An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

(Joyce) #1

96 CHAPTER 3. MORE GRAMMAR


affirmative negative
present

( )
( )
past

( )
( )

Next up are the verbal adjectives. Verbal adjectives have one polite
affirmative form, using , and two polite negative forms, because we
can either use , or the polite counterpart to : (the polite
negative form of the verb ), This leads to the following inflection table:


affirmative negative
present plain +
polite + + +
polite (2) +
past plain + (c) +
polite + (c) + + +
polite (2) + +

(In this scheme, (c) indicates that a contraction occurs)

For completeness, the two irregular verbal adjectives get their own
tables. First, (which is really ):


affirmative negative
present plain /
polite /
past plain
polite

(of the two possible , is considered normal, while is
considered formal)

And then finally, the helper adjective of negation, ( ):
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