JAPANESE VERB

おくれる

遅れる

to be late

Conjugation

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Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI am late
NegativeI am not late

finished actions

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI was late
NegativeI was not late

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

可能形 · “can”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can be late
NegativeI can’t be late

たい形 · “want to”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI want to be late
NegativeI don’t want to be late

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form	Polite	Plain
Let’slet’s be late

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
Passive
Causative

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

Present and future

すみません、でんしゃがじゅっぷん おくれます。

Sorry, the train is ten minutes late.
Past

でんしゃが おくれて、かいぎに おくれた。

The train was late, so I was late for the meeting.
Te-form

ベンさんはいつもごふん おくれて きます。

Ben always comes five minutes late.
Potential

あしたのめんせつには おくれられない。

I can't be late for tomorrow's interview.
Want to

けっこんしきには おくれたくない です。

I don't want to be late for the wedding.
Volitional

パーティーにはわざとすこし おくれよう。

Let's turn up to the party a little late on purpose.
Conditional

おくれたら、でんわしてください。

If you're late, please call.
Commands and requests

あしたは おくれないで くださいね。

Please don't be late tomorrow.
Passive and causative

かれにいちじかんもおくれられて、おこりました。

He was a whole hour late on me, and I got angry.