Masu Form: The Polite Workhorse
Quick Answer: The ます (masu) form is the standard polite present/future tense. Group 1 (u-verbs): change the final u-sound to i-sound + ます. Group 2 (ru-verbs): drop る + ます. Irregular: する→します, 来る→来ます.
Your default verb form for everyday polite Japanese
Category: Verb Forms
The Rule
The ます (masu) form is the standard polite present/future tense. Group 1 (u-verbs): change the final u-sound to i-sound + ます. Group 2 (ru-verbs): drop る + ます. Irregular: する→します, 来る→来ます.
Why This Matters
English has one present tense form regardless of politeness. Japanese has plain and polite levels, and ます is the polite default. Most textbooks teach this first because it's what you use with strangers, coworkers, and anyone you're not close to.
Examples
• 毎日日本語を勉強します。 — "I study Japanese every day." [Group 1: 勉強する → 勉強します] • 朝七時に起きます。 — "I wake up at 7 in the morning." [Group 2: 起きる → 起きます] • 明日東京に行きます。 — "I will go to Tokyo tomorrow." [Group 1: 行く → 行きます (also used for future)] • 週末は何をしますか？ — "What will you do on the weekend?" [する → します (irregular)]
Common Mistakes
❌ 食べるます ✅ 食べます → Drop る before adding ます for Group 2 verbs. Don't keep the る ❌ 飲むます ✅ 飲みます → Group 1 verbs change the u-row to i-row: む→み, then add ます. 飲む → 飲み + ます
Quick Tip
Memorize the Group 1 vowel shift: u→i (飲む→飲み, 書く→書き, 話す→話し). Group 2 is easier: just drop る. When in doubt about the group, check if the vowel before る is an e or i sound.
Memorize the Group 1 vowel shift: u→i (飲む→飲み, 書く→書き, 話す→話し). Group 2 is easier: just drop る. When in doubt about the group, check if the vowel before る is an e or i sound.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 食べるます → Correct: 食べます. Drop る before adding ます for Group 2 verbs. Don't keep the る
Incorrect: 飲むます → Correct: 飲みます. Group 1 verbs change the u-row to i-row: む→み, then add ます. 飲む → 飲み + ます
Quiz
What is the ます form of 書く (kaku, to write)?