To say something was [adjective], drop the final -i and add -katta.
| Present | Past | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| oishii | oishikatta | was delicious |
| omoshiroi | omoshirokatta | was interesting / fun |
| takai | takakatta | was expensive |
| yasui | yasukatta | was cheap |
| chiisai | chiisokatta | was small |
| ookii | ookikatta | was big |
Ii uses the old stem yoi for conjugation:
| Form | Japanese |
|---|---|
| present | ii |
| past | yokatta |
| negative | yokunai |
Daigaku wa yokatta!
University was good!
Chotto takakatta des.
It was a bit expensive.
Note: kirei (pretty/clean) is a na-adjective — its past is kirei deshita, not kireikatta.
Replace -masu with -tai to express desire. Follows i-adjective past for past tense.
| Base | Want to | Wanted to |
|---|---|---|
| tabemasu | tabetai | tabetakatta |
| nomimasu | nomitai | nomitakatta |
| ikimasu | ikitai | ikitakatta |
| shimasu | shitai | shitakatta |
Ringo o tabetai.
I want to eat an apple.
Ringo o tabetakatta.
I wanted to eat an apple.
| Word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| docchi | 2 options (standalone) | docchi ga suki des ka? |
| docchi no | 2 options + noun | docchi no iro ga suki des ka? |
| dore | 3+ options (standalone) | dore ga ii des ka? |
| dono | 3+ options + noun | dono ice cream ga suki des ka? |
Dono ice cream o tabemashita ka?
Which ice cream did you eat?
Choko ka cookie no ice cream ga suki des.
I like chocolate or cookie ice cream.
or = ka (between nouns) · this (standalone) = kore · this + noun = kono
Put ichiban before an adjective or suki to make a superlative.
Dono nomimono ga ichiban suki des ka?
Which drink do you like most?
Ryokucha ga ichiban suki des.
I like green tea the most.
Ku-gatsu ga mecha yasui des.
September is really cheap. (mecha = super/really, casual)
| Word | Parts | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nomimono | nomi + mono | drinks |
| tabemono | tabe + mono | food |
| norimono | nori + mono | transport / vehicle |
Noru (to ride/board) is a U verb: polite → norimasu, te-form → notte.
Plain past + koto ga arimas ka? = "have you ever done X?"
| Plain past | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| itta | itta koto ga arimas ka? | Have you ever been? |
| kita | kita koto ga arimas ka? | Have you ever come? |
| nonda | nonda koto ga arimas ka? | Have you ever drunk? |
| tabeta | tabeta koto ga arimas ka? | Have you ever eaten? |
Nihon ni itta koto ga arimas ka?
Have you ever been to Japan?
Iie, demo honto ni ikitai des.
No, but I really want to go.
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| rainen | next year |
| raisyuu | next week |
| shi-gatsu | April |
| ku-gatsu | September |
| N-nen kan | for N years |
Ni-nen kan UK ni sundeimashita.
I lived in the UK for two years.
Rainen Nihon ni ikimas.
I'll go to Japan next year.
Syourai doko ni sumitai des ka?
Where do you want to live in the future?
Watashi no tomodachi no ani wa Nihon ni sundeimas.
My friend's older brother lives in Japan.
| Concept | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| i-adj past | stem + katta | takakatta |
| i-adj past (ii) | yokatta | yokatta! |
| want to | verb stem + tai | tabetai |
| wanted to | verb stem + takatta | tabetakatta |
| which (2) | docchi / docchi no + noun | docchi no iro? |
| which (3+) | dore / dono + noun | dono ice cream? |
| this / this + noun | kore / kono + noun | kono hon |
| or | noun ka noun | choko ka banira |
| the most | ichiban + adj/suki | ichiban suki |
| have you ever? | plain past + koto ga arimas ka | itta koto ga arimas ka |
| for N years | N-nen kan | ni-nen kan |
| next year/week | rainen / raisyuu | rainen ikimas |
| in the future | syourai | syourai doko ni sumitai? |
Translate into Japanese:
| verbs | noru | to ride / board | U |
| au | to meet | U | |
| sumu | to live / reside | U | |
| hanaseru | can speak (potential of hanasu) | U | |
| nouns | nomimono | drink(s) | |
| tabemono | food | ||
| norimono | transport / vehicle | ||
| iro | colour | ||
| toshi | city | ||
| gakkou | school | ||
| arubaito | part-time job | ||
| shitsumon | question | ||
| syourai | the future | ||
| kanojyo | she / girlfriend | ||
| adjectives | yasui | cheap | i |
| ookii | big | i | |
| chiisai | small | i | |
| kirei | pretty / clean | na | |
| time | rainen | next year | |
| raisyuu | next week | ||
| shi-gatsu | April | ||
| ku-gatsu | September | ||
| nen | year | ||
| kan | for (duration) | ||
| nanji | what time? |