る-Verb (Dictionary)る + ます (Ichidan 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 is the base form of the verb, used for habitual or future actions. The negative form expresses that an action doesn't happen or a state doesn't exist. For る-Verbs, the negative is formed by changing る to ない (e.g., 食べる → 食べない). う-Verbs have different conjugation patterns. 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 a る-verb is its base form, expressing current, habitual, or future actions (e.g., 食べる = 'I eat' or 'I will eat'). The past form (-た form) describes completed actions or past states (e.g., 食べた = 'I ate'). Both forms are commonly used in casual speech and various grammar patterns requiring plain verb forms, 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, 食べる is both the dictionary form and the non-past form of the verb 'to eat.' Unlike in English, this form can be used as is to express future actions ('I will eat'), habitual actions ('I regularly eat / I eat everyday'), or general truths ('Lions eat meat').

The dictionary form of a る-Verb (e.g., 食べる) is its basic, informal form used to describe present or future actions (e.g., 食べる = 'I eat' or 'I will eat'). In contrast, the て form (verb + て) connects verbs, describing sequential actions or appearing in requests and other grammar patterns (e.g., 食べてください = 'Please eat').

The dictionary form of verbs is their base form, expressing habitual or future actions. The past form indicates completed actions or past states. The difference between る-Verbs and う-Verbs is how they conjugate into the past, not in their meaning. For example, る-Verbs change る to た (食べる → 食べた), while う-Verbs follow different patterns (読む → 読んだ). Be aware that not all verbs ending in る are る-Verbs—帰る ('to return') is an う-Verb.