M19 · Essential verbs

Before you start

This level assumes you know hiragana and katakana. Words you already met there are marked and do not count as new.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• M01greetings and courtesy
• M02introducing yourself
• M03family
• M04numbers
• M05time and days
• M06the home
• M07everyday objects
• M08food and drink
• M09eating out
• M10shopping
• M11the city
• M12transport
• M13school
• M14work and daily life
• M15the body and health
• M16weather and seasons
• M17animals and nature
• M18hobbies

What you learn

Verbs appear in their dictionary form, the one ending in -u (たべる, のむ, よむ). Conjugations will come with grammar.

You practise them in kana; underneath you can see how they are usually written.

• たべるtaberuto eatUsually written 食べる
• のむnomuto drinkUsually written 飲む
• みるmiruto see, to watchUsually written 見る
• You know it · H08よむyomuto readUsually written 読む
• かくkakuto writeUsually written 書く
• きくkikuto listen, to hearUsually written 聞く
• はなすhanasuto speakUsually written 話す
• いくikuto goUsually written 行く
• くるkuruto comeUsually written 来る
• するsuruto do
• おきるokiruto get up, to wake upUsually written 起きる
• ねるneruto sleep, to go to bedUsually written 寝る

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.