Plain Past Tense (Ta-Form)
Quick Answer: The plain past (た-form) follows the exact same consonant changes as te-form, but ends in た/だ instead of て/で. Group 1: って→った, んで→んだ, いて→いた, して→した. Group 2: る→た. Irregular: した, 来た.
Casual past tense and the gateway to many grammar patterns
Category: Verb Forms
The Rule
The plain past (た-form) follows the exact same consonant changes as te-form, but ends in た/だ instead of て/で. Group 1: って→った, んで→んだ, いて→いた, して→した. Group 2: る→た. Irregular: した, 来た.
Why This Matters
Good news: if you know te-form, you already know ta-form — just swap て→た and で→だ. The plain past is used in casual speech, before grammar patterns like 〜たことがある (have experienced), 〜たほうがいい (should), and 〜たり〜たりする (do things like).
Examples
• 昨日映画を見た。 — "I watched a movie yesterday." [Casual past: 見る → 見た (Group 2)] • 日本に行ったことがありますか？ — "Have you ever been to Japan?" [た + ことがある = experience pattern] • もう宿題をやった？ — "Did you already do your homework?" [Casual question — やる → やった] • 早く寝たほうがいいですよ。 — "You should go to bed early." [た + ほうがいい = advice pattern]
Common Mistakes
❌ 食べるた ✅ 食べた → Group 2: drop る, add た. Don't keep the る ❌ 読むた ✅ 読んだ → む-ending verbs: む → んだ (not むた). Same pattern as te-form: 読んで → 読んだ
Quick Tip
Ta-form = te-form with て→た, で→だ. If you can make te-form, you can make ta-form instantly. Master te-form and you get ta-form for free.
Ta-form = te-form with て→た, で→だ. If you can make te-form, you can make ta-form instantly. Master te-form and you get ta-form for free.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 食べるた → Correct: 食べた. Group 2: drop る, add た. Don't keep the る
Incorrect: 読むた → Correct: 読んだ. む-ending verbs: む → んだ (not むた). Same pattern as te-form: 読んで → 読んだ
Quiz
What is the plain past of 遊ぶ (asobu, to play)?