Use ます to build and understand simple Japanese sentences. For 食べる, remove the final る and add ます: 食べます is the polite form.
The idea
For 食べる, remove the final る and add ます: 食べます is the polite form. For 読む, change the final う-row sound to its い-row partner before ます: 読みます. The irregular verb する becomes します; 来る becomes 来ます, pronounced きます.
| Dictionary form | Polite form |
|---|---|
| 食べる | 食べます |
| 読む | 読みます |
| する | します |
Examples
- パンを食べます。I eat bread.
- 水を飲みます。I drink water.
- 本を読みます。I read a book.
- 駅に行きます。I go to the station.
- 七時に起きます。I get up at seven.
- 学校で日本語を勉強します。I study Japanese at school.
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Watch out
The non-past ます form can describe a habit or a future action, depending on context. Its negative is ません and its past is ました.
Try it yourself
食べる → ＿。（食べます／食ります）
Show answer or example answer
食べます
For 食べる, remove the final る and add ます: 食べます is the polite form.
読む → ＿。（読みます／読むます）
Show answer or example answer
読みます
For 読む, change the final う-row sound to its い-row partner before ます: 読みます.
する → ＿。（します／すます）
Show answer or example answer
します
The irregular verb する becomes します; 来る becomes 来ます, pronounced きます.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
食べる → ＿。（食べます／食ります）
読む → ＿。（読みます／読むます）
する → ＿。（します／すます）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write two Japanese sentences using ます. Explain what each means, then compare the forms with the examples.