Verb groups
The three verb types explained
You’ll be able to sort verbs into three groups so you can conjugate them correctly later.
Know which conjugation rule a verb follows
Japanese verbs are usually grouped as Group 1 (godan), Group 2 (ichidan), or irregular. Knowing the group lets you choose the right conjugation pattern.
書く、話す、読む
kaku, hanasu, yomu
Group 1 (godan)
食べる、見る、起きる
taberu, miru, okiru
Group 2 (ichidan)
する、来る
suru, kuru
Group 3 (irregular)
Group 1: godan verbs
Most verbs ending in a う-row kana (う・く・す・つ・ぬ・ぶ・む・る) are Group 1. Their final kana changes across different vowel rows when they conjugate.
Most Group 1 verbs end in an う-row kana.
書く → 書きます
kaku → kakimasu
write → write (polite form)
飲む → 飲みます
nomu → nomimasu
drink → drink (polite form)
待つ → 待ちます
matsu → machimasu
wait → wait (polite form)
Group 2: ichidan verbs
Group 2 (ichidan) verbs almost always end in an -iru or -eru sound. To conjugate them, you drop る and add the ending.
Most Group 2 verbs end in ～いる or ～える.
食べる → 食べます
taberu → tabemasu
eat → eat (polite form)
見る → 見ます
miru → mimasu
see → see (polite form)
起きる → 起きます
okiru → okimasu
wake up → wake up (polite form)
Group 3: irregular verbs
The two core irregular verbs are する and 来る. Their stems change in ways you need to memorize.
する → します
suru → shimasu
do → do (polite form)
来る → 来ます
kuru → kimasu
come → come (polite form)
勉強する → 勉強します
benkyou suru → benkyou shimasu
study → study (polite form)
Watch for る-verb exceptions
A verb ending in る is not automatically Group 2. Common verbs such as 入る, 帰る, 走る, and 知る are Group 1.
Some verbs ending in ～いる or ～える are Group 1 exceptions.
帰る → 帰ります
kaeru → kaerimasu
return → return (polite form)
入る → 入ります
hairu → hairimasu
enter → enter (polite form)
走る → 走ります
hashiru → hashirimasu
run → run (polite form)