いる (iru)
= to be (animate)
This verb is an essential one, as it indicates the existence of an animate object (like a person or animal) and is commonly conjugated in its casual and polite forms.
Mnemonic:
Eel in a room – Imagine a slippery eel wriggling in a room to help remember “iru.”
Present tense (Affirmative)
ねこがいる。
Neko ga iru.
“There is a cat.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
ねこがいた。
Neko ga ita.
“There was a cat.”
Present tense (Negative)
ねこがいない。
Neko ga inai.
“There isn’t a cat.”
Past tense (Negative)
ねこがいなかった。
Neko ga inakatta.
“There wasn’t a cat.”
ある (aru)
to be (inanimate)
Similar to “iru,” “aru” is used when referring to inanimate objects. It is used to express possession or presence.
Mnemonic:
Arrow – Envision a glowing arrow pointing at an inanimate object to signify its existence.
Present tense (Affirmative)
本がある。
Hon ga aru.
“There is a book.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
本があった。
Hon ga atta.
“There was a book.”
Present tense (Negative)
本がない。
Hon ga nai.
“There isn’t a book.”
Past tense (Negative)
本がなかった。
Hon ga nakatta.
“There wasn’t a book.”
する (suru)
= to do
A versatile verb, “suru” is often used on its own or combines with other words to create compound verbs.
Mnemonic:
Syrup – Imagine someone pouring syrup as they “do” an action during breakfast.
Present tense (Affirmative)
スポーツをする。
Supootsu o suru.
“I play sports.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
スポーツをした。
Supootsu o shita.
“I played sports.”
Present tense (Negative)
スポーツをしない。
Supootsu o shinai.
“I don’t play sports.”
Past tense (Negative)
スポーツをしなかった。
Supootsu o shinakatta.
“I didn’t play sports.”
くる (kuru)
= to come
This irregular verb is used to indicate someone or something coming towards the speaker.
Mnemonic:
Crew – Imagine a ship’s crew arriving at the dock.
Present tense (Affirmative)
学校にくる。
Gakkou ni kuru.
“I come to school.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
学校にきた。
Gakkou ni kita.
“I came to school.”
Present tense (Negative)
学校にこない。
Gakkou ni konai.
“I don’t come to school.”
Past tense (Negative)
学校にこなかった。
Gakkou ni konakatta.
“I didn’t come to school.”
行く (iku)
= to go
Another basic verb, “iku” is essential for expressing movement or traveling from one place to another.
Mnemonic:
Igloo – Envision someone walking toward an igloo in the snow.
Present tense (Affirmative)
学校に行く。
Gakkou ni iku.
“I go to school.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
学校に行った。
Gakkou ni itta.
“I went to school.”
Present tense (Negative)
学校に行かない。
Gakkou ni ikanai.
“I don’t go to school.”
Past tense (Negative)
学校に行かなかった。
Gakkou ni ikanakatta.
“I didn’t go to school.”
食べる (taberu)
= to eat
“Taberu” is a must-know when it comes to expressing the act of consuming food.
Mnemonic:
Table – Picture a table full of delicious food, ready to be eaten.
Present tense (Affirmative)
りんごを食べる。
Ringo o taberu.
“I eat an apple.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
りんごを食べた。
Ringo o tabeta.
“I ate an apple.”
Present tense (Negative)
りんごを食べない。
Ringo o tabenai.
“I don’t eat an apple.”
Past tense (Negative)
りんごを食べなかった。
Ringo o tabenakatta.
“I didn’t eat an apple.”
見る (miru)
= to see
This verb is used in various situations, such as looking at something or watching an event.
Mnemonic:
Mirror – Imagine looking into a shiny mirror and seeing your reflection.
Present tense (Affirmative)
映画を見る。
Eiga o miru.
“I watch a movie.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
映画を見た。
Eiga o mita.
“I watched a movie.”
Present tense (Negative)
映画を見ない。
Eiga o minai.
“I don’t watch a movie.”
Past tense (Negative)
映画を見なかった。
Eiga o minakatta.
