Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI fall over | ||
| NegativeI don’t fall over |
JAPANESE VERB
ころぶ
転ぶ
to fall over
- #291 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 fell over | ||
| NegativeI didn’t fall over |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formfalling over, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am falling over | ||
| Please (て ください)please fall over |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can fall over | ||
| NegativeI can’t fall over |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to fall over | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to fall over |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s fall over |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I fall over
- If, when (たら) if I fall over
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) fall over (do it)
- Plain command fall over!
- Please don’t please don’t fall over
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am fallen over | ||
| CausativeI make someone fall over |
How to use ころぶ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ゆき の ひ は よく ころぶ。
I often fall over on snowy days.
-
Past
きのう、 スキー で なんかい も ころびました。
Yesterday I fell over many times skiing.
-
Te-form
あっ、 こども が ころんで いる！
Oh, a child has fallen over!
-
Potential
じゅうどう で は、 じょうず に ころべる こと が だいじ です。
In judo, being able to fall well matters.
-
Want to
こおった みち で ころびたくない。
I don't want to fall on the icy road.
-
Volitional
ゆき の うえ で わざと ころぼう！
Let's fall over on purpose in the snow!
-
Conditional
ころんだら、 すぐ たって ください ね。
If you fall, get up straight away.
-
Commands and requests
みち が こおって います から、 ころばないで ください。
The road is icy, so please don't fall.
-
Passive and causative
さんぽ で メープル が わたし を ころばせました。
On the walk, Maple made me fall over.
Good to know
- ころぶ is a person falling over; something dropping from a height is おちる.
Where you hear ころぶ
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 3
- はじめて の ひと は よく ころびます。 First-timers often fall over.
- スキー で ごかい ころびました。 I fell over five times skiing.
- げた で ころびます よ！ You'll fall over in wooden sandals!
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- はじめて の ひと は よく ころぶ よ。 First-timers often fall over.
- フットサル で ころんだ。 I fell over at futsal.
- げた で ころぶ よ！ You'll fall over in those sandals!
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).