Introduction
In this article, you will learn how to form negative sentences with Japanese verbs, step by step.
Before learning verb negative forms, make sure you understand how negative sentences work with nouns and adjectives.
If you haven’t read it yet, start here:
👉 How to Form Negative Sentences in Japanese: Nouns, i-Adjectives, and na-Adjectives
Verb negatives often feel difficult at first because their form changes depending on the verb type.
However, once you understand the structure and learn them in the right order, they become much easier.
In this lesson, we focus on:
• Japanese verbs
• Verb groups (Group 3 → Group 2 → Group 1)
• Plain form and polite form
What You Will Learn in This Lesson
You will learn:
• how Japanese verb negatives are formed
• why verb groups matter
• how to form negative verbs in
– Group 3 (irregular verbs)
– Group 2
– Group 1
• how to use verb negatives in sentences with
– から / ので
– が / けど
Quick Summary — Verb Negative Forms by Group
| Verb Group | Dictionary Form | Negative Form (Plain) | Negative Form (Polite) | Rule / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 3 (Irregular) | する | しない | しません | Memorize |
| 来る | 来ない | 来ません | Memorize | |
| Group 2 | 食べる | 食べない | 食べません | Remove る + ない |
| 見る | 見ない | 見ません | Same rule | |
| 起きる | 起きない | 起きません | Same rule | |
| Group 1 | 行く | 行かない | 行きません | Final sound → a-sound + ない |
| 書く | 書かない | 書きません | く → か | |
| 話す | 話さない | 話しません | す → さ | |
| 待つ | 待たない | 待ちません | つ → た | |
| 飲む | 飲まない | 飲みません | む → ま | |
| 遊ぶ | 遊ばない | 遊びません | ぶ → ば | |
| 帰る | 帰らない | 帰りません | る → ら |
Notes
- Verb negatives do not use じゃない
- The verb itself changes form depending on its group
- Beginner textbooks usually focus on
- Plain form: 〜ない
- Polite form: 〜ません
- The order Group 3 → Group 2 → Group 1 is intentional.
Why We Learn Verb Negatives by Group (And in This Order)
Before learning verb negative forms, it’s important to understand one key idea.
In Japanese, verb negatives change their form, not just the ending.
This is different from nouns and adjectives, which use fixed negative patterns.
Because of this, verb negatives often feel difficult at first.
That’s why we learn them by verb group and in a specific order.
We study verb negatives in this order:
- Group 3: only two verbs, but very common
- Group 2: one clear and consistent rule
- Group 1: multiple sound changes and patterns
Starting with Group 3 and moving step by step to Group 1 helps you:
- see patterns naturally
- reduce memorization
- avoid common beginner mistakes
Once you understand the logic behind the groups, verb negatives become much easier.
In this lesson, we focus on:
- Japanese verbs
- Verb groups (Group 3 → Group 2 → Group 1)
- Plain form and polite form
Verb Group 3 — Irregular Verbs (Start Here)
Group 3 has only two verbs, but they are very common.
| Verb | Plain Negative | Polite Negative |
|---|---|---|
| する | しない | しません |
| 来る | 来ない | 来ません |
Examples する → しない／しません（Negative)
今日は勉強 しません。
I won’t study today.
週末は仕事を しません。
I don’t work on weekends.
今日は運動 しません。
I won’t exercise today.
夜はテレビを しません。
I don’t watch TV at night.
雨の日は外出 しない。
I don’t go out on rainy days.
How to Tell Which Nouns Can Use 〜する
Not all nouns can use 〜する. In general, 〜する is used with nouns that describe an action or activity.
A simple way to check is to think in English:
If do + noun sounds natural in English,
〜する is often possible in Japanese.
Examples:
- do study → 勉強する
- do work → 仕事する
- do exercise → 運動する
If the noun is a thing, place, or person,
〜する usually does not work.
This idea will help you decide whether します / しません sounds natural.
Examples 来る → 来ない／来ません（Negative）
今日は会社に 来ません。
I won’t come to the office today.
明日は学校に 来ません。
I won’t come to school tomorrow.
パーティーに 来ません。
I won’t come to the party.
友だちは今日 来ません。
My friend isn’t coming today.
今日はここに 来ない。
I won’t come here today.
Because there are only two forms, this group is the easiest place to start.
Verb Group 2 — One Clear Rule
Group 2 verbs follow one simple rule:
Remove る + add ない
| Verb | Plain Negative | Polite Negative |
|---|---|---|
| 食べる | 食べない | 食べません |
| 見る | 見ない | 見ません |
| 起きる | 起きない | 起きません |
Examples (Verb Group 2 – Negative)
・朝はコーヒーを 飲みません。
I don’t drink coffee in the morning.
・夜はテレビを 見ません。
I don’t watch TV at night.
・今日は早く 寝ません。
I won’t go to bed early today.
