Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI break down | ||
| NegativeI don’t break down |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI broke down | ||
| NegativeI didn’t break down |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbreaking down, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am breaking down | ||
| Please (て ください)please break down |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can break down | ||
| NegativeI can’t break down |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to break down | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to break down |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s break down |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I break down
- If, when (たら) if I break down
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) break down (do it)
- Plain command break down!
- Please don’t please don’t break down
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am broken down | ||
| CausativeI make someone break down |
How to use こしょう する
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
この せんたくき は よく こしょう します。
This washing machine often breaks down.
-
Past
とちゅう で くるま が こしょう した。
The car broke down on the way.
-
Te-form
エアコン が こしょう して いて、 へや が あつい。
The air conditioner's broken, and the room is hot.
-
Potential
こしょう した とき、 じぶん で なおせます か。
When it breaks down, can you fix it yourself?
-
Want to
いちばん いそがしい とき に こしょう して ほしくない。
I don't want it to break down at the busiest time.
-
Volitional
こしょう する まえ に、 あたらしい の を かおう。
Let's buy a new one before it breaks down.
-
Conditional
こしょう したら、 この ばんごう に でんわ して ください。
If it breaks down, please call this number.
-
Commands and requests
おねがい だ から、 いま こしょう しないで。
Please, don't break down now.
-
Passive and causative
むり に うごかして、 きかい を こしょう させて しまった。
I forced it to run and made the machine break down.
Good to know
- こしょう is for machines: a car, a lift, a washing machine; a cup or a toy that breaks is こわれる.
- こしょうちゅう on a sign means out of order.
- A machine breaks down on its own, so the potential, want and volitional sentences show こしょう する beside another verb.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: する verb.