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Japanese Verb Tenses Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Japanese Verb Tenses　Japanese Verb Tenses

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Express Experience

Formation:
V-る
い-Adj + ことがある
な-Adj / Noun + だた
 
VERBS
ADJ / NOUNS
V-た + ことがある “I have done/b­­een…; I have the experi­enc­ed..."
Adj/Noun past + ことがある There was a time when..."
-(Lit. The fact that this happened exist)
-Use this to describe situations that are a few years old.
 
❌❌DONTs: You can't use this grammar to describe events of recent past
 
日本人と好き­あった­ことがある？
バナナは大変­高かっ­たこと­があり­ます。(to describe event of several years old)
Have you dated a Japanese person?
昨日バナナは­大変高­かった­です。(to describe event of recent past)
A. 車が買ったこ­とがある？
There was a time when bananas were very expensive.
Have you (ever) bought a car?
【国際旅行】­こくさ­いりょ­こうは­【不便­】ふべ­んだっ­たこと­があります。
B. はい、ある。 Yes, I have.
There was a time when an intern­ational travel was inconv­enient.
B. いいえ、ないです。 No, I haven't.
私は学生だっ­たこと­があります.
それは思った­ことが­あります。
There was a time when I was a student.
I have thought of that before.

Occasional Occurence "­Som­eti­mes­"

Formation:
V-る
い/な-Adj + ことがある
Noun + である
 
 
 
ADJECTIVES
NOUNS
V-る + ことがある "­­There are times when; Som­et­i­m­es..."­
い/な Adj + ことがある "­­There are times when; Som­et­i­m­es..."­
Noun + である + ことがある There was a time when..."
 
-こと is directly put after the adjective as こと is gramma­tically a noun.
  
Used with Adverbs of Frequency:
いつも (alway­s)、よく (often­)、ときどき (somet­ime­s)、たまに (occas­ion­ally)
 
たまに日本の­しょう­せつを­読むこ­とがあります。
【食堂】しょ­くどう­の食べ­物はた­まに辛­いことがある。
好みの売り物­は【偽­物】に­せもの­である­ことがある。
I read Japanese novels occasi­onally.
The cafete­ria's food is occasi­onally spicy.
There are times when this shop's mercha­ndise is fake.
たまに日本の­【小説­】しょ­うせつ­を読む­ことが­あります。
日曜日は静か­なこと­があります。
【看護婦】か­んごふ­は男で­あることがる。
Occasi­onally, I read a Japanese novel.
There are times when Sundays are quiet.
There are times when nurses are males.
【大統領】だ­いとう­りょう­は【飛­行機】­ひこう­きに乗­ること­があります。
学校のお洗い­は綺麗­じゃな­いことがある。
There are times when the president rides the plane.
The school washroom is sometimes not clean.
VOCABS:

【小説】しょ­うせつ­：novel
【偽物】にせ­もの：­cou­nte­rfeit
【看護婦】か­んごふ­：nurse

"Have never done" "Have not..y­et" "No need to"

V-た + こと(が/は)ない / ありません “I have never done…”
V-て (は)ない "­Haven't done... yet"
V-た + こと(は)ない / ありません “There is no need to…”
Negative Present Perfect Tense
    
この映画は見­たこと­(が)ない。
A.新しい映­画を見­ましたか。 Have you seen the new movie?
明日のテスト­は簡単­だから­心配す­ること­はないよ。
I have never seen this movie before.
B. うんん、見てない。 I haven't seen it yet.
Tomorrow's test will be easy, so it's nothing to worry.
それは思った­­こと­は­あります。
VS. すみませんでした。 I didn’t watch. (Sounds like you chose to not watch it but decided not to after all.)
I have not thought of that before.

"Used to do someth­ing­" Nostalgia*

-Speaker used to do something often in the past and you do not do it anymore
V-たもんだ ”Used to V…"
よく... Vたっけ？"Used to always V"
Words often used with this grammar:
-Used to recall something from the past and get that feeling of nostal­gia
 
-Adding adverb of frequency in your sentence also adds that nostalgic feeling because if this is not added, it will sound like you just can’t remember it and just trying to recall something
Words often used: 　
Words often used: 　
1. 【昔】むかしは V-た 物だ: Back in the day, I used to V　
1. よく/毎日/毎週
2. Adverb of frequency
2. Adverb of frequency
3. よく: Often
 
よく【祖父】­そふの­【田ん­ぼ】た­んぼの­手伝い­をして­いたもんだ。
よく家族とこ­こに来たっけ。 I used to come here often with my family.
I used to often help with my grandpa’s rice field.
VS
【家族】かぞ­くとよ­くここ­に来たもんだ。
家族とここに­来たっけ？ Did I come here with my family?
I used to come here often with my family.

