Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI change | ||
| NegativeI don’t change |
JAPANESE VERB
かわる
変わる
to change
- #57 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI changed | ||
| NegativeI didn’t change |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formchanging, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am changing | ||
| Please (て ください)please change |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can change | ||
| NegativeI can’t change |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to change | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to change |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s change |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I change
- If, when (たら) if I change
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) change (do it)
- Plain command change!
- Please don’t please don’t change
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am changed | ||
| CausativeI make someone change |
How to use かわる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
まち は まいとし かわります。
The town changes every year.
-
Past
ベン は にほん に きて、 かわった。
Ben changed after he came to Japan.
-
Te-form
しんごう が あお に かわって います。
The light has turned green.
-
Potential
ひと は いつでも かわれます。
People can change at any time.
-
Want to
わたし も すこし かわりたい です。
I want to change a little too.
-
Volitional
よてい が かわろう と、 ぼく は いく。
Even if the plans change, I'm going.
-
Conditional
てんき が かわれば、 きぶん も かわります。
When the weather changes, your mood changes too.
-
Commands and requests
ゆい、 ずっと かわらないで ね。
Yui, don't ever change, okay?
-
Passive and causative
せんせい、 かみがた が かわられました ね。
You've changed your hairstyle, haven't you, teacher?
Good to know
- かわる is when something changes by itself; かえる is when you change it: よてい が かわった, よてい を かえた.
Where you hear かわる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- この まち は あまり かわりません。 This town doesn't change much.
- ベン さん は かわりました ね。 Ben, you've changed.
- らいねん、 しごと が かわります。 My job will change next year.
Japanese · Beginner Level 3
- うみ は いつも かわります。 The sea is always changing.
- この いちねん で、 いろいろ かわりました。 In this past year, lots has changed.
- らいねん は もっと かわる でしょう。 Next year, it'll probably change even more.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).