“I didn’t watch a movie.”
聞く (kiku)
= to hear/listen
“Kiku” is vital for understanding and attending to auditory information.
Mnemonic:
Kick – Imagine kicking a radio to make it work so you can listen to music.
Present tense (Affirmative)
音楽を聞く。
Ongaku o kiku.
“I listen to music.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
音楽を聞いた。
Ongaku o kiita.
“I listened to music.”
Present tense (Negative)
音楽を聞かない。
Ongaku o kikanai.
“I don’t listen to music.”
Past tense (Negative)
音楽を聞かなかった。
Ongaku o kikanakatta.
“I didn’t listen to music.”
言う (iu)
= to say
An essential verb that communicates speaking or expressing oneself in words.
Mnemonic:
“Ew!” Reaction: Imagine someone saying something so gross that the listeners all shout “Ew!” together.
Present tense (Affirmative)
彼は「ありがとう」と言う。
Kare wa “arigatou” to iu.
“He says ‘thank you.'”
Past tense (Affirmative)
彼は「ありがとう」と言った。
Kare wa “arigatou” to itta.
“He said ‘thank you.'”
Present tense (Negative)
彼は何も言わない。
Kare wa nani mo iwanai.
“He doesn’t say anything.”
Past tense (Negative)
彼は何も言わなかった。
Kare wa nani mo iwanakatta.
“He didn’t say anything.”
読む (yomu)
= to read
This verb is crucial for conveying the act of reading, be it books, articles, or signs.
Mnemonic:
Yo Mom Reads: A vivid picture of a mother (“Yo mom!”) sitting on a couch with a big book.
Present tense (Affirmative)
本を読む。
Hon o yomu.
“I read a book.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
本を読んだ。
Hon o yonda.
“I read a book (past).”
Present tense (Negative)
本を読まない。
Hon o yomanai.
“I don’t read a book.”
Past tense (Negative)
本を読まなかった。
Hon o yomanakatta.
“I didn’t read a book.”
書く (kaku)
= to write
“Kaku” is used when expressing the act of writing, whether it is a letter, message, or document.
Mnemonic:
Cactus – Imagine using a cactus needle as a pen to write on paper.
Present tense (Affirmative)
手紙を書く。
Tegami o kaku.
“I write a letter.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
手紙を書いた。
Tegami o kaita.
“I wrote a letter.”
Present tense (Negative)
手紙を書かない。
Tegami o kakanai.
“I don’t write a letter.”
Past tense (Negative)
手紙を書かなかった。
Tegami o kakanakatta.
“I didn’t write a letter.”
分かる (wakaru)
= to understand
An essential verb in communication, “wakaru” expresses comprehension or realization.
Mnemonic:
Wagon – Imagine a wagon carrying big lightbulbs representing understanding.
Present tense (Affirmative)
日本語が分かる。
Nihongo ga wakaru.
“I understand Japanese.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
その話が分かった。
Sono hanashi ga wakatta.
“I understood that story.”
Present tense (Negative)
日本語が分からない。
Nihongo ga wakaranai.
“I don’t understand Japanese.”
Past tense (Negative)
その話が分からなかった。
Sono hanashi ga wakaranakatta.
“I didn’t understand that story.”
思う (omou)
= to think
This verb is used when conveying thoughts, opinions, or intentions.
Mnemonic:
Omelette – Visualize cracking eggs and pondering how to make the perfect omelette.
Present tense (Affirmative)
彼は正しいと思う。
Kare wa tadashii to omou.
“I think he is right.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
彼は正しいと思った。
Kare wa tadashii to omotta.
“I thought he was right.”
Present tense (Negative)
彼は正しいとは思わない。
Kare wa tadashii to wa omowanai.
“I don’t think he is right.”
Past tense (Negative)
彼は正しいとは思わなかった。
Kare wa tadashii to wa omowanakatta.
“I didn’t think he was right.”
使う (tsukau)
= to use
Indicating the act of utilizing an object or resource, “tsukau” is vital for expressing functionality or practicality.
