Japanese ru-verbs at a glance:
| What they are | Group 2 verbs ending in -eru or -iru (一段動詞) |
| Examples | taberu (食べる), miru (見る), neru (寝る) |
| Polite form | Drop る, add ます → tabemasu (食べます) |
| Exception | kaeru (帰る, to return) is a u-verb, not a ru-verb! |
👇 Read on for the full conjugation rules, practice drills, and how to spot exceptions.
Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Japanese verbs might seem tricky at first, but there’s good news: ru-verbs (also called Group 2 verbs) are the easiest to learn!
They follow regular patterns and are very common in everyday speech.
In this article, you’ll learn:
✔ What ru-verbs are and how to recognize them
✔ How to conjugate ru-verbs into polite forms
✔ Essential vocabulary with real-life examples
✔ A quick practice section to test yourself
Let’s dive in!
1. What Are Ru-Verbs?
Japanese verbs are divided into 3 groups:
- Ru-verbs (る-verbs) ← today’s focus
- U-verbs (う-verbs)
- Irregular verbs
Ru-verbs are verbs that usually end in -eru or -iru, such as:
- 食べる（たべる / taberu）– to eat
- 見る（みる / miru）– to watch
- 寝る（ねる / neru）– to sleep
- 起きる（おきる / okiru）– to get up
Be careful: some verbs that end in -iru or -eru are not ru-verbs (you’ll learn more in future lessons!).
2. How to Conjugate Ru-Verbs (Polite Form)
Ru-verbs are super easy to conjugate!
Just drop -る and add:
| Tense | Ending | Example: 食べる (to eat) |
|---|---|---|
| Present, Affirmative | ます | 食べます (I eat / will eat) |
| Present, Negative | ません | 食べません (I don’t eat) |
More examples:
| Dictionary Form | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| 見る (miru, to see) | 見ます | 見ません |
| 寝る (neru, to sleep) | 寝ます | 寝ません |
| 忘れる (wasureru, to forget) | 忘れます | 忘れません |
| 開ける (akeru, to open) | 開けます | 開けません |
| 助ける (tasukeru, to help) | 助けます | 助けません |
3. Real-Life Sentence Examples
朝ご飯を食べます。
(asagohan o tabemasu)
→ I eat breakfast.
毎日テレビを見ます。
(mainichi terebi o mimasu)
→ I watch TV every day.
夜10時に寝ます。
(yoru juuji ni nemasu)
→ I go to bed at 10 o’clock at night.
午前7時に起きます。
(gozen shichiji ni okimasu)
→ I get up at 7 a.m.
ドアを開けません。
(doa o akemasen)
→ I don’t open the door.
4. Ru-Verb Practice: Conjugation Drill
Conjugate the following ru-verbs into their polite forms.
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| 食べる (taberu) | 食べます | 食べません |
| 見る (miru) | 見ます | 見ません |
| 寝る (neru) | 寝ます | 寝ません |
| 起きる (okiru) | 起きます | 起きません |
| 忘れる (wasureru) | 忘れます | 忘れません |
| 開ける (akeru) | 開けます | 開けません |
| 助ける (tasukeru) | 助けます | 助けません |
Try reading them aloud!
5. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QHow do I know if a verb is a ru-verb?
- A
Ru-verbs usually end in -eru or -iru, and the syllable before る has an i or e vowel sound. But be careful — there are exceptions! For example:
かえる (kaeru – to return) is a u-verb, not a ru-verb.
- QCan I use “ます / ません” with all verbs?
- A
Yes, but the way you add ます or ません depends on the verb group. Ru-verbs are the most regular, so they’re a great starting point.
- QWhat does “dictionary form” mean?
- A
It’s the plain, base form of a verb – the one you’ll find in dictionaries.
Example: たべる, みる, ねる, etc.
- QWhat’s the difference between ru-verbs and u-verbs?
- A
U-verbs have different conjugation rules. For example, のむ (to drink) becomes のみます, not のます. You’ll learn more about u-verbs in the next unit!
- QDo native Japanese speakers use the terms ‘ru-verb’ and ‘u-verb’?
- A
The terms “ru-verb” and “u-verb” were created for Japanese learners. Native Japanese speakers are often unfamiliar with these terms, as they are not used in standard Japanese grammar.
In traditional Japanese grammar, “ru-verbs” (Group 2) are called 一段動詞 (ichidan-doushi), and “u-verbs” (Group 1) are called 五段動詞 (godan-doushi).
6. Conclusion: Start Using Ru-Verbs with Confidence!
Ru-verbs are the perfect place to begin your journey into Japanese verbs.
They follow a clear pattern, and many of them describe everyday actions like eating, sleeping, and watching.
🎯 Your next step: Try making 3 sentences using any of the ru-verbs from this article. Say them out loud or write them in your notebook!
