -mu | → んで | 読む → 読んで | |
| 行く (special) | → 行って | 行く → 行って | |
| Group 2 | -ru | → て | 食べる → 食べて |
| Group 3 | Irregular | Special forms | する → して 来る → 来て |
7. Most Common Verbs by Group
Essential Group 1 Verbs
| Verb | Reading | English | Masu Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行く | いく | to go | いきます |
| 飲む | のむ | to drink | のみます |
| 立つ | たつ | to stand | たちます |
| 聞く | きく | to hear/ask | ききます |
| 会う | あう | to meet | あいます |
Essential Group 2 Verbs
| Verb | Reading | English | Masu Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 食べる | たべる | to eat | たべます |
| 見る | みる | to see | みます |
| 寝る | ねる | to sleep | ねます |
| 起きる | おきる | to wake up | おきます |
| いる | いる | to exist (animate) | います |
8. Special Cases & Exceptions
Verbs with Multiple Meanings
切る (kiru) – Group 1: to cut (Group 1)
着る (kiru) – Group 2: to wear (Group 2)
Note: Same pronunciation, different meanings and groups!
要る (iru) – Group 1: to need (Group 1)
いる (iru) – Group 2: to exist (Group 2)
Note: Different kanji helps distinguish them
Compound Verbs
Verb + する compounds follow Group 3 rules:
勉強する → 勉強します (benkyou shimasu)
料理する → 料理します (ryouri shimasu)
Other compound verbs follow their base verb group:
食べ始める → Group 2 (based on 始める)
読み始める → Group 2 (based on 始める)
Potential Form Exceptions
Group 1: Change ending to -eru (becomes Group 2-like)
読む → 読める (can read)
Group 2: Add -られる
食べる → 食べられる (can eat)
Group 3: Completely irregular
する → できる (can do), 来る → 来られる (can come)
9. Practical Usage
Daily Conversation Examples
Group 1 in conversation:
毎日新聞を読みます。
I read the newspaper every day.
Group 2 in conversation:
朝ごはんを食べます。
I eat breakfast.
Group 3 in conversation:
日本語を勉強します。
I study Japanese.
Choosing the Right Form
| Situation | Form to Use | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite conversation | ます form | 食べます | Most common in daily use |
| Casual conversation | Dictionary form | 食べる | With friends/family |
| Connecting actions | て form | 食べて | For compound sentences |
| Past tense | た form | 食べた | Casual past |
10. Practice & Examples
Verb Group Identification Practice
Practice Verbs – Try to identify the group:
1. 歩く (aruku) – to walk → Group 1 (ends in -ku)
2. 借りる (kariru) – to borrow → Group 2 (ends in -iru)
3. 掃除する (souji suru) – to clean → Group 3 (する compound)
4. 帰る (kaeru) – to return → Group 1 (exception, looks like Group 2)
5. 覚える (oboeru) – to remember → Group 2 (ends in -eru)
Conjugation Practice
| Dictionary Form | Group | Masu Form | Te Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 読む (yomu) | 1 | 読みます | 読んで |
| 食べる (taberu) | 2 | 食べます | 食べて |
| する (suru) | 3 | します | して |
| 書く (kaku) | 1 | 書きます | 書いて |
| 見る (miru) | 2 | 見ます | 見て |
Memory Tips
Group 1 Memory Aid: “u-verbs” – they end in various u-sounds and change a lot
Group 2 Memory Aid: “ru-verbs” – end in -ru and just drop る
Group 3 Memory Aid: Only する and 来る – learn by heart!
Practice Strategy: Learn common verbs in each group first
Recognition Trick: If it’s not する/来る and doesn’t clearly end in -eru/-iru, it’s probably Group 1
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t assume all -eru/-iru verbs are Group 2: 帰る, 知る, 切る are Group 1
Don’t forget する compounds are Group 3: 勉強する conjugates like する
Don’t mix up similar verbs: 切る (cut, Group 1) vs 着る (wear, Group 2)
Remember 行く exception: Te-form is 行って, not 行いて
Verb Group Mastery Complete!
You’ve learned the three-group system that unlocks Japanese verb conjugation! Now you can predict how any verb will change in different tenses and forms.
Verb Types Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Japanese Verb Groups
Exercise 1: Basic Group Identification
What group is 読む (yomu – to read)?
Explanation: 読む ends in -mu, which is a Group 1 ending pattern.
Exercise 2: Group 2 Recognition
Which of these is a Group 2 verb?
Explanation: 食べる ends in -eru and follows Group 2 conjugation patterns.
Exercise 3: Group 3 Identification
How many verbs are in Group 3?
Explanation: Group 3 contains only する (suru) and 来る (kuru), plus their compounds.
Exercise 4: Masu Form – Group 1
What is the masu form of 書く (kaku)?
Explanation: Group 1 verbs change the u-sound to i-sound, then add ます.
Exercise 5: Masu Form – Group 2
What is the masu form of 見る (miru)?
Explanation: Group 2 verbs simply drop る and add ます.
Exercise 6: Exception Identification
Which verb looks like Group 2 but is actually Group 1?
Explanation: 帰る ends in -eru but follows Group 1 conjugation patterns.
Exercise 7: Te-form Group 1
What is the te-form of 読む (yomu)?
Explanation: Verbs ending in -mu change to -nde in te-form.
Exercise 8: Te-form Group 2
What is the te-form of 食べる (taberu)?
Explanation: Group 2 verbs drop る and add て for te-form.
Exercise 9: する Compounds
What group is 勉強する (benkyou suru)?
Explanation: All する compound verbs follow Group 3 patterns like する itself.
Exercise 10: Ending Patterns
Which ending is typical for Group 1 verbs?
Explanation: Group 1 verbs end in various u-sounds but not -eru/-iru (with exceptions).
Exercise 11: Irregular Conjugation
What is the masu form of 来る (kuru)?
Explanation: 来る is irregular and becomes きます in masu form.
Exercise 12: Group Classification
What group is 起きる (okiru – to wake up)?
Explanation: 起きる ends in -iru and follows Group 2 conjugation patterns.
Exercise 13: Special Case
What is special about 行く (iku) in te-form?
Explanation: 行く is the only -ku verb that becomes -tte instead of -ite in te-form.
Exercise 14: Stem Recognition
What is the stem of 話す (hanasu – to speak)?
Explanation: Group 1 verbs change the u-sound to i-sound for the stem (話す → 話し).
Exercise 15: Mixed Recognition
Which verb is Group 1 despite ending in -iru?
Explanation: 知る looks like Group 2 but is actually Group 1. It becomes 知ります (shirimasu), not 知ます.
How did you do?
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