Japanese Present Tense: Plain Form & Masu Form Explained

What Is the Japanese Present Tense?

In Japanese, one verb form handles both present and future meaning. The same word — たべる (taberu) — means "I eat" right now and "I will eat" tomorrow. A time word such as あした (ashita, tomorrow) or まいにち (mainichi, every day) tells your listener which is meant; you never need a separate "will" construction.

This single present-tense form comes in two registers you need to know from the start:

• Plain form (辞書形, jishokei — dictionary form): the base form, used in casual speech and writing.
• Masu form (ます形, masu-kei): the polite form, ending in ～ます (-masu). This is what you will use in most real-life conversations — with teachers, new acquaintances, colleagues, and anyone you are not already close to.

Both registers express exactly the same meaning. The difference is entirely social. Knowing both is non-negotiable for a well-rounded beginner.

If the sentence pattern A は B を Verb looks new to you, the guide to Japanese basic sentence structure lays it out step by step. And if you want to review how Japanese verbs are identified before diving into conjugation, the guide to Japanese verb classification and dictionary form is the natural starting point.

The Three Japanese Verb Groups

Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups. The group tells you exactly how to build the masu form — so identifying it is the first skill to lock in.

Group 1 — Godan verbs (五段動詞, godan dōshi) Also called U-verbs. These end in one of eight sounds: -u, -ku, -gu, -su, -tsu, -nu, -bu, -mu, or -ru (when the vowel immediately before -ru is a, u, or o). Common examples: のむ (nomu), いく (iku), よむ (yomu), かく (kaku).

Group 2 — Ichidan verbs (一段動詞, ichidan dōshi) Also called RU-verbs. These end in -iru or -eru. Common examples: たべる (taberu), みる (miru), ねる (neru).

Group 3 — Irregular verbs Only two exist: する (suru, to do) and くる (kuru, to come). Their conjugations are unique and simply need to be memorised — but because they appear in hundreds of compound verbs (べんきょうする, benkyō suru, to study; でんわする, denwa suru, to phone), you will use them constantly.

Quick identification tip: If a verb ends in anything other than -ru, it is Godan. If it ends in -ru, check the vowel before: -iru or -eru → almost certainly Ichidan; -aru, -oru, or -uru → Godan. When in doubt, note the group alongside the word when you first learn it.

How to Conjugate: Plain Form and ます (Masu) Form

Plain form needs no change — the dictionary form is the plain present tense. You use it exactly as it appears.

Masu form is built from the verb stem using one simple rule per group:

• Group 1 (Godan): Change the final -u sound to the corresponding -i sound in the Japanese syllabary, then add ます. のむ → のみ → のみます
• Group 2 (Ichidan): Drop the final る, then add ます. たべる → たべ → たべます
• Group 3 (Irregular): する → します (shimasu); くる → きます (kimasu). No pattern — memorise these two.

Present Tense Conjugation Reference

Still unsure which form to use in which situation? Book your Free Trial on LINE and practise conjugating these verbs live in real conversation with a teacher — one session makes the pattern click far faster than drilling alone.

Plain vs. Masu Form: Choosing the Right Register

The difference between plain and masu form is not grammar — it is social context.

Use ます form when speaking to: - Anyone you have just met - Teachers, managers, or people older than you - Shop staff, waiters, or service workers - Colleagues in a professional or formal setting

Use plain form when speaking to: - Close friends - Family members you are informal with - In diary entries, casual texts, or internal monologue

Cultural note: Japanese society places a high value on teinei-go (ていねい語 — polite language), and the ます form is its everyday backbone. You will notice that TV presenters, shop staff, teachers, and doctors all default to ます naturally, in the same way an English speaker says "please" without thinking about it. For a learner, the safest rule is: if you are not certain of the relationship, use ます.

Plain form also appears inside subordinate clauses and relative clauses regardless of how polite the overall sentence is, so you need to recognise both registers fluently. For now, speak in ます and read for plain.

Once your verb forms feel stable, expanding your sentences with descriptive words is the obvious next step — the guide to useful Japanese adjectives pairs naturally with the patterns you have just learned here.

Example Sentences in Context

Here are five sentences using the present tense across different verb groups and real-life topics. Pay particular attention to sentences 3 and 5: they use present-tense verbs to express a future plan, showing exactly how context handles what English handles with "will."

