JAPANESE VERB

ことわる

断る

to refuse, to say no

Conjugation

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now, habits, and what is to come

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI refuse
NegativeI don’t refuse

finished actions

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI refused
NegativeI didn’t refuse

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

可能形 · “can”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can refuse
NegativeI can’t refuse

たい形 · “want to”

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

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form	Polite	Plain
Let’slet’s refuse

条件形 · “if” and “when”

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Form	Polite	Plain
PassiveI am refused
CausativeI make someone refuse

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

Present and future

むりなしごとはちゃんと ことわります。

I say no properly to work that's impossible.
Past

きのうののみかいは ことわった。

I turned down yesterday's drinks party.
Te-form

さそいを ことわって、わるかったなあ。

I felt bad turning down the invitation.
Potential

せんぱいのたのみは ことわれません。

You can't say no to a senior's request.
Want to

ことわりたい けど、いいかたがわからない。

I want to say no, but I don't know how.
Volitional

こんどははっきり ことわろう。

Next time, let's say no clearly.
Conditional

いま ことわれば、あとでらくだよ。

If you say no now, it'll be easier later.
Commands and requests

いやなときは、 ことわりなさい。

When you don't want to, say no.
Passive and causative

デートにさそったら、ことわられた。

I asked her on a date and got turned down.

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

Intermediate Level 2 · ことわれない

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