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JAPANESE VERB

こたえる

答える

to answer

  • #145 most used
  • Ichidan verb (ru-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 answer
NegativeI don’t answer

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI answered
NegativeI didn’t answer

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formanswering, and…
Doing now (て います)I am answering
Please (て ください)please answer

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can answer
NegativeI can’t answer

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to answer
NegativeI don’t want to answer

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s answer

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am answered
CausativeI make someone answer

How to use こたえる

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

  1. Present and future

    むすこ は なに を きいて も こたえません。

    My son doesn't answer whatever I ask.

  2. Past

    テスト の もんだい に ぜんぶ こたえた。

    I answered all the test questions.

  3. Te-form

    はい か いいえ で こたえて ください。

    Please answer yes or no.

  4. Potential

    その しつもん には いま こたえられません。

    I can't answer that question right now.

  5. Want to

    せいかく に こたえたい ので、 すこし じかん を ください。

    I want to answer accurately, so give me a little time.

  6. Volitional

    アンケート には きょう じゅう に こたえよう。

    Let's answer the survey today.

  7. Conditional

    ただしく こたえれば、 プレゼント が もらえます。

    If you answer correctly, you get a present.

  8. Commands and requests

    よばれたら、 おおきな こえ で こたえなさい。

    When your name is called, answer in a loud voice.

  9. Passive and causative

    せんせい は けんた に こたえさせた。

    The teacher had Kenta answer.

Good to know

  • What you answer takes に: しつもん に こたえる.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).