Yodan Verbs In Japanese

All Yodan verbs generally follow the same pattern, which you'll probably notice as you read through their different conjugations. You'll also notice that the bases of the first five conjugation forms follow the order of the Japanese vowel sounds(-a, -i, -u, -e, -o) so that makes them a bit easier to memorize.

-KU Verbs

sample verb: kaku = write

1st Negative form: Kaka(nai) = I don't write
2nd Conjunctive form: Kaki(masu/mashita) = I write/wrote(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Kaku = I write(casual)
4th Conditional form: Kake(ba) = If I write
5th Volitional form: Kakou = Let's write
6th TE form: Kaite = I write and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Kaita = I wrote(casual)

-GU Verbs

sample verb: oyogu = swim

1st Negative form: Oyoga(nai) = I don't swim
2nd Conjunctive form: Oyogi(masu/mashita) = I swim/swam(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Oyogu = I swim(casual)
4th Conditional form: Oyoge(ba) = If I swim
5th Volitional form: Oyogou = Let's swim
6th TE form: Oyoide = I swim and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Oyoida = I swam(casual)

-BU Verbs

sample verb: hakobu = carry
1st Negative form: Hakoba(nai) = I don't carry
2nd Conjunctive form: Hakobi(masu/mashita) = I carry/carried(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Hakobu = I carry(casual)
4th Conditional form: Hakobe(ba) = If I carry
5th Volitional form: Hakobou = Let's carry
6th TE form: Hakonde = I carry and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Hakonda = I carried(casual)

-NU Verbs

sample verb: shinu = die

*"shinu" is the only -nu verb*
1st Negative form: Shina(nai) = I don't die
2nd Conjunctive form: Shini(masu/mashita) = I die/died(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Shinu = I die(casual)
4th Conditional form: Shine(ba) = If I die
5th Volitional form: Shinou = Let's die
6th TE form: Shinde = I die and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Shinda = I died(casual)

-SU Verbs

sample verb: sagasu = search

1st Negative form: Sagasa(nai) = I don't search
2nd Conjunctive form: Sagashi(masu/mashita) = I search/searched(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Sagasu = I search(casual)
4th Conditional form: Sagase(ba) = If I search
5th Volitional form: Sagasou = Let's search
6th TE form: Sagashite = I search and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Sagashita = I searched(casual)

-TSU Verbs

sample verb: matsu = wait

1st Negative form: Mata(nai) = I don't wait
2nd Conjunctive form: Machi(masu/mashita) = I wait/waited(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Matsu = I wait(casual)
4th Conditional form: Mate(ba) = If I wait
5th Volitional form: Matou = Let's wait
6th TE form: Matte = I wait and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Matta = I waited(casual)

-U Verbs

sample verb: au = meet

1st Negative form: Awa(nai) = I don't meet
2nd Conjunctive form: Ai(masu/mashita) = I meet/met(normal-polite)
3rd Dictionary form: Au = I meet(casual)
4th Conditional form: Ae(ba) = If I meet
5th Volitional form: Aou = Let's meet
6th TE form: Atte = I meet and...(indicates another verb will follow)
7th TA form: Atta = I met(casual)

Learn Japanese Verbs
ru-Verbs and u-Verbs
Negating Verbs
Transitive & Intransitive Verbs
Stem Of Verbs
Yodan Verbs
Common Yodan Verbs
Ichidan Verbs
Common Ichidan Verbs