Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 8/12

う-Verb (Negative-Past)

う - Verbs (Negative-past tense)

When a past negative sentence has a connection with the present, for example, something was expected to happen but has not happened for the moment, the verb[て] + いません construction is used instead

Structure

(すわ) + なかった
(うた) + なかった
(ある) + なかった
(はな) + なかった
() + なかった
() + なかった
() + なかった
(やす) + なかった
(およ) + なかった

Exceptions:
ある → なかった

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Verb

  • Word Type

    Auxiliary Verb

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    動詞

  • 単語の種類

    助動詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About う-Verb (Negative-Past)

In order to make the negative past form of う-Verbs, you will need to change the last kana of the verb into the あ sound kana from the same column (or わ if the original kana was う). After this, the あ sound kana will be followed by ない (or ます), conjugated into their past forms. This will either be なかった (casual), or ませんでした (polite).
For the ませんでした (polite) form, rather than the final kana changing to the あ sound kana from the same column, it will change to the い sound kana from the same column.
The negative past form is used to convey that something 'did not happen', or 'was not'.
  • (わたし)公園(こうえん)(あそ)ばなかった
    I did not play at the park.
  • あなた(くるま)(あら)わなかった
    I did not wash your car.
  • そこ()きませんでした
    I did not place it there.
  • そこ(ほん)ありませんでした
    The book was not over there.
A semi-polite form may also be used. This is constructed by using なかった, and then simply adding です. This form is not grammatically correct, but is so common that most sources (and native speakers) would consider it correct.
  • (かれ)(はな)さなかったです
    I did not talk with him. (Notice the use of and together. Double particle usage is common when presenting a topic in Japanese)
ある is an exception to the regular conjugation rules of う-Verbs. The casual past-negative is not あらなかった, but simply なかった. However, the polite past-negative form conjugates in the same way as would be expected for う-Verbs. ありませんでした.
  • (かみ)なかった
    There was no paper. (Casual Japanese past tense)
  • (かみ)ありませんでした
    There was no paper. (Formal Japanese past tense)

Examples

  • 昨日(きのう)()かなかった
    昨日(きのう)()かなかったです
    昨日(きのう)()きませんでした

    I didn't go yesterday.

  • よく(ねむ)なかった
    よく(ねむ)なかったです
    よく(ねむ)ませんでした

    I didn't sleep well.

  • はなこさん(はな)さなかった
    はなこさん(はな)さなかったです
    はなこさん(はな)しませんでした

    Hanako didn't talk.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)事故(じこ)()ななかった
    彼女(かのじょ)事故(じこ)()ななかったです
    彼女(かのじょ)事故(じこ)()にませんでした

    She didn't die in the accident!

  • 今日(きょう)(かえ)らなかった
    今日(きょう)(かえ)らなかったです
    今日(きょう)(かえ)りませんでした

    I did not go home today.

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う-Verb (Negative-Past) – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Daru

    Daru

    About 1 year ago

    200 IQ, this man is smarter than he lets on

  • Marcus

    Marcus

    About 1 year ago

    Oh yes! LOL! Now I’m determined to make some sentences! Thank you!

  • Marcus

    Marcus

    About 1 year ago


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