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N5

Plain Form Introduction

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

The plain form as a basic verb form

The plain form is a basic verb form you will see in dictionaries and casual Japanese. Even before you speak casually yourself, you need to recognize it quickly in reading.

  1. Target signal

    毎日勉強する。

    I study every day.

    This is a plain-form statement about a habit.

    Vocabulary notes
    勉強するべんきょうする
    to study
    する
    to do
    勉強べんきょう
    study; studying

  2. Compare in context

    明日図書館へ行く。

    I will go to the library tomorrow.

    The dictionary form 行く can still describe a future action when context gives the time.

    Vocabulary notes
    図書館としょかん
    library
    明日あした
    tomorrow
    行くいく
    to go

  3. Compare in context

    日曜日はうちで休む。

    I rest at home on Sundays.

    休む is the plain form used in a simple everyday sentence.

    Vocabulary notes
    日曜日にちようび
    Sunday
    うち
    home; our place
    休むやすむ
    to rest

Section 2 of 3

Where learners meet plain form

You will see plain form in dictionary entries, inside quotations, and before patterns like と思います and と言いました. Read the plain verb as part of the whole structure around it.

  1. Target signal

    田中さんは来ると思います。

    I think Tanaka will come.

    来る stays in plain form before と思います.

    Vocabulary notes
    田中さんたなかさん
    Tanaka
    います
    there is; exists (animate)
    いま
    now

  2. Preview

    この言葉は「食べる」です。

    This word is “to eat.”

    Dictionary and textbook entries often show the verb in plain form.

    Vocabulary notes
    食べるたべる
    to eat
    この
    this
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

  3. Preview

    父はパンを買うと言いました。

    My father said that he would buy bread.

    Quoted content often uses plain form before と言いました.

    Vocabulary notes
    言いましたいいました
    said
    いました
    there was; there were (living things)
    いま
    now

Section 3 of 3

Reading plain-form lines smoothly

Do not panic when ます disappears. Look for the basic verb and the time word around it. In short notes, dictionary examples, and simple dialogue, plain form is very common.

  1. Target signal

    今日はうちにいる。

    I am staying home today.

    This looks short and direct because it is in plain form.

    Vocabulary notes
    うちに〜うちに
    while still; before it changes
    いる
    to exist; to be
    うち
    home; our place

  2. Preview

    母は本を読む。

    My mother reads books.

    A plain-form sentence can still be very easy to understand if the words are familiar.

    Vocabulary notes
    読むよむ
    to read
    はわ
    topic marker
    をお
    object marker

  3. Preview

    店でパンを買う。

    I buy bread at the shop.

    This is the same kind of short statement you may see in casual notes or simple dialogue.

    Vocabulary notes
    パンぱん
    bread
    買うかう
    to buy
    で
    at; in; by; with

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Plain Form Introduction changes the meaning before you check the translation.

毎日勉強する。 明日図書館へ行く。 日曜日はうちで休む。 田中さんは来ると思います。 この言葉は「食べる」です。 父はパンを買うと言いました。 今日はうちにいる

Show English translation

I study every day. I will go to the library tomorrow. I rest at home on Sundays. I think Tanaka will come. This word is “to eat.” My father said that he would buy bread. I am staying home today. My mother reads books. I buy bread at the shop.

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 Plain Form Introduction 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 Plain Form Introduction changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Plain Form Introduction 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 4Choose the best context

Which is the plain form of 行きます?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Plain Form Introduction).

毎日＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

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

  1. 1明日図書館へ行く。
  2. 2日曜日はうちで休む。
  3. 3毎日勉強する。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Plain Form Introduction in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

Which is the plain form of 行きます?