Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3)
verb groups
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups; the group decides how it conjugates.
Japanese verbs come in three groups, and the group tells you how to change the verb (for ます, て, ない and so on). Group 1 (u-verbs) end in an う-sound like く, す, む, う (書く, 話す, 読む, 買う). Group 2 (ru-verbs) end in -いる or -える (見る, 食べる). Group 3 has only two irregular verbs: する (do) and 来る (come). The tricky part: some verbs ending in -いる/-える are actually Group 1 (帰る, 入る, 知る, 走る). Those you simply memorise.
Every time you conjugate a verb. Before you can make 食べます, 食べて or 食べない, you must know that 食べる is Group 2. Get this sorting right and every later lesson becomes easier.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
**Group 1 (u-verbs, 五段)**: dictionary form ends in any う-row sound: 書く, 話す, 待つ, 死ぬ, 読む, 遊ぶ, 買う, 帰る, 分かる, 走る.**Group 2 (ru-verbs, 一段)**: ends in -いる or -える: 見る, 食べる, 起きる, 寝る, 教える, 出る, 着る.**Group 3 (irregular)**: する and 来る only (plus N+する verbs: 勉強する, 電話する).
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Ends in | Examples | ます-form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (u-verbs) | any う-sound (く・す・つ・む・る...) | 書く, 話す, 読む, 買う, 帰る | 書きます, 話します, 読みます, 買います, 帰ります |
| Group 2 (ru-verbs) | -いる / -える | 見る, 食べる, 起きる, 寝る | 見ます, 食べます, 起きます, 寝ます |
| Group 3 (irregular) | する, 来る only | する, 勉強する, 来る | します, 勉強します, 来ます(きます) |
Natural examples
毎朝新聞を読みます。
まいあさ しんぶんを よみます。
I read the newspaper every morning. (読む, Group 1)
読む ends in む, so Group 1: 読みます.
七時に起きます。
しちじに おきます。
I get up at seven. (起きる, Group 2)
起きる ends in -きる (-いる), so Group 2: drop る, add ます.
図書館で勉強します。
としょかんで べんきょうします。
I study at the library. (勉強する, Group 3)
勉強する is Noun + する, so Group 3: 勉強します.
毎日八時に家へ帰ります。
まいにち はちじに いえへ かえります。
I go home at eight every day.
帰る looks like a Group 2 verb (-える) but is Group 1: 帰ります, not 帰ます.
友達が日本に来ます。
ともだちが にほんに きます。
A friend is coming to Japan.
来る is Group 3; its ます-form is きます with a sound change.
Similar grammar and the difference
The first conjugation you learn; it depends entirely on the verb group. Compare side by side
Group 1 verbs have several て-form patterns; Group 2 verbs just drop る and add て. Compare side by side
Group 1: う-sound → あ-sound + ない; Group 2: drop る + ない. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 帰る → 帰ます
- ✓
- 帰る → 帰ります
- Why
- 帰る is a Group 1 exception. Memorise the short list: 帰る, 入る, 走る, 知る, 切る, 要る.
- ✗
- 食べる → 食べります
- ✓
- 食べる → 食べます
- Why
- 食べる is Group 2: drop る and add ます. There is no り.
- ✗
- 来る → くます
- ✓
- 来る → きます
- Why
- 来る is irregular: the reading changes to き before ます.
Some verbs ending in -いる/-える are Group 1 exceptions and must be memorised: 帰る (かえる), 入る (はいる), 走る (はしる), 知る (しる), 切る (きる), 要る (いる), 減る, 限る, しゃべる.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- N5 does not ask "which group is this verb?" directly. It tests the result: a blank with options like 帰ます／帰ります／帰えます. Sort the verb first, then pick the form.
- When the options show a -いる/-える verb with both Group 1 and Group 2 endings (切ります／切ます), remember the exception list. 切る, 知る, 入る, 走る, 帰る are all Group 1.
Frequently asked questions
What does Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3) mean?
Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups; the group decides how it conjugates. Japanese verbs come in three groups, and the group tells you how to change the verb (for ます, て, ない and so on). Group 1 (u-verbs) end in an う-sound like く, す, む, う (書く, 話す, 読む, 買う). Group 2 (ru-verbs) end in -いる or -える (見る, 食べる). Group 3 has only two irregular verbs: する (do) and 来る (come). The tricky part: some verbs ending in -いる/-える are actually Group 1 (帰る, 入る, 知る, 走る). Those you simply memorise.
How do you form Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3)?
**Group 1 (u-verbs, 五段)**: dictionary form ends in any う-row sound: 書く, 話す, 待つ, 死ぬ, 読む, 遊ぶ, 買う, 帰る, 分かる, 走る. / **Group 2 (ru-verbs, 一段)**: ends in -いる or -える: 見る, 食べる, 起きる, 寝る, 教える, 出る, 着る. / **Group 3 (irregular)**: する and 来る only (plus N+する verbs: 勉強する, 電話する).. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3) used?
Every time you conjugate a verb. Before you can make 食べます, 食べて or 食べない, you must know that 食べる is Group 2. Get this sorting right and every later lesson becomes easier.
What is the difference between Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3) and ます／ません?
The first conjugation you learn; it depends entirely on the verb group.
What is the difference between Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3) and て-form?
Group 1 verbs have several て-form patterns; Group 2 verbs just drop る and add て.
What is a common mistake with Verb groups (Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3)?
Wrong: 帰る → 帰ます Right: 帰る → 帰ります 帰る is a Group 1 exception. Memorise the short list: 帰る, 入る, 走る, 知る, 切る, 要る.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 毎日 七時に（ ）。