Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI go for a drive | ||
| NegativeI don’t go for a drive |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI went for a drive | ||
| NegativeI didn’t go for a drive |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgoing for a drive, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am going for a drive | ||
| Please (て ください)please go for a drive |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can go for a drive | ||
| NegativeI can’t go for a drive |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to go for a drive | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to go for a drive |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s go for a drive |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I go for a drive
- If, when (たら) if I go for a drive
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) go for a drive (do it)
- Plain command go for a drive!
- Please don’t please don’t go for a drive
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am gone for a drive | ||
| CausativeI make someone go for a drive |
How to use ドライブ する
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
しゅうまつ は、 よく ふうふ で ドライブ します。
At weekends we often go for a drive as a couple.
-
Past
きのう、 うみ まで ドライブ した。
Yesterday I drove out to the sea.
-
Te-form
やま の みち を ドライブ して、 きぶん が よかった。
We drove along the mountain roads and it felt great.
-
Potential
あたらしい くるま で、 やっと ドライブ できる。
Finally I can go for a drive in the new car.
-
Want to
はれた ひ に、 かいがん を ドライブ したい。
On a sunny day I want to drive along the coast.
-
Volitional
こんしゅう の にちようび、 どこか に ドライブ しよう。
This Sunday, let's go for a drive somewhere.
-
Conditional
よる ドライブ したら、 やけい が きれい だった。
When we went for a drive at night, the city lights were beautiful.
-
Commands and requests
ねむい とき は、 ドライブ しないで ください。
When you're sleepy, please don't go driving.
-
Passive and causative
はじめて、 むすこ に ドライブ させた。
For the first time, I let my son take the car for a drive.
Good to know
- ドライブ する is a drive for pleasure; うんてん する is driving the car.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: する verb.