Verb conjugation

As time passes, all languages change. Such historical changes make it difficult, if not impossible, to enumerate all Japanese verb conjugation forms in a coherent, straightforward paradigm. One possibility is provided below. Although it deviates from the traditional grammar and all hitherto proposed analyses, in formulating it I have striven for simplicity and consistency, while sacrificing reflection on historical change.

I posit ten conjugation categories, beginning with the negative form, indicated by the negative auxiliary -(a)nai. The adverbial form resembles the English gerund (-ing form), as it can stand as a noun, and is normally followed by some auxiliary, e.g. -(i)masu, which simultaneously indicates politeness as well as the non-past tense (see Chapter 9 for a discussion of tense). The conclusive form indicates the non-past tense; dictionaries utilize it as a basis for the ordering of entries. The hypothetical form appears in a conditional construction (see Chapter 18). The imperative form can be utilized for issuing commands, although it sounds very coarse, and is, therefore, rarely used in modern colloquial Japanese. With the volitional form, the speaker encourages the addressee and/or the speaker him/herself to perform the action designated by the verb stem. Traditional grammar, however, does not recognize this form in its conjugation paradigm. The volitional form of a u-verb is traditionally to be derived from the mizen-kei ‘irrealis form’ (i.e. the negative form without -nai) followed by the auxiliary -u, which underwent sound change during the Edo period (1603–1868) (Suzuki 1977: 215), e.g. kak-a-u ‘I shall write/let’s write’ became kak-ō. There is no explanation as to why yō is attached in the case of ru-verbs (e.g. tabe-yō) and irregular verbs (ko-yō, shi-yō). Unlike u-verbs, deriving yō from ya-u has no historical precedent. As such, this chapter posits the volitional as a separate verb form. The te-form will be explained shortly; the ta-form indicates the past tense. The causative form will be discussed in Chapter 11, and the passive form in Chapter 12.