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JAPANESE VERB

のびる

伸びる

to stretch

  • #451 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 stretch
NegativeI don’t stretch

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI stretched
NegativeI didn’t stretch

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formstretching, and…
Doing now (て います)I am stretching
Please (て ください)please stretch

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can stretch
NegativeI can’t stretch

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s stretch

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am stretched
CausativeI make someone stretch

How to use のびる

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

  1. Present and future

    おもち は よく のびる ね。

    Rice cake really stretches.

  2. Past

    おとうと は この いちねん で せ が のびました。

    My little brother has grown taller this past year.

  3. Te-form

    チーズ が こんなに のびて いる！

    The cheese is stretching this much!

  4. Potential

    ひろい ふとん なら、 ゆっくり のびられます。

    In a wide futon you can stretch right out.

  5. Want to

    ぼく は まだ せ が のびたい な。

    I still want to grow taller.

  6. Volitional

    め が ひかり の ほう へ のびよう と して います。

    The sprout is trying to grow toward the light.

  7. Conditional

    チーズ が のびれば、 ピザ は せいこう だ。

    If the cheese stretches, the pizza is a success.

  8. Commands and requests

    あさがお さん、 はやく のびなさい。

    Morning glory, hurry up and grow.

  9. Passive and causative

    はなし が ながくて、 ラーメン に のびられた。

    The chat went on, and my ramen went soggy on me.

Good to know

  • のびる is the thing stretching or growing by itself: おもち が のびる, せ が のびる. Stretching it yourself is のばす.
  • ラーメン が のびる is noodles going soft because they sat too long.

Where you hear のびる

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

Japanese · Beginner Level 3

  • おもち は よく のびます ね。 Rice cake really stretches.
  • おもち が ながく のびました。 The rice cake stretched a long way.
  • あした の おもち も よく のびます よ。 Tomorrow's rice cakes will stretch well too.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 2

  • たいふう の とき は、 よく よてい が のびます。 In a typhoon, plans are often put off.
  • けんがく が らいしゅう に のびた。 The visit was put off until next week.
  • たぶん、 しけん の けっか も のびる。 The results will probably be put off too.
2
Rice Cakes

Beginner Level 3 · のびます

Free 17
The Typhoon

Intermediate Level 2 · のびた

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

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