In this part of the lesson, we will focus on the long past tense of noun sentences, which are indicated in orange in the table. We have already covered the green parts of noun sentences, where one noun is equated to another (e.g., ‘Noun is noun’ and ‘Noun is not noun’). Now, we will delve into how to express past actions or states using nouns in Japanese.

The long past tense in Japanese is used to describe actions or states that occurred in the distant past. This form is particularly useful when discussing historical events, past experiences, or actions that happened long ago.

The long forms are typically used in conversations in public, when speaking with people you don’t know well, or with older individuals. These forms convey a sense of formality and respect in Japanese communication.