う-Verb (Dictionary)う + ます (Godan Verbs)

る-Verbs and う-Verbs are the two main verb types in Japanese. Their dictionary forms are the basic forms used in dictionaries and casual non-past sentences (e.g., 食べる = 'I eat' or 'I will eat'). The difference between these verb types is in their conjugation patterns, not their meaning or nuance. Be careful: not all verbs ending in る are る-Verbs (for example, 帰る 'to return' is actually an う-Verb).

The dictionary form of an う-verb (e.g., 買う) is its base form, describing non-past actions (e.g., 買う = 'I buy' or 'I will buy'). It's used casually or as part of other grammatical patterns. In contrast, the て-form (verb + て) connects verbs to show sequences or to form requests and various other grammar structures (e.g., 買ってください = 'Please buy...').

The dictionary form of an う-verb (e.g., 買う) is the base form used to describe current, habitual, or future actions (e.g., 買う = 'I buy' or 'I will buy'). In contrast, the past form (-た form) expresses completed actions or past states (e.g., 買った = 'I bought'). Both forms commonly appear in grammar patterns that require the casual/plain form, such as ～と思います ('I think').

In Japanese, the dictionary form and the non-past form of verbs are identical. For example, 買う is both the dictionary form and the non-past form of the verb 'to buy.' Unlike in English, this form can be used as is to express future actions ('I will buy'), habitual actions ('I regularly buy'), or general truths ('People buy a lot around Christmas').