Learning Japanese can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One such challenge is understanding the different forms of speech used in different contexts. Japanese language learners often grapple with the concept of the plain form and the polite form, especially when these forms change across various tenses. This article aims to demystify the use of plain and polite forms in different tenses, helping you gain a better grasp of Japanese grammar.
Understanding Plain Form and Polite Form
Before delving into the tenses, it’s crucial to grasp the basic difference between plain form and polite form.
The plain form, also known as the dictionary form, is the most basic form of a verb or adjective. It’s often used in casual conversations among friends, family, or people of the same age or social status. The plain form is also used in written Japanese, such as in books, newspapers, and informal texts like diaries.
On the other hand, the polite form, also known as the -masu form, is used in formal or respectful situations. This form is typically used when speaking to strangers, superiors, or in any situation that requires a degree of respect. The polite form is also commonly used in business settings and public speaking.
Plain and Polite Forms in Different Tenses
Let’s break down how these forms change in different tenses: present, past, negative, and negative past.
Present Tense
In the present tense, the plain form and polite form are quite distinct.
– **Plain Form**: For verbs, the plain form is simply the dictionary form of the verb. For example:
– 食べる (taberu) – to eat
– 行く (iku) – to go
– **Polite Form**: For verbs, the polite form in the present tense ends with -ます. For example:
– 食べます (tabemasu) – to eat
– 行きます (ikimasu) – to go
For adjectives, the situation is slightly different:
– **Plain Form**: For i-adjectives, the plain form is the adjective itself, such as:
– 楽しい (tanoshii) – fun
– 高い (takai) – expensive
For na-adjectives, you add だ (da) to the adjective:
– きれいだ (kireida) – beautiful
– 静かだ (shizukada) – quiet
– **Polite Form**: For both i-adjectives and na-adjectives, you add です (desu):
– 楽しいです (tanoshii desu) – fun
– 高いです (takai desu) – expensive
– きれいです (kirei desu) – beautiful
– 静かです (shizuka desu) – quiet
Past Tense
The past tense forms in Japanese also differ significantly between plain and polite forms.
– **Plain Form**: For verbs, you generally change the -u ending to -ta. For example:
– 食べた (tabeta) – ate
– 行った (itta) – went
– **Polite Form**: In the polite form, you change -ます to -ました:
– 食べました (tabemashita) – ate
– 行きました (ikimashita) – went
For adjectives, the changes are as follows:
– **Plain Form**: For i-adjectives, you replace the final い (i) with かった (katta):
– 楽しかった (tanoshikatta) – was fun
– 高かった (takakatta) – was expensive
For na-adjectives, you replace だ (da) with だった (datta):
– きれいだった (kireidatta) – was beautiful
– 静かだった (shizukadatta) – was quiet
– **Polite Form**: For both i-adjectives and na-adjectives, you add でした (deshita):
– 楽しかったです (tanoshikatta desu) – was fun
– 高かったです (takakatta desu) – was expensive
– きれいでした (kirei deshita) – was beautiful
– 静かでした (shizuka deshita) – was quiet
Negative Form
Negative forms are also different between plain and polite forms.
– **Plain Form**: For verbs, you replace the -u ending with -anai. For example:
– 食べない (tabenai) – do not eat
– 行かない (ikanai) – do not go
– **Polite Form**: In the polite form, you change -ます to -ません:
– 食べません (tabemasen) – do not eat
– 行きません (ikimasen) – do not go
For adjectives, the negative forms are:
– **Plain Form**: For i-adjectives, you replace the final い (i) with くない (kunai):
– 楽しくない (tanoshikunai) – not fun
– 高くない (takakunai) – not expensive
For na-adjectives, you replace だ (da) with ではない (dewa nai):
– きれいではない (kirei dewa nai) – not beautiful
– 静かではない (shizuka dewa nai) – not quiet
– **Polite Form**: For both i-adjectives and na-adjectives, you add くないです (kunai desu) or ではありません (dewa arimasen):
– 楽しくないです (tanoshikunai desu) – not fun
– 高くないです (takakunai desu) – not expensive
– きれいではありません (kirei dewa arimasen) – not beautiful
– 静かではありません (shizuka dewa arimasen) – not quiet
Negative Past Form
The negative past form adds another layer of complexity.
– **Plain Form**: For verbs, you replace the -u ending with -anakatta. For example:
– 食べなかった (tabenakatta) – did not eat
– 行かなかった (ikanakatta) – did not go
– **Polite Form**: In the polite form, you change -ません to -ませんでした:
– 食べませんでした (tabemasen deshita) – did not eat
– 行きませんでした (ikimasen deshita) – did not go
For adjectives, the changes are:
– **Plain Form**: For i-adjectives, you replace the final い (i) with くなかった (kunakatta):
– 楽しくなかった (tanoshikunakatta) – was not fun
– 高くなかった (takakunakatta) – was not expensive
For na-adjectives, you replace だ (da) with ではなかった (dewa nakatta):
– きれいではなかった (kirei dewa nakatta) – was not beautiful
– 静かではなかった (shizuka dewa nakatta) – was not quiet
– **Polite Form**: For both i-adjectives and na-adjectives, you add くなかったです (kunakatta desu) or ではありませんでした (dewa arimasen deshita):
– 楽しくなかったです (tanoshikunakatta desu) – was not fun
– 高くなかったです (takakunakatta desu) – was not expensive
– きれいではありませんでした (kirei dewa arimasen deshita) – was not beautiful
– 静かではありませんでした (shizuka dewa arimasen deshita) – was not quiet
Contextual Usage
Understanding when to use the plain form and when to use the polite form is crucial for effective communication in Japanese. Here are some general guidelines:
– **Plain Form**: Use it in casual conversations among friends, family, or people of the same age or social status. It’s also used in written Japanese, such as in books, newspapers, and informal texts like diaries.
– **Polite Form**: Use it in formal or respectful situations, such as when speaking to strangers, superiors, or in business settings. It’s also commonly used in public speaking and official documents.
Practice Makes Perfect
Mastering the plain and polite forms in different tenses requires practice. Here are some tips to help you:
1. **Daily Conversations**: Try to incorporate both plain and polite forms into your daily conversations. This will help you become more comfortable switching between the two.
2. **Writing Exercises**: Write short stories or diary entries using both forms. This will help reinforce your understanding of when and how to use each form.
3. **Language Exchange**: Participate in language exchange programs where you can practice speaking with native Japanese speakers. They can provide valuable feedback and help you improve your usage of plain and polite forms.
4. **Flashcards**: Use flashcards to practice different verb and adjective forms in various tenses. This will help you memorize the changes more effectively.
5. **Listen and Mimic**: Listen to Japanese conversations, whether in movies, TV shows, or podcasts, and try to mimic the speakers. Pay attention to the context in which they use plain and polite forms.
Conclusion
Understanding the plain and polite forms in different tenses is a fundamental aspect of mastering Japanese grammar. While it may seem daunting at first, consistent practice and exposure will make it easier over time. Whether you’re engaging in casual conversations with friends or participating in formal business meetings, knowing when and how to use these forms will greatly enhance your communication skills in Japanese. Happy learning!
