These 2 sites are excellent in their explanations # Japanese Verbs Conjugation Learn Basic Japanese verbs and thier conjugation: japanese verbs verbs conjugation verb groups narau kakaru. japanese.about.com/blvarchive.htm - Cached - Similar # All About Verbs (1) - Japanese Verb Groups Unlike the more complex verb conjugation of other languages, Japanese verbs do not have a different form to indicate the person (first-, second, ... japanese.about.com/od/grammarlessons/a/031101a.htm

Most verb forms have both a plain form and a polite form. The plain form is used among familiars, i.e. self, family, close friends, etc. The polite form is used with superiors and people with whom the speaker is not on intimate terms. To a native speaker the plain form is the one that likely appears in internal thought processes. The polite (often called "normal polite" or "masu form") is a modification of the plain form made at the time of speaking. Most methods of teaching Japanese to Westerners emphasize the polite form exclusively at first. My personal (non-expert) opinion is that both forms should be learned up front, so that the plain form can be internalized, but that the polite form should be highly exercised in speaking practice. Only the last verb in a sentence shows the politeness level of the whole sentence, so there are cases when one is being polite where plain forms are still required. The most common example is the "no desu" tag that is used at the end of a polite sentence to make the sentence explanatory. Since "desu" is already polite, the main verb of the sentence must be in plain form. A normal polite level of speech can be used (especially by foreigners) in almost any situation without causing offense. There is a whole aspect of the Japanese language of which the plain/polite distinction only scratches the surface. To master these aspects of polite language is a vast endeavor, but fortunately it is mostly unimportant for normal daily life (and again, foreigners are usually granted some special dispensation for not knowing how and when to use it). This is not to say that they should not try.

Original Question (2): Verbs that end with -u (For example 話すand 聞く) The verb in the example 話すand 聞く, the stem is not -u 話す, the stem is す. The conjugation rule for す is : (1) さ (2) し (3)す (4)す (5) せ (6)せ 聞く, the stem is く. The conjugation rule for く is (1)か (2)き (3) く (4) く (5)け (6) け Rule (1) is a negative form, for example: 話す change the stem す to さ + ない = 話さない 聞く chang the stem く to か +ない = 聞かない Rule (2) change the stem + ます or +ません or + ましよう 話す became 話します., 話しません., 話しましよう 聞く became 聞きます., 聞きません., 聞きましよう Original question: Other verbs (する and 来る) する is a stem for kanji, it is two words. Conjugation is outside the basic rule, it change the "す" to "し" , thus it became しない, します, しません, しましよう 来る the stem is る, the conjugation rule is: (1)ら (2)り (3) る (4)る (5)れ (6)れ Rule (1) for 来る is 来らない Rule (2) 来ります., 来りません., 来りましよう In modern Japanese, り is dropped from pronounciation, so in writting. 来れます and 来れば you will find it in rule (5) and (6) These are the basic Japanese conjugation rules for す, く, する, and る. Addition: ありがとう　ございます is not a verb, it can not be conjugated. In your question, you may add "ども" in the front of your sentence. Thus, it became ども ありがとう ございます.

Terve Jenniina, (1) Verbs that end with -ru (For example 食べる and 信じる) *To say "verbs that end with -ru" may be misleading, because there are some verbs that end with -ru but conjugated in pattern (2), like "kiru". Verbs that contains "-eru" ("tab-e-ru") are conjugated like this: "tab-e-ru" 食べる tab-e-nai tab-e-te/masu tab-e-ru tab-e-ru-toki (+ Noun) tab-e-re-ba tab-e-ro "yas-e-ru" 痩せる yas-e-nai yas-e-te/masu yas-e-ru yas-e-ru-toki (+ Noun) yas-e-re-ba yas-e-ro Verbs that contains "-iru" ("sinj-i-ru") are conjugated like this: "sinj-i-ru"　信じる sinj-i-nai sinj-i-te/masu sinj-i-ru sinj-i-ru-toki (+ Noun) sinj-i-re-ba sinj-i-ro "m-i-ru"　見る m-i-nai m-i-te/masu m-i-ru m-i-ru-toki (+ Noun) m-i-re-ba m-i-ro (2) Verbs that end with -u (For example 話すand 聞く) These use all the five vowels in verb conjugation. "hanas-u" 話す hanas-a-nai hanas-i-te/masu hanas-u hanas-u-toki (+ Noun) hanas-e-ba hanas-e "kik-u"　聞く kik-a-nai *kik-i-masu --> "k" is deleted in -te form: "ki-i-te kik-u kik-u-toki (+ Noun) kik-e-ba kik-e "kir-u" 切る kir-a-nai kir-i-masu --> "ri" is changed in -te form: "ki-t-te" kir-u kir-u-toki (+ Noun) kir-e-ba kir-e (3) Other verbs (する and 来る) These are irregular verbs. "suru" する si-nai si-masu/te suru suru-toki (+ Noun) sure-ba siro "kuru" 来る ko-nai ki-masu/te kuru kuru-toki (+ Noun) kure-ba --