Verb Groups: Godan, Ichidan, Irregular
動詞の種類 · Lesson 2
An overview of the three verb types—Godan (五段), Ichidan (一段), and irregular する・来る—and how to spot them from the dictionary form.
Japanese verbs fall into three types. Each type conjugates differently, so identifying the group is the first step. The following lessons (polite, negative, past, て-form, etc.) will show you the exact patterns for each group.
The three groups
| Group | Name | How to recognize |
|---|---|---|
| Godan | 五段 | Most common. Dictionary form ends in う, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, or る (but not -いる/-える like 食べる). The last syllable "steps" through the five vowels あ・い・う・え・お. |
| Ichidan | 一段 | End in -る with い or え just before it (e.g. 食べる, 見る). Conjugate by dropping る and adding the ending. |
| Irregular | — | Only する (to do) and 来る (to come). Memorize their forms; they don't follow Godan or Ichidan rules. |
In the next lesson you'll see する and 来る in detail, then verbs with する (noun + する), and finally the conjugation patterns for each form (polite, negative, past, て-form, etc.) broken down by verb group. Use the conjugation practice game to drill them.
Example sentences
Spot the verb type:
彼は歌う。 (Godan: う)
He sings.
ごはんを食べる。 (Ichidan: える)
I eat rice.
毎日勉強する。 (Irregular: する)
I study every day.
あした来る？ (Irregular: 来る)
Will you come tomorrow?
You can spot Godan, Ichidan, and irregular verbs from the dictionary form.
Next up: Continue to Polite Form (ます) below. It's the form you'll use most in daily conversation. 頑張って！