Mnemonic:
Suitcase – Imagine opening a suitcase and using everything inside.
Present tense (Affirmative)
このペンを使う。
Kono pen o tsukau.
“I use this pen.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
このペンを使った。
Kono pen o tsukatta.
“I used this pen.”
Present tense (Negative)
このペンを使わない。
Kono pen o tsukawanai.
“I don’t use this pen.”
Past tense (Negative)
このペンを使わなかった。
Kono pen o tsukawanakatta.
“I didn’t use this pen.”
買う (kau)
= to buy
This is an important verb when discussing purchasing goods or services.
Mnemonic:
Cow – Imagine buying a cow from a farmer.
Present tense (Affirmative)
本を買う。
Hon o kau.
“I buy a book.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
本を買った。
Hon o katta.
“I bought a book.”
Present tense (Negative)
本を買わない。
Hon o kawanai.
“I don’t buy a book.”
Past tense (Negative)
本を買わなかった。
Hon o kawanakatta.
“I didn’t buy a book.”
取る (toru)
= to take
“Toru” is used to signify the act of grabbing, obtaining, or removing something.
Tornado – Picture a tornado taking objects high into the sky.
Present tense (Affirmative)
写真を取る。
Shashin o toru.
“I take a picture.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
写真を取った。
Shashin o totta.
“I took a picture.”
Present tense (Negative)
写真を取らない。
Shashin o toranai.
“I don’t take a picture.”
Past tense (Negative)
写真を取らなかった。
Shashin o toranakatta.
“I didn’t take a picture.”
持つ (motsu)
= to hold/posses
This verb conveys possession or the act of holding an object.
Mote – Imagine carrying a bag of sand to build a moat.
Present tense (Affirmative)
かばんを持つ。
Kaban o motsu.
“I hold a bag.” / “I carry a bag.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
かばんを持った。
Kaban o motta.
“I held a bag.” / “I carried a bag.”
Present tense (Negative)
かばんを持たない。
Kaban o motanai.
“I don’t hold a bag.” / “I don’t carry a bag.”
Past tense (Negative)
かばんを持たなかった。
Kaban o motanakatta.
“I didn’t hold a bag.” / “I didn’t carry a bag.”
始める (hajimeru)
= to begin
A crucial verb for expressing the start of an action, event, or occurrence.
Mnemonic:
Hedge – Picture trimming a hedge at the beginning of a gardening project.
Present tense (Affirmative)
勉強を始める。
Benkyou o hajimeru.
“I start studying.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
勉強を始めた。
Benkyou o hajimeta.
“I started studying.”
Present tense (Negative)
勉強を始めない。
Benkyou o hajimenai.
“I don’t start studying.”
Past tense (Negative)
勉強を始めなかった。
Benkyou o hajimenakatta.
“I didn’t start studying.”
終わる (owaru)
= to end
Similar to “hajimeru,” but used to signify the conclusion or termination of something.
Mnemonic:
Owl – Imagine an owl flying away as the night ends and dawn begins.
Present tense (Affirmative)
授業が終わる。
Jugyou ga owaru.
“The class ends.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
授業が終わった。
Jugyou ga owatta.
“The class ended.”
Present tense (Negative)
授業が終わらない。
Jugyou ga owaranai.
“The class doesn’t end.”
Past tense (Negative)
授業が終わらなかった。
Jugyou ga owaranakatta.
“The class didn’t end.”
作る (tsukuru)
= to make/create
This verb is essential when discussing the process of producing or crafting something.
Mnemonic:
Sculpture – Imagine crafting a beautiful clay sculpture.
Present tense (Affirmative)
ケーキを作る。
Keeki o tsukuru.
“I make a cake.”
Past tense (Affirmative)
ケーキを作った。
Keeki o tsukutta.
“I made a cake.”
Present tense (Negative)
ケーキを作らない。
Keeki o tsukuranai.
“I don’t make a cake.”
Past tense (Negative)
ケーキを作らなかった。
Keeki o tsukuranakatta.
“I didn’t make a cake.”