JLPT N5 grammar · The TE-Form Core
Plain style [Verb]: meaning, usage and examples
Plain style [Verb] means: (Conjugation for verbs, plain form).
How to form it
Positive: dict form / Negative: 〜ない / Past: 〜た / Past neg: 〜なかった
Examples
行く、行かない、行った、行かなかった
go, don't go, went, didn't go
食べる、食べない、食べた、食べなかった
eat, don't eat, ate, didn't eat
明日は学校に行かない。
I’m not going to school tomorrow.
昨日、すしを食べた。
I ate sushi yesterday.
今朝は何も食べなかった。
I didn’t eat anything this morning.
When to use it
Plain form verbs are used in casual conversation and as embedded clauses before nouns and sentence-final particles.
Nuance
Plain form is gender-neutral but can sound blunt. Context determines if it's rude.
Compare
Polite: 行きます / 行きません / 行きました / 行きませんでした.
Tip: JLPT reading passages use plain form throughout: getting comfortable with it is essential.
More on this in Japanese verb conjugation.
More in The TE-Form Core
- Verb Group [dictionary-form] Version: Verb groups by dictionary form: Group 1 (-u verbs, including some -iru/-eru verbs such as 帰る and 走る), Group 2 (-iru/-eru verbs such as 食べる and 見る), Group 3 (irregular: する and 来る)
- Verb Group [masu-form] Version: Masu form: Group 1 verbs change the final -u to -i + ます (飲む → 飲みます); Group 2 verbs drop る + ます (食べる → 食べます, 見る → 見ます); する → します, 来る → 来ます
- Polite style [Verb]: (Conjugation for verbs, polite form)
- Verb て形 (Te form): Verb te-form (used for requests, joining actions, etc.)
- ~て: (used to join two or more sentences/actions together)
- ~てください / 〜ないでください: please do... / please don't do...
- ~ています: (1. an action in progress) (2. a resulting condition/state)
- ~てはいけません: must not... (strong prohibition)
- ~てもいいですか: may I [Verb]? (asking for permission)
Frequently asked questions
What does Plain style [Verb] mean?
(Conjugation for verbs, plain form). Example: 行く、行かない、行った、行かなかった (go, don't go, went, didn't go)
How do you form Plain style [Verb]?
Positive: dict form / Negative: 〜ない / Past: 〜た / Past neg: 〜なかった. JLPT reading passages use plain form throughout: getting comfortable with it is essential.