JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 3

する・します

Do: pairs with many nouns

You’ll be able to turn many nouns into verbs by pairing them with する in sentences.

Illustration of the scene described by I exercise in the morning.

Read it first

朝あさ、運動うんどうをします。

asa, undou o shimasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

I exercise in the morning.

Why it means that

Turn many activity nouns into verbs

する means “do” and is irregular. Many nouns for activities can combine with する to make a verb, such as 勉強べんきょうする and 運動うんどうする.

Example

毎日まいにち、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。

mainichi, nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese every day.

How it is built

Noun + する

Many action nouns can attach directly to する. In polite speech, する becomes します.

Action noun+する/します

Examples

勉強べんきょうする → 勉強べんきょうします

benkyou suru → benkyou shimasu

study → study (polite form)

運動うんどうする → 運動うんどうします

undou suru → undou shimasu

exercise → exercise (polite form)

料理りょうりする → 料理りょうりします

ryouri suru → ryouri shimasu

cook → cook (polite form)

How it is built

を can also appear with some activity nouns

With many verbal nouns, を is possible when you treat the noun more explicitly as the object of する. The direct Noun + する form is often more compact and common.

Noun+を+する/します

Examples

宿題しゅくだいをします。

shukudai o shimasu.

I do my homework.

仕事しごとをします。

shigoto o shimasu.

I work / do work.

掃除そうじをします。

souji o shimasu.

I do the cleaning.

Examples

毎朝まいあさ、運動うんどうします。

maiasa, undou shimasu.

I exercise every morning.

夜よる、宿題しゅくだいをします。

yoru, shukudai o shimasu.

I do my homework at night.

日曜日にちようび、掃除そうじします。

nichiyoubi, souji shimasu.

I clean on Sundays.

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