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N5

ます-Form and Polite Verbs

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

What the ます-Form Does

The ます-form is the standard polite verb form for beginner conversation, classroom Japanese, and many everyday exchanges. It is the safest form to use when speaking politely.

  1. Target signal

    わたしは まいあさ コーヒーを のみます。

    I drink coffee every morning.

    ます keeps the sentence polite and neutral.

    Vocabulary notes
    コーヒー
    coffee
    のみます
    drink (polite)
    まいあさ
    every morning

  2. Compare in context

    あした 友だちに あいます。

    I will meet a friend tomorrow.

    The time word tells you this polite verb refers to the future.

    Vocabulary notes
    あいます
    meet (polite)
    あした
    tomorrow
    います
    there is; exists (animate)

  3. Compare in context

    先生に しつもんします。

    I ask the teacher a question.

    します is the polite form of a する-verb.

    Vocabulary notes
    しつもんします
    ask a question (polite)
    します
    do
    しま
    stripe; striped pattern

Section 2 of 3

Building the Form

Different verb groups take different stems before ます, but the main beginner goal is recognition and repeated use. Learn each new verb with its ます-form, not in isolation.

  1. Target signal

    食べる → 食べます

    to eat → eat (polite)

    Ichidan verbs form ます from the stem.

    Vocabulary notes
    食べますたべます
    eat (polite)
    食べるたべる
    to eat
    ます
    polite verb ending

  2. Preview

    読む → 読みます

    to read → read (polite)

    Godan verbs change to an い-stem before ます.

    Vocabulary notes
    読みますよみます
    read
    ます
    polite verb ending
    読むよむ
    to read

  3. Preview

    来る → 来ます

    to come → come (polite)

    来ます is an important irregular polite form.

    Vocabulary notes
    来ますきます
    come (polite)
    ます
    polite verb ending
    来るくる
    to come

Section 3 of 3

Reading in Context

In early reading, ます often signals the main action of a sentence. It can refer to habitual actions or future plans depending on the time words around it.

  1. Target signal

    日曜日に スーパーへ いきます。

    I will go to the supermarket on Sunday.

    The Sunday time phrase makes the future meaning clear.

    Vocabulary notes
    いきます
    go
    スーパー
    supermarket
    日曜日にちようび
    Sunday

  2. Preview

    わたしは まいばん 十一時に ねます。

    I go to bed at eleven every night.

    Habit words like まいばん support a routine reading.

    Vocabulary notes
    まいばん
    every night
    ねます
    sleep; go to bed (polite)
    わたし
    I; me

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how ます-Form and Polite Verbs changes the meaning before you check the translation.

わたしは まいあさ コーヒーを のみます。 あした 友だちに あいます。 先生に しつもんします。 食べる → 食べます 読む → 読みます 来る → 来ます

Show English translation

I drink coffee every morning. I will meet a friend tomorrow. I ask the teacher a question. to eat → eat (polite) to read → read (polite) to come → come (polite) I will go to the supermarket on Sunday. I go to bed at eleven every night.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how ます-Form and Polite Verbs changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how ます-Form and Polite Verbs changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of ます-Form and Polite Verbs in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 5Choose the best context

Which form is the standard polite verb ending for beginners?

Activity 2 of 5Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (ます-Form and Polite Verbs).

わたしは まいあさ ＿＿＿を のみます。

Activity 3 of 5Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1あした 友だちに あいます。
  2. 2先生に しつもんします。
  3. 3わたしは まいあさ コーヒーを のみます。
Activity 4 of 5Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of ます-Form and Polite Verbs in the mini-reading?

Activity 5 of 5Infer from the passage

Cumulative checkpoint: Which reading habit helps you combine this lesson with the earlier grammar?

Mastery check 1/4

Which form is the standard polite verb ending for beginners?