N572/133

Verbs (Non-past)

Verb (dictionary form) + (non-past meaning)

Meanings

  • Describes actions in the present or future
  • Plain present/future tense of verbs
  • General statements or habitual actions

About this pattern

Explanation

In Japanese, the non-past form of verbs (the dictionary form) is used to describe actions in the present or to talk about future plans. It is the basic, plain form that you’ll see in dictionaries and in casual, everyday speech. This form is not time-marked by itself; context determines whether it refers to now or to the future.

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Example sentences

今日、学校へ行く。

I will go to school today / I go to school today.

毎朝コーヒーを飲む。

I drink coffee every morning.

彼は明日家に来る。

He will come home tomorrow.

私は昼ごはんを食べる。

I eat lunch / I will eat lunch.

Related patterns

だ

to be; is; equals; identifies as

です

to be; is; am; used to state something politely

は

As for... (highlights sentence topic); Topic marker used to indicate what the sentence is about; Marks the topic of the sentence, sometimes with contrast

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More N5 patterns

だ

to be; is; equals; identifies as

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です

to be; is; am; used to state something politely

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は

As for... (highlights sentence topic); Topic marker used to indicate what the sentence is about; Marks the topic of the sentence, sometimes with contrast

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も

also; too; as well; even; either; neither

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これ

this (near the speaker); this thing; this one

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それ

that; that thing (near the listener); the thing referred to earlier

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