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JAPANESE VERB

かえす

返す

to give back

  • #125 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI give back
NegativeI don’t give back

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI gave back
NegativeI didn’t give back

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formgiving back, and…
Doing now (て います)I am giving back
Please (て ください)please give back

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can give back
NegativeI can’t give back

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to give back
NegativeI don’t want to give back

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s give back

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I give back
  2. If, when (たら) if I give back

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) give back (do it)
  2. Plain command give back!
  3. Please don’t please don’t give back

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am given back
CausativeI make someone give back

How to use かえす

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

  1. Present and future

    あした、 ほん を かえします。

    I'll return the book tomorrow.

  2. Past

    かりた おかね は ぜんぶ かえした。

    I paid back all the money I borrowed.

  3. Te-form

    その ペン、 かえして ください。

    Please give that pen back.

  4. Potential

    らいしゅう まで に かえせます か？

    Can you return it by next week?

  5. Want to

    はやく さとう さん に かさ を かえしたい。

    I want to give Mrs. Sato her umbrella back soon.

  6. Volitional

    としょかん に ほん を かえそう。

    Let's return the books to the library.

  7. Conditional

    きょう かえせば、 おかね は かかりません。

    If you return it today, there's no charge.

  8. Commands and requests

    かりた もの は ちゃんと かえしなさい。

    Give back what you borrowed, properly.

  9. Passive and causative

    かした ほん が まだ かえされて いません。

    The book I lent still hasn't been returned.

Good to know

  • かえす is to give back; かえる, with a short え, is to go home.

Where you hear かえす

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Beginner Level 2

  • ほん は いつも すぐ かえします。 I always give books back quickly.
  • はる さん に かさ を かえしました。 I gave Haru her umbrella back.
  • もくようび に かえします。 I'll give it back on Thursday.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 1

  • ほん は いつも としょかん に かえす。 I always return books to the library.
  • おきゃくさん が かぎ を かえした。 The guest returned the key.
  • あした、 かさ を かえす よ。 I'll return the umbrella tomorrow.
18
An Umbrella to Borrow

Beginner Level 2 · かえします · かえしました

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A Sign in English

Intermediate Level 1 · かえして

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Fishing

Intermediate Level 2 · かえして いた · かえしましょう · かえさなかった · かえした

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Thank You

Intermediate Level 2 · かえして

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).