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Verbs & Verb Groups

Verb groups (ru/u/irregular), ます-form, dictionary form and conjugation
動詞グループの見分け方
identifying verb groups
verb group rules
How to tell ru-verbs from u-verbs
可能形 — potential form
potential form (can)
-eru / rareru
食べられる = can eat; 行ける = can go
意向形 — volitional
volitional form (let's/intend)
-ou / -you
食べよう = let's eat / I think I'll eat (plain)
辞書形の用法
uses of the dictionary form
dictionary form uses
Before こと, ことができる, つもり, etc.
ない形 — nai-form
nai-form (plain negative)
-nai
Basis for many negative constructions
た形の作り方
forming the ta-form
ta-form formation
Same sound changes as te-form: 書いた, 飲んだ
～たり～たりする
-tari ... -tari suru
-tari -tari
食べたり飲んだりする = do things like eating and drinking
～ながら — while doing
-nagara — while doing
-nagara
食べながら = while eating (simultaneous)
自動詞・他動詞
intransitive vs transitive verbs
jidoushi / tadoushi
Pairs like 開く (open intr.) / 開ける (open tr.)
～ことができる
koto ga dekiru (can/able)
koto ga dekiru
日本語を話すことができる = can speak Japanese