The Polite Verb Form: 〜ます (丁寧語)
Master the polite present and future verb ending: attach ます to the verb stem (連用形) to establish respectful social distance, navigate habitual routines, and express upcoming decisions without a future tense marker.
Polite Non-Past Affirmative (~ます)
maiasa pan o tabemasu
I eat bread every morning.
Plain Dictionary Form vs Polite Masu Form
Micro-Shift朝は コーヒーを 飲む。
Casual / plain dictionary formI drink coffee in the morning.
Dictionary form is natural with friends and family, but too blunt with acquaintances.
Example Sentences
Do you wear a kimono?
I need a map
Verb Endings Matrix
6 rulesGroup 2 · Ichidan Verbs
| Form | Ending change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drop る + ます | るます | 食べる(eat)食べます見る(see)見ます |
Group 1 · Godan Verbs
| Form | Ending change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I-Row Shift (い / ち / り) | う · つ · るいます · ちます · ります | 買う(buy)買います待つ(wait)待ちます取る(take)取ります |
| I-Row Shift (み / び / に) | む · ぶ · ぬみます · びます · にます | 飲む(drink)飲みます呼ぶ(call)呼びます |
| I-Row Shift (き / ぎ) | く · ぐきます · ぎます | 書く(write)書きます泳ぐ(swim)泳ぎます |
| I-Row Shift (し) | すします | 話す(speak)話します |
Group 3 · Irregular Verbs
| Form | Ending change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular Stems | する · くるします · きます | する(do)します来る(come)来ます (きます) |
Mental Model: The Social Distance & Horizon Anchor
In Japanese society, using the 〜ます form is the universal standard for adult conversation:
- Safe Social Space: It signals composure, respect, and cordial distance toward strangers, coworkers, superiors, and service staff.
- Present & Future in One Form: Japanese has no dedicated future tense marker (there is no Japanese equivalent to English “will”). The 〜ます form seamlessly covers both habitual present actions and decided future intentions:
- Habitual present: 毎朝 コーヒーを 飲みます。 (“I drink coffee every morning.”)
- Decided future: 明日 友達に 会います。 (“I will meet my friend tomorrow.”).
Derivation from the Verb Stem (連用形)
To conjugate into 〜ます, you attach it to the verb's continuative stem (連用形):
- Group 2 (Ichidan / ru-verbs): Frictionless: simply drop る and attach ます: 食べる → 食べます (“eat”) · 見る → 見ます (“watch”) · 起きる → 起きます (“wake up”).
- Group 1 (Godan / u-verbs): Shift the final syllable from the U-row to the I-row, then attach ます:
- ku → ki: 書く → 書きます (“write”)
- gu → gi: 泳ぐ → 泳ぎます (“swim”)
- su → shi: 話す → 話します (“speak”)
- tsu → chi: 待つ → 待ちます (“wait”)
- mu → mi: 飲む → 飲みます (“drink”)
- ru → ri: 取る → 取ります (“take”)
- u → i: 買う → 買います (“buy”)
The Four Quadrants of Polite Tense
Master the four fundamental polite endings:
- Present Affirmative: 食べます (“eat / will eat”)
- Present Negative: 食べません (“do not eat / will not eat”)
- Past Affirmative: 食べました (“ate”)
- Past Negative: 食べませんでした (“did not eat”).
Essential Superstructures Built on the Stem
Once you isolate the continuative stem (e.g. 食べ-, 飲み-), you can build major functional patterns:
- Invitation / Let's: 〜ましょう → 行きましょう！ (“Let's go!”)
- Polite Suggestion: 〜ませんか → お茶を 飲みませんか。 (“Won't you have some tea with me?”)
- Desire: 〜たい → 日本へ 行きたいです。 (“I want to go to Japan.”)
- Purpose of Motion: Stem + に行く → 映画を 見に行きます。 (“I am going to see a movie.”).
In Dialogue
Kenji
Yukiいつもコーヒーを飲みます。
I always drink coffee.
Tips and Common Traps
Quick Check
Choose the correct polite present affirmative form of the verb 飲む (to drink).