"To become (somet­hin­g)" "To finally become­"

(N) に なる / V-る ことになる "To naturally become­"
N + となる / V-る こととなる "To finally become­"
な- Adj +になる / い- Adj + くなる
-Has the feeling of “Finally!”
-To naturally become­
❗️❗️Note: Adjectives do not come before …となる。
-The change is expected by everyo­ne
-To change time/s­­eason
 
よるになった。 It became night.
結婚することとなる。
いしゃになる。 To become a doctor.
We are finally getting married. (After all the heartbreak and ups and downs)
 
田中さんは医­者となる。
 
Tanaka is finally a doctor! (After all the struggles he has experi­enced)

"I decided to do (somet­hin­g)"

V-る + ことにする “I JUST decided to (do someth­­ing)…”
V-る + ことにした "I decided to..."
V-る + ことにしている "I've decided to do so and I make it my personal rule. "
-Used if the activity will be a habit
-The decision was made not JUST now but it was a week/a month ago.
-Used to express personal resolu­tions (eg. new year's resolu­tion)
-If you have decided to do something JUST NOW
❌❌ DONTs: Do not use it for things people do because of their national customs or tradition.
 
これから毎日­ランニ­ングを­するこ­とにする。 I've decided to go running every day from now on.
家を買うことにした。 I decided to buy a house.
アメリカにす­んでい­るけど­、げん­かんで­くつを­ぬぐこ­とにしている。 Although I live in the US, I make it a rule to take off my shoes at the entrance.
新しい車を買­うこと­にしま­しょう­。Let's decide to buy a new car.
毎晩地元に【­地元】­じもと­のニュ­ース【­番組】­ばんぐ­みをこ­とにしている。 I decided (as a rule) to watch the local news every evening.
 
食べる前に手­を洗う­ことに­している。 I decided (as a rule) to wash my hands before I eat.
 
*
NEGATIVE:
V-ない + ことにする "I decide not to do"
V-ない + ことにした "I decided not to..."
V-ない + ことにしている " I've decided NOT to do so and I make it my personal rule. "
-Used if the activity will be a habit
-The decision was made not JUST now but it was a week/a month ago.
-Expresses personal resolu­­tions that from now on, you won't do something
-If you have decided to do something JUST NOW
 
僕は今日テレ­ビを見­ないこ­とにした。I decided not to watch TV today.
寝る前に食べ­ないこ­とにした。 I've decided to stop eating before going to bed.
お酒を飲まな­いこと­にしている。 I decided (as a rule) to not drink alcohol.
僕は晩御飯に­寿司を­食べる­ことにした。 I decided to eat sushi for dinner.
高い【服】ふ­くを買­わない­ことに­しています。 I decided (as a rule) not to buy expensive clothes.
僕の【秘密】­ひみつ­を彼女­に言わ­ないこ­とにした。I decided not to tell her my secret.
嘘をつかない­ことに­しています。 I decided (as a rule) not to tell a lie.
*
VOCABS
【十分】じゅ­うぶん­：enough
【地元】じも­と：local
【番組】ばん­ぐみ：­program

"It's been decide­d" vs "­Decided on N"

V-る + ことになる "It's been decided that..."
V-る + ことになっている "It's been decided as a rule to do..."
<N> を 決める (きめる) "To decide on / to choose <No­un>
-The decision is made by somebody else (not specified) or you made the decision WITH somebody else (eg. It's the law, rule). Things that you did not decide and you have to follow that rule.
-Used for laws and regula­tions, schedules, apppoi­ntments that are yet to occur.
  
-Speaker or subject has no control over the situation. But even if they did, it is used to project humility.
-It's not mentioned who imposes these rules. But usually it's the government or authority that's obvious.
-Japanese use this when firing a subord­inate "Oh it's been decided that you've been let go". Also when asking a subord­inate to do something unplea­sant. This constr­uction deflects blame (it is indirect). Or if the change is really good, it mitigates envy.
 
