Kinou ame ga hutta
Short past affirmative (ta-form)
The short past affirmative form is also known as the た-form. This form is used not only for making statements but also for qualifying nouns.
| Short form | Long form | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | kaku | kakimasu |
| Negative | kakanai | kakimasen |
| Past affirmative | kaita | kakimashita |
| Past negative | kakanakatta | kakimasendeshita |
| te-form | kaite | kakimashite |
How to make ta-form
Short past affirmative forms, also known as the ta-form, can be constructed similarly to the te-form. You can just change “te” to “ta”.
U-verb
Stems ending with W, TS and R
Au >>> Aw >>> Awta >>> Atta
Katsu >>> Kats >>> Katsta >>> Katta
Toru >>> Tor >>> Torta >>> Totta
The stems end with W, TS, R. These sounds are emitted from the front part of the mouth. R-sound in Japanese is not the one in English or Spanish, but the kind of mixture of L and T. -, TS, R change to T and plus TA. (TTA)
Stems ending with M, B and N
Kamu >>> Kam >>> Kan >>> Kanda
Tobu >>> Tob >>> Tom >>> Ton >>> Tonda
Shinu >>> Shin >>> Sinda
(Only one verb which ends with nu)
The stems end with nasal sounds. M, B, N change to N and plus DA. (NDA)
Stems ending with K and G
Kaku >>> Kak >>> Kakta >>> Kaita
Kagu >>> Kag >>> Kagda >>> Kaida
Exc. ( Iku >>> Ikta >>> Itta )
The stems end with plosive sounds, created from the back part of the mouth. K and G change to I and plus TA and DA. (ITA, IDA)
Iku is the exception, changing to Itta.
Stems ending with S
Hanasu >>> Hanas >>> Hanasita
Tasu >>> Tas >>> Tashita
Verbs ending with SU changes a bit differently. This conjugation is originally the right one, but only remains in the verbs ending with SU now. Other U-verbs also used to change like this, but no more now.
IRUERU-verb
Taberu >>> Tabe >>> Tabeta
Miru >>> Mi >>> Mita
Kieru >>> Kie >>> Kieta
IRUERU-verb is very simple. Just add た after the stems.
Exceptional verb
Suru >>> S >>> Shita
Kuru >>> K >>> Kita
Only 2 exceptions. “suru” is a practical verb like do, so it may be used with other nouns or noun-adjectives.
How to use
At the end of statements
Short forms are typically used in conversations with friends, in soliloquies, diaries, reports, and general statements. In conversation, they are usually accompanied by ending particles.
Kyou wa kouen ni itta.
Kinou wa ame ga hutta.
Kinou eiga o mitandakedo, sugoku yokatta yo.
In modifier clauses (in senteces)
Short forms function as modifiers, which can also be clauses. Like adjectives, modifiers come before nouns. In the sentences below, the orange text indicates qualifiers for the following word.
atta hito (The person I met)
kinou atta hito wa sugoku yokatta desu. (The person I met yesterday was so nice. )
katta sofaa (Sofa I bought)
Depaato de katta sofaa wa shitsu ga iidesu. (The sofa I bought in a department store is of good quality. )
mita bangumi (the program I saw)
Kinou mita bangumi wa omoshirokattadesu. (The program I saw yesterday was funny. )