Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI sleep | ||
| NegativeI don’t sleep |
JAPANESE VERB
ねむる
眠る
to sleep
- #175 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 slept | ||
| NegativeI didn’t sleep |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formsleeping, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am sleeping | ||
| Please (て ください)please sleep |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can sleep | ||
| NegativeI can’t sleep |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to sleep | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to sleep |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s sleep |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I sleep
- If, when (たら) if I sleep
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) sleep (do it)
- Plain command sleep!
- Please don’t please don’t sleep
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am slept | ||
| CausativeI make someone sleep |
How to use ねむる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ねこ は いちにち じゅう ねむります。
Cats sleep all day long.
-
Past
きのう は ぜんぜん ねむれませんでした。
I couldn't sleep at all last night.
-
Te-form
あかちゃん は いま ねむって います。
The baby is sleeping now.
-
Potential
でんしゃ の なか で も ねむれます。
I can sleep even on the train.
-
Want to
きょう は はやく ねむりたい です。
I want to get to sleep early today.
-
Volitional
もう おそい から、 ねむろう。
It's late, let's sleep.
-
Conditional
よく ねむれば、 かぜ は なおります よ。
If you sleep well, your cold will get better.
-
Commands and requests
あした は はやい から、 もう ねむりなさい。
You're up early tomorrow, so go to sleep now.
-
Passive and causative
うた を うたって、 あかちゃん を ねむらせました。
I sang a song and got the baby to sleep.
Good to know
- ねむる is the sleep itself; ねる is going to bed, so "I slept well" is よく ねむれました.
Where you hear ねむる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- この へや は しずか です から、 よく ねむれます よ。 This room is quiet, so you'll sleep well.
- きのう は よく ねむれました。 I slept well last night.
- こんばん は はやく ねむります。 Tonight I'll get to sleep early.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- ちち は、 ここ に ねむって います。 My father rests here.
- しんかんせん で ずっと ねむった。 I slept the whole way on the bullet train.
- あした は ゆっくり ねむる。 Tomorrow I'll have a good long sleep.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).