Day Nine: Verb Bases

The First Five Bases

Let’s start on conjugation. There are 7 verb bases, each of which adjust the ending of two types of verbs, Ichidan and Godan verbs. While they conjugate differently, they each change depending on which base they are in. The 7 bases are like the first part of an equation. By changing the bases you can change the meanings of any of the verbs you use. While we won’t go into the intrinsic verb meanings today, we will go into the verb form changes for both Ichidan and Godan verbs. 

Each one of these bases correlates to a vowel: 

Base 1: a/あ

Base 2: i/い

Base 3: u/う

Base 4: e/え

Base 5: ou *long sound おう

Godan Verbs: nomu – to drink

Nomu in Base 1 = noma　のま

Nomu in Base 2 = nomi　のみ

Nomu in Base 3 = nomu　のむ

Nomu in Base 4 = nome　のめ

Nomu in Base 5 = nomou 　のもう

Are you spotting a pattern here? For Godan verbs, simply shift the verb into romaji and then change the last letter of the base verb. 

Ichidan verbs are a little more tricky because they don’t logically follow a standard pattern like the Godan Verbs.

Ichidan verbs: taberu – to eat

Taberu in Base 1 = tabe　たべ

Taberu in Base 2 = tabe たべ

Taberu in Base 3 = taberu　たべる

Taberu in Base 4 = tabero　たべろ

Taberu in Base 5 = tabeyou　たべよう

With Ichidan verbs base 1 & 2 are the same, simply cut off the last る. But base 4 and 5, you add ろ & よう respectively.