Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am there | ||
| NegativeI am not there |
JAPANESE VERB
いる
to be there, for people
- #2 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was there | ||
| NegativeI was not there |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbeing there, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am being there | ||
| Please (て ください)please be there |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can be there | ||
| NegativeI can’t be there |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to be there | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to be there |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s be there |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I am there
- If, when (たら) if I am there
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) be there (do it)
- Plain command be there!
- Please don’t please don’t be there
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | ||
| Causative |
How to use いる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
いま、 どこ に います か。
Where are you right now?
-
Past
ゆうべ は ずっと うち に いました。
Last night I was at home the whole time.
-
Te-form
ごじ まで ここ に いて ください。
Please stay here until five.
-
Potential
あと じゅっぷん しか いられません。
I can only stay another ten minutes.
-
Want to
もっと ながく にほん に いたい です。
I want to stay in Japan longer.
-
Volitional
あめ だ から、 きょう は うち に いよう。
It's raining, so let's stay home today.
-
Conditional
ゆい が いれば、 あんしん です。
If Yui is there, I feel at ease.
-
Commands and requests
うごかないで、 ここ に いなさい。
Don't move, stay here.
-
Passive and causative
こども を いえ に ひとり で いさせません。
I don't leave my child at home alone.
Good to know
- いる is for people and animals, ある for things.
- いる after a て-form makes the continuous: たべて います, I am eating.
Where you hear いる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- うち に は ねこ が います。 We have a cat at home.
- きのう、 うみ に りく さん が いました。 Yesterday Riku was at the beach.
- あした は いえ に います。 I'll be at home tomorrow.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).