・毎朝6時に 起きません。
I don’t wake up at 6 every morning.
・日よう日は学校に 行きません。
I don’t go to school on Sundays.
・今日は友だちに 会いません。
I won’t meet my friend today.
・週末は家に いません。
I’m not at home on weekends.
・今日は日本語を 勉強しません。
I won’t study Japanese today.
Once learners understand this rule, Group 2 verbs feel very predictable.
Verb Group 1 — Sound Changes
Group 1 verbs are the most challenging because the final sound changes when forming the negative.
Basic Rule
For Group 1 verbs:
u-sound → a-sound + ない
This sound change happens at the end of the verb.
Common Patterns (Group 1 Verbs)
| Dictionary Form | Final Sound | A-sound | Negative Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行く | く | か | 行かない |
| 書く | く | か | 書かない |
| 話す | す | さ | 話さない |
| 待つ | つ | た | 待たない |
| 飲む | む | ま | 飲まない |
| 遊ぶ | ぶ | ば | 遊ばない |
| 読む | む | ま | 読まない |
| 帰る | る | ら | 帰らない |
How to Read This Table
- Look at the final sound of the verb
- Change it to the A-sound
- Add ない
👉 Final sound → A-sound → ない
Examples (Verb Group 1 – Negative)
今日は学校に 行きません。
I’m not going to school today.
仕事中に、友だちと 話しません。
I don’t talk with my friends during work.
バスを 待ちません。
I don’t wait for the bus.
夜はお酒を 飲みません。
I don’t drink alcohol at night.
今日は外で 遊びません。
I won’t hang out outside today.
電車で本を 読みません。
I don’t read books on the train.
そのシャツは 買いません。
I won’t buy that shirt.
このアプリは 使いません。
I don’t use this app.
手紙は 書かない。
I don’t write letters.
今日は早く家に 帰らない。
I’m not going home early today.
Why Group 1 Is Difficult
Group 1 verbs have many different endings, so learners must pay attention to the final sound before changing it.
That is why we study Group 1 after Group 3 and Group 2.
Common Beginner Mistake
❌ 行くない
⭕ 行かない
👉 The final sound must change before adding ない.
Quick Review: Verb Negative Forms by Group
Before moving on, let’s quickly review the three verb groups:
- Group 3: memorized forms
する → しない
来る → 来ない - Group 2: remove る + ない
食べる → 食べない - Group 1: change final sound to A-sound + ない
行く → 行かない
Understanding this structure makes verb negatives much less intimidating.
Using Verb Negatives in Sentences
Once you can form verb negatives, you can connect them to make longer and more natural sentences.
In Japanese, verb negatives often appear before connectors such as
から / ので / が / けど.
Using から / ので (Reason)
Verb negative + から / ので
This pattern is used to explain a reason or cause.
・今日は出かけないから、家にいます。
Because I’m not going out today, I’ll stay home.
・雨が降らないので、洗濯します。
Because it won’t rain, I’ll do the laundry.
・時間がないから、今回は参加しません。
Because I don’t have time, I won’t participate this time.
👉 The negative verb comes before から / ので and explains why something happens.
Using が / けど (Contrast)
Verb negative + が / けど
This pattern is used to express contrast or limitation
(“but…”, “although…”).
・今日は行かないけど、また今度行きます。
I won’t go today, but I’ll go another time.
・食べないけど、少し味は見ます。
I won’t eat it, but I’ll taste a little.
・会場には行かないけど、オンラインで参加します。
I won’t go to the venue, but I’ll join online.
👉 が / けど soften the statement and allow you to add another idea.
Notice the Pattern
Compare these examples:
・雨が降らないので、洗濯します。
→ Reason: no rain → action
・今日は行かないけど、連絡はします。
→ Contrast: not going → but another action
・肉は食べないけど、魚は食べます。
→ Limitation: one thing is negated, another is not
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned how to form negative sentences with Japanese verbs step by step.
You studied verb negatives in the following order:
- Group 3 (irregular verbs: する・来る)
- Group 2 (one clear rule: remove る + ない)
- Group 1 (sound changes before adding ない)
The key point is that verb negatives are not formed with じゃない.
Instead, the verb itself changes shape depending on its group.
You also learned that, although there are three possible forms:
- 勉強しない (plain)
- 勉強しないです (plain + です)
- 勉強しません (polite)
Most textbooks and courses focus on learning:
- plain form: 〜ない
- polite form: 〜ません
The form 〜ないです exists in spoken Japanese, but it is usually treated as informal or conversational and is not a main teaching target in beginner textbooks.
Finally, you learned how to use verb negatives in real sentences by connecting them with:
- から / ので (reason)
- が / けど (contrast)
This allows you to express reasons, choices, and contrasts naturally, not just state facts.
If you understand which verb group a verb belongs to,
you already know how to make its negative form.
Keep practicing with real examples, and verb negatives will quickly feel natural.
