Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI return | ||
| NegativeI don’t return |
JAPANESE VERB
もどる
戻る
to return
- #77 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 returned | ||
| NegativeI didn’t return |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formreturning, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am returning | ||
| Please (て ください)please return |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can return | ||
| NegativeI can’t return |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to return | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to return |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s return |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I return
- If, when (たら) if I return
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) return (do it)
- Plain command return!
- Please don’t please don’t return
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am returned | ||
| CausativeI make someone return |
How to use もどる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ごご さんじ に かいしゃ に もどります。
I'll be back at the office at 3 p.m.
-
Past
ベン は カナダ から にほん に もどった。
Ben came back to Japan from Canada.
-
Te-form
ぶちょう は まだ もどって いません。
The manager isn't back yet.
-
Potential
しゅうでん に のれば、 きょう じゅう に もどれる。
If I catch the last train, I can be back today.
-
Want to
こども の ころ に もどりたい な。
I wish I could go back to being a kid.
-
Volitional
さむく なって きた。 そろそろ もどろう。
It's getting cold. Let's head back.
-
Conditional
うち に もどれば、 かぎ が ある はず。
If I go back home, the key should be there.
-
Commands and requests
くらく なる まえ に もどりなさい。
Come back before it gets dark.
-
Passive and causative
ぶか を すぐ かいしゃ に もどらせた。
I had my staff come straight back to the office.
Good to know
- もどる is to go back to where you were; かえる is to go home.
Where you hear もどる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- ひる は やど に もどる。 At lunchtime, I return to the inn.
- かぎ を わすれて、 うち に もどった。 I forgot my key and went back home.
- あした は はやく もどる よ。 I'll come back early tomorrow.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- まいにち、 しちじ に びょういん から もどる。 Every day I get back from the hospital at seven.
- さき に シート に もどった。 I went back to the sheet first.
- すぐ もどる よ。 I'll be right back.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).