Japanese present past and future form

Ever wonder whether Japanese language has Present, Past and Future form or not? The answer is Actually YES! However, present tense is actually being used for future tense in a habitual way. On this post we will have a look on Japanese present past future tense.

japanese_tense_incompletesky

to eatたべる (taberu)

PastPresentFuture
たべました (tabemashita)
i ate
たべています (tabeteimasu)
i am eating
たべます (tabemasu)
i will eat

to eatたべる (taberu) is dictionary form of the verb word.
To make it past replace ru with mashita. (informal is tabeta)
To make it present replace ru with te form + imasu.
To make it future replace ru with masu.
Lets see some more examples:

to sleepねる (neru)

PastPresentFuture
ねました (nemashita)
i slept
ねています (neteimasu)
i am sleeping
ねます (nemasu)
i will sleep

to sleep ねる (neru) is dictionary form of the verb word.
To make it past replace ru with mashita. (informal is neta)
To make it present replace ru with te form + imasu.
To make it future replace ru with masu.

to drinkのむ (nomu)

PastPresentFuture
のみました (nomimashita)
i drank
のんで います (nondeimasu)
i am drinking
のみます (nomimasu)
i will drink

You may have already noticed above のむ (Nomu) is slightly different for Present form. This is a rule/exception. However, we will not go into deep explanation on this post. For now just remember it and use it whenever you have the chances.

to see – みる (miru)

PastPresentFuture
みました (mimashita)
i saw
みで います (miteimasu)
i am seeing
みます (mimasu)
i will see

to see – みる (miru) is dictionary form of the verb word.
To make it past replace ru with mashita. (informal is mita)
To make it present replace ru with te form + imasu.
To make it future replace ru with masu.

to listen – きく (kiku)

PastPresentFuture
ききました (kikimashita)
i listened
きいで います (kiiteimasu)
i am listening
ききます (kikimasu)
i will listen

to listen – きく (kiku) is dictionary form of the verb word.
To make it past replace u with imashita. (informal is kikita)
To make it present replace ku with ite form + imasu.
To make it future replace u with imasu.

Here again for listen, it works in a different way. This is rule/exception.

How are these rules work?

In order to conjugate the dictionary form of the verb you have to have a solid understanding with the verb groups. There are three verb groups in Japanese language.

Well so.. enough of the learning today. Now you know that there are actually Japanese present past future tense. Try above words in your daily life whenever you wants to.

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