JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 25

Verb stem + continuation (formal linking)

Link clauses with the verb stem in formal writing

You’ll be able to recognize a written style that connects actions using the ます-stem without adding て.

Illustration of the scene described by Kenta read the map carefully and decided the route to the next destination.
Read it first

健太けんたは地図ちずを丁寧ていねいに読よみ、次つぎの目的地もくてきちへのルートを決きめた。

kenta wa chizu o teinei ni yomi, tsugi no mokutekichi e no ruuto o kimeta.

What do you think this sentence means?

Kenta read the map carefully and decided the route to the next destination.

Why it means that

Connect clauses with the verb stem in formal writing

In formal written Japanese, travel logs, and reports, the verb stem (the 連用形れんようけい, or ます-stem without ます) often replaces the て-form to coordinate clauses cleanly and formally.

Examples

朝あさ六時ろくじに起おき、七時しちじに家いえを出でた。

asa rokuji ni oki, shichiji ni ie o deta.

I got up at six in the morning and left home at seven.

駅えきで友達ともだちと会あい、一緒いっしょに昼ひるご飯はんを食たべた。

eki de tomodachi to ai, issho ni hirugohan o tabeta.

I met a friend at the station, and we had lunch together.

How it is built

Forming formal continuations with the verb stem

Take the ます-stem of a verb (such as 書かき, 行いき, or 食たべ) and follow with a comma to connect clauses without adding て.

verb ます-stem+、+next clause
Example

会議かいぎでは活発かっぱつに意見いけんを交かわし、実みのりある議論ぎろんを行おこなった。

kaigi de wa kappatsu ni iken o kawashi, minori aru giron o okonatta.

At the meeting, they actively exchanged opinions and conducted a fruitful discussion.

Compare

て-form vs ます-stem

Both link two actions: “did A, and did B”. The て-form is everyday Japanese. The ます-stem with a comma sounds formal, like a report or a news article.

  • て-form, and (everyday)

    資料しりょうを読よんで、意見いけんを書かいた。

    shiryou o yonde, iken o kaita.

    I read the materials and wrote my opinion.

    Natural in speech.

  • ます-stem, and (formal writing)

    資料しりょうを読よみ、意見いけんを書かいた。

    shiryou o yomi, iken o kaita.

    I read the materials and wrote my opinion.

    Written style; rare in conversation.

Examples

市長しちょうは大雨おおあめの被害ひがいがあった地域ちいきを訪おとずれ、住民じゅうみんから話はなしを聞きいた。

shichou wa ooame no higai ga atta chiiki o otozure, juumin kara hanashi o kiita.

The mayor visited the area damaged by the heavy rain and heard from residents.

昨夜さくや十時じゅうじごろ、トラックが道路どうろわきの壁かべにぶつかり、運転手うんてんしゅが軽かるいけがをした。

sakuya juuji goro, torakku ga douro waki no kabe ni butsukari, untenshu ga karui kega o shita.

At around ten last night, a truck hit a wall beside the road, and the driver was slightly injured.

本日ほんじつは雨あめのため、午後ごごの試合しあいを延期えんきし、来週らいしゅうの土曜日どようびに行おこないます。

honjitsu wa ame no tame, gogo no shiai o enki shi, raishuu no doyoubi ni okonaimasu.

Due to rain today, this afternoon’s match is postponed and will be held next Saturday.

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.