JapaneseLesson 2 of 2 in the course Japanese grammar

Japanese Conjugation, Conditionals, and Polite Predicate Forms

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Japanese conjugation changes a word’s ending to express grammatical meaning while generally preserving its stem. This lesson introduces the basic structure of conjugation and the verb categories that determine how endings change.

A conjugated verb can be understood as a relatively stable stem plus an inflectional suffix or ending. Changing the ending can express negation, past time, ability, intention, passive meaning, causation, commands, or conditions.

All flashcards

What is a verb stem?
The relatively stable part of a word that remains recognizable as endings change during conjugation.
What does an inflectional suffix do?
It attaches to a base to express grammatical information or help form a construction.
What are the three main Japanese verb categories?
Godan verbs, ichidan verbs, and irregular verbs.
Why is -ru not enough to identify an ichidan verb?
Both godan and ichidan verbs can end in -ru; 知る (shiru) is godan, while 着る (kiru) is ichidan.
Do Japanese verbs change for a subject’s person, number, or gender?
Generally, no. Japanese verb conjugation does not vary according to person, number, or gender.

Quiz questions

  1. Which can serve as the grammatical nucleus of a complete Japanese utterance?Answer: A verb, an adjective, or a noun with a copula
  2. What is a common function of the Japanese focus particle も (mo)?Answer: It marks information as also, too, or even.
  3. Which Japanese copula is formal but not inherently polite?Answer: De aru
  4. Which construction commonly softens a request for someone to act?Answer: A verb’s -te form followed by kudasai
  5. Which conditional commonly presents a result as an expected or desired consequence?Answer: The provisional form ending in -eba

Based on the Wikipedia article Japanese conjugation, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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