1. わたしは まいにち すしを たべます。 Watashi wa mainichi sushi wo tabemasu. I eat sushi every day. (Ichidan verb; polite form; regular habit)

2. かれは こうえんへ いく。 Kare wa kōen e iku. He goes to the park. (Godan verb; plain form; casual statement)

3. あした、ともだちと えいがを みます。 Ashita, tomodachi to eiga wo mimasu. Tomorrow, I'm going to watch a movie with a friend. (Present form = future plan; note あした signals the future)

4. わたしたちは にほんごを べんきょうします。 Watashitachi wa nihongo wo benkyō shimasu. We study Japanese. (Irregular する verb; polite form)

5. おかあさんは まいあさ おちゃを のむ。 Okāsan wa maiasa ocha wo nomu. My mother drinks green tea every morning. (Godan verb; plain form; routine)

When you are ready to talk about intentions and plans that sit further in the future — such as schedules, ambitions, or upcoming trips — the guide to expressing future plans in Japanese builds directly on what you have practised here.

Common Mistakes Learners Make

1. Searching for a separate future tense This is the single most common beginner confusion. English speakers instinctively look for a "will go" form, and when textbooks label the dictionary form as "present tense", learners assume something is missing. Nothing is missing. いきます (ikimasu) means both "I go" and "I will go." Add a time word — あした (ashita, tomorrow), らいしゅう (raishū, next week) — and the future meaning is unambiguous.

2. Using plain form in polite situations Learners often produce grammatically correct sentences in plain form and are puzzled when a Japanese listener seems slightly taken aback. Saying のむ (nomu) to a shop assistant rather than のみます (nomimasu) is not a serious error, but it sounds blunt and informal. Until switching registers feels natural, default to ます for all speech outside your closest friends.

3. Misclassifying -ru verbs as Ichidan Several very common verbs end in -ru but are Godan. かえる (kaeru, to go home → かえります, kaerimasu), はいる (hairu, to enter → はいります, hairimasu), and しる (shiru, to know → しります, shirimasu) regularly trip up learners who assume any -ru verb is Ichidan. When you encounter a -ru verb for the first time, note its group explicitly alongside its meaning.

4. Dropping particles under pressure When learners are nervous or rushing, particles — を (wo), へ (e), に (ni), で (de) — are the first things to disappear. The sentence can still be understood from context, but dropping particles is like dropping prepositions in English: "I go school" or "I eat sushi table" sounds clearly incomplete to a native speaker. Keep particles in place even if your sentence comes out slowly.

Practice: Test Your Knowledge

Complete all three sections, then check your answers below.

Section A — Identify the Meaning

Section B — Convert to ます Form

Section C — Translate into Japanese (polite form)

Answers

Section A: 1 — eat / will eat | 2 — drink / will drink | 3 — go / will go | 4 — see / watch / will see

Section B: 5 — よみます (yomimasu) | 6 — たべます (tabemasu) | 7 — します (shimasu)

Section C: 8 — わたしは すしを たべます。(Watashi wa sushi wo tabemasu.) 9 — わたしは ほんを よみます。(Watashi wa hon wo yomimasu.) 10 — わたしは みずを のみます。(Watashi wa mizu wo nomimasu.)

FAQ

Does Japanese have a future tense?

No — Japanese has no dedicated future tense. The plain form and masu form both cover present and future meaning equally. A time expression such as あした (ashita, tomorrow) or らいねん (rainen, next year) signals that the action is future. Native speakers rely on context naturally and never feel anything is missing from the grammar.

What is the difference between plain form and masu form?

Both forms express exactly the same present or future meaning. The difference is social register: masu form is polite and is appropriate for almost every real-world interaction; plain form is informal and is reserved for close friends and casual writing. When in doubt, always choose masu form — it is never inappropriate in any situation.

How do I know which verb group a Japanese verb belongs to?

If the verb ends in anything other than -ru, it is Godan (Group 1). If it ends in -iru or -eru, it is very likely Ichidan (Group 2) — but exceptions exist, so confirm with a dictionary. When you first learn a new verb, note its group alongside its meaning. That one habit eliminates almost all conjugation errors down the road.

Can I use both plain form and masu form in the same conversation?

Native speakers mix registers naturally, shifting between them based on closeness to the listener and the sentence's role within longer speech. As a learner, choosing one register and staying consistent is the more reliable strategy. Start with masu form for all spoken output — it is both safer and more socially appropriate until switching feels instinctive.

Continue Learning

Previous lesson: Japanese Verb Basics — how verbs are classified and what the dictionary form is

Next lesson: Japanese Negative Form — how to make verbs negative in plain and polite speech

This article is Lesson 46 of the Kind Japanese 100-day beginner curriculum.