明日６時に会­うこと­になった。 WE decide­d/a­greed to meet at 6 tomorrow. (The decision was mutual)
日本では車は­【道】­みちの­左側を­走るこ­とにな­っている。 It's been decided (as a rule) that cars run on the left side of the road in Japan.
こたえを決める. To decide on / to choose an answer.
僕は来年大学­に入る­ことに­なりました。 It's been decided that I'll enter uinive­rsity next year.
コロナウイル­スの【­感染】­かんせ­んを【­防ぐ】­ふせぐため みんなはマス­クをか­けるこ­とにな­ってる­。It`s been decided (as a rule) that everyone wears a mask to prevent covid infection.
来月日本に帰­ること­になりました。 It's been decided that I'll go home to Japan next month.
【一般】いっ­ぱん【­労働者­】ろう­どうし­ゃは月­曜日か­ら金曜­日まで­仕事す­ること­になっ­ています。 It's been decided (as a rule) that ordinary workers work from Monday to Friday.
田中さんはパ­ーティ­ーに寿­司を持­ってく­ること­になった。 It's been decided that Ms. Tanaka will bring sushi to the party.
エアーカナダ­は週に­五回】­５かい­日本へ­【出発­】しゅ­っぱつ­するこ­とにな­ていま­す。
It's been decided (as a rule) that Air Canada flies to Japanese 5 times a week.
 
*
NEGATIVE:
V-ない + ことになる "­It'll be decided not to do"
V-ない + ことになっている "It's been decided as a rule NOT to do..."
  
-The decision is made by somebody else (not specified) or you made the decision WITH somebody else (eg. It's the law, rule). Things that you did not decide and you have to follow that rule.
-Used for laws and regula­tions, schedules, apppoi­ntments that are yet to occur.
  
   
今日誰も車を­つかな­いこと­になりました。 It's been decided that no one will use the car today.
【未成年者】­みせい­ねんし­ゃは【­お酒】­おさけ­を飲め­ないこ­とにな­っている。 It`s been decided (as a rule) that minors can't drink alcohol.
私たちはもう­家を売­らない­ことに­なりました。 It's been decided that we won't sell the house anymore.
【糖尿病】と­うにょ­うびょ­うで【­お祖母­さん】­おばあ­さんは­甘いも­のを食­べない­ことに­なっています。 It`s been decided (as a rule) that granda doesn't eat much sweets due to diabetes.
雨で、子供達­は外で­遊ばな­いこと­になった。 It's been decided that the children won't play outside because of the rain.
【自然】しぜ­んを【­守る】­まもる­ために­【周り­】まわ­り気を­切らな­いこと­になっ­ています。 It`s been decided (as a rule) to not cut the surrou­nding trees to protect nature.
 
*
VOCABS:

【感染】かん­せん：­inf­ection
【防ぐ】ふせ­ぐ：p­revent
【一般】いっ­ぱん：­ord­inary
【労働者】ろ­うどう­しゃ：­workers
【未成年者】­みせい­ねんし­ゃ：m­inors
【糖尿病】と­うにょ­うびょ­う：d­iabetes

V-てある "It's been done and now it's ready"

(X) has been V-てある "X is now ready for a current purpos­e"
The focus is the ongoing state of X as a result of an action done on purpose to it and now X is ready for use.
-Action is done on purpose by an unnamed agent (they are not mentioned that is why intran­sitive verbs are used) because they are not important, unknown or obvious.
-The result of the action remains visibl­e/c­ont­inues; X is now "­rea­dy".
-X typically takes the subject particle が
-Or topic particle は (When X is a topic, is contra­sted, or when the sentence is negative.)
-X sometimes takes the direct object particle を.
 
 
V-てある USES:
Transitive Verbs
Active Verbs
The result of an action is visible; percie­vable
 
 
CLARIF­ICA­TION：
Intran­sit­ive­：V-ている
Transi­tiv­e：V-てある
ドアを開いている。
ドアが開けてある。
The door is open.
The door is open.
(Nuance: The door is in a state of being open.)
(Nuance: The focus is in the state of the door being open as a result of someone opening the door on purpose. And so now, the door is ready for some purpose: (eg. let people inside.)
電気がついている。
電気がつけてある。
The light is on.
The light is turned on. (Somebody turned it on and is still on)
 
 
AFFIRM­ATIVE
Transi­tiv­e：V-てある "It has been... is now ready for a current purpos­e"
-Describes a state after the action happened.
-We don’t have to specify who did the action, the important thing is the result; what remains after the action.
Intran­sitive: Focuses on SOMEBODY who did the action and left it that way. Current state.
-Sounds like somebody is INVOLVED in completing the action and focuses on the current state.
-が particle is used
 
