Basic forms for Japanese learners part 3 - Using nai form

 

Previously we touch on ます、て、た and plain forms. In this post, we will learn a new form call the ない form. This form is use to express negation. Let’s take a look at some of the examples.

たべる、食べる becomes たべない、食べない (don’t eat)

おしえる、教える becomes おしえない、教えない (don’t teach)

Let’s take a closer look!

In the verb, たべる, the る is drop and replace with the ない form. As long as you see an　え before a the る sounding. Just simply drop the る and add the ない in. This is one of the rule to making a negation on any verb. So same for おしえる. There is an え before the る, so る is drop and replace with a ない form. So you get おしえない.

What about this one -> ねる、寝る　(to sleep, will sleep) becomes ???

Let’s take a look at the next verb group

よむ、読む becomes よまない、読まない( don’t read)

すむ、住む becomesすまない、住まない (don’t live)

The verb, よむ has a む sounding at the end. So this む should be change to a ま, where you can hear the あ sounding. And then add the ない form after you have change to ま. It becomes よまない. Same goes to すむ.

Ok, let’s head to the next verb group

つかう、使う(to use, will use) becomes つかわない、使わない (don’t use)

すう、吸う becomes すわない、吸わない(don’t smoke)

So what difference can you tell from this verb group? The う becomes わ! The わ sound has a あ sound too. So in this verb, つかう, you change the う to わ and add ない behind it. Same thing goes to すう.

One more verb group to introduce 

うつ、打つ (to hit, will hit) becomes うたない、打たない ( don’t hit)

まつ、待つ (to wait, will wait) becomes またない、待たない (don’t wait)

Now, what difference can you see from this verb group? The つ becomes た. Then add ない behind it. Simple! 

You probably have already notice, just by simply changing the う sounding to becomes the あ sounding and then adding the ない form will allow you to create the negative verbs. Here are few more examples, see if you can change them to the negative verb.

はなす、話す(to speak) becomes ???

いく、行く(to go) becomes ???

はる、貼る(to paste, to stick) becomes ???

しぬ、死ぬ(to die) becomes ???

Here comes the special verb groups you will have to memorize them by heart.

する becomes しない( don’t do, not do)

くる、来る becomes こない、来ない (don’t come)

いる (to be around.) becomes いない (not around, not there)

That’s it for today’s post. More forms coming up.