Abstract

Japanese verbs are grouped into three types, the -ru, -u, and irregular types depending on the conjugational patterns. The plain nonpast form of -ru verbs ends with -iru or -eru. The plain nonpast form of -u verbs ends with -u, -tsu, -ru (… aru, … uru, … oru), -mu, -bu, -nu, -su, -ku, or -gu. However, there are u-verbs such as kaeru ‘to return home,’ hairu ‘to enter,’ hashiru ‘to run,’ and kiru ‘to cut,’ which end with -iru or -eru.