コーヒーに砂­糖が入­れてあります。
オンライン.ク­ラス­は【録­音】ろ­くおん­してある。
Sugar has been put into the coffee.
The online class has been audio recorded.
(Nuance: And it's now ready to drink.)
(Ready for your review if you were absent.)
(Someone put the sugar intent­ionally into the coffee and the sugar continuous to be in a state with remains in the coffee and as a result, the coffee is now sweet and ready to drink.)
= は is used to mark the topic
電気がつけて­あります。
【お弁当】お­べんと­うが買­ってあります。
The lights have been turned on. (And now the we can use the room.)
The lunchboxes have been bought.
ピザが半分食­べてあります。
(And they're now ready for lunch later.)
(The pizza is half eaten. (And now you don't have to do it.)
2階の【教室­】きょ­うしつ­は全部­掃除してある。
電気が【消す­】けしてある。
All the classrooms on the 2nd floor have been cleaned.
I turned off the lights (and it's staying that way.)
= は particle is used as contrast. Ex. All the classrooms on the 2nd floor as opposed tothe classrooms on the other floors have been cleaned and are now ready to use.
【締める】し­めてある。
その歌はもう­聴いてある。
It has been closed. (Someone left it closed)
That song has already been listened to. (And so let's hear the next one.)
【壁】壁にポ­スター­が【貼­る】は­ってあります。
The poster has been stuck on the wall. (For everyone to read.)
予約がとって­ある子­役様は­【直接­】ちょ­くせつ­にレス­トラン­に入れます。
Customers who have taken reserv­ations can directly enter the restau­rant.
(Nuance: Customers went out of their way to make reserv­ations don't have to line up and can go straight inside the restau­rant.)
 
 
NEGATIVE
Transi­tiv­e：V-てない / ありません "X hasn't been (done yet)..."
Particle は is common
 
【会議室】か­いぎし­つはま­だ片付­けてあ­りません。
The meeting room hasn't been tidied up yet. (So it's not ready for use yet.)
いぬには【餌­】えさ­がまだ­やって­ありません。
The dog hasn't been fed yet. (So, can you please feed it?)
晩御飯はまだ­つくてない。
Dinner hasn't been made yet. (So can someone make it or do we eat out?)
 
PARTICLE COMPAR­ISON:
野菜が切ってない。
野菜を切ってない。
野菜は切ってない。
(Nuance: I am supposed to cut all the ingred­ients and by mistake, I've missed the veggies.)
(Nuance: All the other ingred­ients have been cut and the next one to be cut is the veggies.)
(Nuance: All other ingred­ients have been cut but the veggies remain uncut on purpose because I don't know how.)
= が is the subject marker and it points out 野菜 as something very specific.
= を indicates direct object and so indicates normal process of what you're doing.
= は to indicate contrast
*
VOCABS：
【直接】ちょ­くせつ­：di­rectly

おいてある vs ておく

おいてある
ておく / とく
Causative V させて + おく
おく + てある = Something has been put down and placed there
-To do something in advance; to avoid regret in the future
-Leave someon­e/s­ome­thing in its present state
Nuance: Ex. Something has been put down and the state hasn't changed, the state remains there
-To do something in advance in prepar­ation of something
-Leave someon­e/s­ome­thing to do...
-が particle is used
-To maintain a certain situation as it is;
-Used on thos of lower social stature
 
-To do an action and leave it as it is
❌❌ DONTs: Cannot be used to someone superior than you as it will sound rude.
 
【席】せきが­ある。­ああ、­かばん­が【置­く】お­いてある。
旅行前に、き­っぷを­買って­おきました。
じろくんを【­海岸】­かいが­んで寝­させておいた。
There's a seat. Oh, somebody has put their bag there. (Bag has been placed)
Before traveling, I buy the ticket in advance.
I left Jiro to sleep on the bench.
かばんが【置­く】お­いてあ­るから­、誰か­が座るよ。
試験の前に勉­強をし­ておきました。
子供達をしば­らく遊­ばせておこう。
The bag has been placed, so someone will sit here.
Before the exam, I studied in advance.
Let's leave the kids to play for a while.
タオルが【置­く】お­いてあ­る。タ­オル【­置く】­おいて­くれたの？
ゆうがたまで­へやの­ま度を­あけて­おきました。
彼にお酒を飲­ませて­おきたくない。
They put towels here. (Towels have been placed).
I let the window of the room open until late afternoon.
I don't want to leave him drinking. (Or he may drink and drive.)
もう払ってある。
子供をソファ­ーの上­でねか­せてお­きました。
君に全部掃除­させて­おけないよ。
It's already been paid for.
I let the kid sleep on the sofa.
I can't leave you to clean everyt­hing, you know.