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Understanding the past/present/current tense of verbs. Instead of writing in hiragana or katakana and run the risk of making multiple mistakes, I thought I would keep this one simple. When a verb is brought into a question (EX. Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?), I am understanding that "masu" is for present or current tense. For the rest I will put in order to what I'm assuming is the meaning (Using the same base verb): a.)Wakari"masu": Does understand. b.)Wakari"masen": Do not understand. c.)Wakari"mashita": Did understand or understood? d.)Wakari"masendeshita": Did not understand or cannot understand? I'm not completely sure how accurate this is, but I'd rather be speaking properly than put my own foot in my mouth. Thanks for any and all assistance.

Corrections · 3

1

Yes, you are correct. What you wrote was in the case of honorific language (masu-form). Let me also give you additional information on casual language (normal form)


Honorific Language (masu-form)

      Positive         Negative

Present           -masu            -masen

Past                 -mashita        -masendeshita


Casual Language (normal form)

      Positive                          Negative

Present      -ru (original form)             -nai (nai-form)

Past            -ta (ta form)                      -nakatta



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