Suzukisan wa biiru o nomanai
Short negative (nai-form)
In this section, you will learn the short negative forms of verbs, also known as the “nai-form”.
| Short from | Long form | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | kaku | kakimasu |
| Negative | kakanai | kakimasen |
| Past affirmative | kaita | kakimashita |
| Past negative | kakanakatta | kakimasendeshita |
| te-form | kaite | kakimashite |
U-verb
iku >>> ikanai
nomu >>> nomanai
stem + anai
IRU, ERU verb
taberu >>> tabenai
kiru >>> kinai
stem + nai
Exceptions
suru >>> shinai
kuru >>> konai
aru >>> nai
Short past negative (nakatta-form)
| Short form | Long form | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | kaku | kakimasu |
| Negative | kakanai | kakimasen |
| Past affirmative | kaita | kakimashita |
| Past negative | kakanakatta | kakimasendeshita |
| te-form | kaite | kakimashite |
U-verb
iku >>> ikanakatta
nomu >>> nomanakatta
stem + anakatta
IRU, ERU verb
taberu >>> tabenakatta
kiru >>> kinakatta
stem + nakatta
Exceptions
suru >>> shinakatta
kuru >>> konakatta
aru >>> nakatta
How to use short forms
Short forms are used both within sentences and at the end of sentences. Here are the two main functions of short forms.
At the end of statements
Short forms are used to state something, whether in soliloquy, reports, or other contexts. They are also commonly used in conversations with closer relationships and are typically accompanied by ending particles such as “no”, “yo”, “ne”, “ndesu”, and “ndakedo”.
Kyou wa shinjuku e dekakeru.
Asa wa pan o taberu.
Nihon de kuruma wa hidari o hashiru.
Kinou shibuya ni itta no?
Ikanakatta yo.
In modifier clauses (in sentences)
Short forms also function as modifiers, which can be clauses. Similar to adjectives, modifiers come before nouns. In the sentences below, the orange text indicates the qualifiers for the following word “ikemen”.
undou suru ikemen (A good-looking guy who exercises)
jimu de undou suru ikemen (A good-looking guy who exercises at the gym)
jimu de shuusankai undou suru ikemen (A good-looking guy who exercises at the gym 3 times a week)
kare wa jimu de shuusankai undou suru ikemen desu (He is a good-looking guy who exercises at the gym 3 times a week)
Expressions
Kyou wa jimu ni ikanai.
Suzukisan wa biiru o nomanai.
Osake o nomanai hito
Annasan wa sakana o tabenai.
Buta o tabenai musurimu
Kinou wa jimu ni ikanakatta.