Polite Forms in Japanese ます and ません

Mastering Polite Forms in Japanese:ます/ません

Politeness is a core aspect of the Japanese language, and the ます/ません forms are fundamental tools for expressing yourself respectfully. These polite forms are used to conjugate verbs in both affirmative and negative forms. To help you understand, we’ll break down the process of creating ます (affirmative polite) and ません (negative polite) forms for all three verb groups in Japanese.

Verb Groups in Japanese

Japanese verbs are classified into three groups based on their conjugation patterns:

1. Group 1 (う-verbs): Verbs that end with a syllable from the う row (like かく, のむ, はなす).
2. Group 2 (る-verbs): Verbs that end in る, with their stem typically ending in an e or i sound (like たべる, みる).
3. Group 3 (Irregular verbs): Two irregular verbs, する (to do) and くる (to come).

1. Making Affirmative Polite Forms (ます)

The ます form is the polite, affirmative form of the verb. Here’s how you conjugate verbs for each group:

Group 1 (う-verbs):

1. Replace the final う sound with its corresponding い sound.
2. Add ます.

Examples:

• 書く (かく) → 書き → 書きます = “I write.”
• 飲む (のむ) → 飲み → 飲みます = “I drink.”
• 話す (はなす) → 話し → 話します = “I speak.”

Group 2 (る-verbs):

1. Remove る to get the stem.
2. Add ます.

Examples:

• 食べる (たべる) → 食べ → 食べます = “I eat.”
• 見る (みる) → 見 → 見ます = “I see.”

Group 3 (Irregular verbs):

1. Memorize these forms, as they do not follow typical patterns.
   • する → します = “I do.”
   • くる → きます = “I come.”

2. Making Negative Polite Forms (ません)

The ません form is the polite, negative form of the verb. The process is similar to ます, but you replace ます with ません to express negation.

Group 1 (う-verbs):

1. Replace the final う sound with its corresponding い sound.
2. Add ません.

Examples:

• 書く (かく) → 書き → 書きません = “I do not write.”
• 飲む (のむ) → 飲み → 飲みません = “I do not drink.”
• 話す (はなす) → 話し → 話しません = “I do not speak.”

Group 2 (る-verbs):

1. Remove る to get the stem.
2. Add ません.

Examples:

• 食べる (たべる) → 食べ → 食べません = “I do not eat.”
• 見る (みる) → 見 → 見ません = “I do not see.”

Group 3 (Irregular verbs):

1. Memorize these forms.
   • する → しません = “I do not do.”
   • くる → きません = “I do not come.”

3. Examples for Practice

Let’s see these forms in action with full sentences:

Affirmative:

• あした、図書館に行きます。
  Ashita, toshokan ni ikimasu.
  “I will go to the library tomorrow.”
• 毎日日本語を勉強します。
  Mainichi nihongo o benkyou shimasu.
  “I study Japanese every day.”

Negative:

• お酒は飲みません。
  Osake wa nomimasen.
  “I do not drink alcohol.”
• 学校へ来ませんでした。
  Gakkou e kimasen deshita.
  “I did not come to school.”

Key Points to Remember

1. Polite Speech: Always use ます and ません when addressing someone respectfully.
2. Group Identification: Correctly identifying verb groups is critical for accurate conjugation.
3. Consistency: Stick to one level of politeness throughout a conversation.

Practice Makes Perfect

Try conjugating these verbs into ます and ません forms:

1. 読む (よむ)
2. 起きる (おきる)
3. 遊ぶ (あそぶ)
4. する

Create your own sentences using these forms to solidify your understanding. Consistent practice is the key to mastering Japanese polite forms!

With these steps, you’re well on your way to speaking Japanese with confidence and respect. Keep practicing, and remember: small steps lead to big progress. 頑張ってください！

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Japanese

vikas kumar

mylanguageclassesvk@gmail.com | Website |  + postsBio ⮌

Vikas Kumar is a dedicated language educator, content creator, and digital entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of My Language Classes and The Curious Mind. With a strong focus on helping learners achieve fluency in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he has guided audiences worldwide through a diverse range of resources, including in-depth blog articles, engaging YouTube tutorials, and comprehensive Books.

Through My Language Classes, Vikas has built a thriving multilingual learning platform that serves students, travelers, and professionals eager to master communication skills for personal, academic, and professional success. His expertise extends to exam preparation for internationally recognized certifications such as JLPT, DELE, IELTS, and TOEFL, enabling learners to achieve tangible, career-enhancing results.

As the founder of The Curious Mind, he also explores broader areas of knowledge, including self-help, motivation, modern learning strategies, and thought-provoking insights on life and personal growth. His work blends practical teaching methods with a deep understanding of learner psychology, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.

Driven by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to all, Vikas continues to expand his reach across multiple platforms, including YouTube, blogs, eBooks, and social media communities, inspiring thousands to learn, grow, and embrace lifelong learning.

• vikas kumar

  https://mylanguageclasses.in/author/mylanguageclasses/

  JLPT CEFR Mapping from December 2025: Everything you need to know
• vikas kumar

  https://mylanguageclasses.in/author/mylanguageclasses/

  Language Learning in the Age of AI: Why Human Skills Still Matter
• vikas kumar

  https://mylanguageclasses.in/author/mylanguageclasses/

  The Complete Guide on Spanish Verbs
• vikas kumar

  https://mylanguageclasses.in/author/mylanguageclasses/

  The Complete Guide to Spanish Pronouns