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
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 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!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
