JAPANESE VERB

いる

to be, for people and animals

Conjugation

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Say it firstHide the forms and test yourself

now, habits, and what is to come

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI am
NegativeI am not

finished actions

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI was
NegativeI was not

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

可能形 · “can”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can be
NegativeI can’t be

たい形 · “want to”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI want to be
NegativeI don’t want to be

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form	Polite	Plain
Let’slet’s be

条件形 · “if” and “when”

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form	Polite	Plain
Passive
Causative

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

Present and future

いま、うちにねこがにひきいます。

There are two cats at home now.
Past

きのうはいちにちじゅういえにいた。

Yesterday I was at home all day.
Te-form

あれ、だれかいてください。ひとりはこわい。

Hey, someone stay with me. I'm scared alone.
Potential

ここにはごじまで いられます。

I can stay here until five.
Want to

もうすこしここに いたい。

I want to stay here a bit longer.
Volitional

あめだから、うちに いよう。

It's raining, so let's stay home.
Conditional

しちじにうちに いれば、でんわします。

If you're home at seven, I'll call.
Commands and requests

ここに いなさい。すぐもどるから。

Stay here. I'll be right back.
Passive and causative

ずっとここに いられる と、こまります。

If you keep staying here, it's a problem.