Japanese Verb Groups: Godan, Ichidan, and Irregular Verbs

Learn the pattern behind the label

書く becomes 書きます, 食べる becomes 食べます, and する becomes します. Grouping verbs lets you reuse a pattern instead of memorizing every form as an unrelated word.

Different learning resources use different names. “U-verb” often refers to a godan verb; “ru-verb” often means an ichidan verb. Those labels are shortcuts, not a guarantee that every word written with a final る belongs to the second group.

Use the ending as a clue, then check

Ordinary dictionary-form verbs ending in something other than る, such as 書く or 飲む, belong to the godan group. Many verbs ending in an i or e sound followed by る are ichidan: 見る and 食べる are useful examples.

But 帰る (かえる), 入る (はいる), and 走る (はしる) are godan. You need the pronunciation as well as the written ending, and you should check a dictionary when the group is uncertain. A neat-looking rule is not worth learning the wrong conjugation.

Give the irregular verbs their own space

する becomes します in the polite form and して in the te-form. 来る becomes 来ます (きます) and 来て (きて). The kanji 来 remains on the page even when its reading changes.

For expressions such as 勉強する, “study,” the する part follows the same irregular pattern. Practice the complete expression rather than treating the noun and verb as unrelated vocabulary.

毎日まいにち、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。

Keep a useful verb record

For each new verb, write its dictionary form, reading, group, and polite form. Compare 帰る → 帰ります with 食べる → 食べます: the shared final る does not produce a shared pattern. Add a short example once the form makes sense.

Quick check

Classify 見る, 読む, and 来る. The answers are ichidan, godan, and irregular. Then check their polite forms: 見ます, 読みます, 来ます (きます).

Continue with the masu-form before tackling the sound changes in the te-form. Getting the group right is the first step in both.