Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 7/12

る-Verb (Negative-Past)る - 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

Examples:
​​() + なかった
​​() + なかった
​​() + なかった

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Verb

  • Word Type

    Auxiliary Verb

  • Register

    Standard

About る-Verb (Negative-Past)

In order to form the negative past form of る-Verbs, you will need to remove the る, and then follow it with the auxiliary verb 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).

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.

Examples

--:--

    寿司(すし)()べなかった
    寿司(すし)()べなかったです
    寿司(すし)()べませんでした

    I didn't eat sushi.

    テレビ()なかった
    テレビ()なかったです
    テレビ()ませんでした

    I didn't watch TV.

    (かね)()りなかった
    (かね)()りなかったです
    (かね)()りませんでした

    I did not borrow money.

    (はや)()きなかった
    (はや)()きなかったです
    (はや)()きませんでした

    I didn't wake up early.

    これ(おし)えなかった
    これ(おし)えなかったです
    これ(おし)えませんでした

    I didn't tell you this.

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る-Verb (Negative-Past) – Grammar Discussion