Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI ask a question | ||
| NegativeI don’t ask a question |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI asked a question | ||
| NegativeI didn’t ask a question |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formasking a question, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am asking a question | ||
| Please (て ください)please ask a question |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can ask a question | ||
| NegativeI can’t ask a question |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to ask a question | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to ask a question |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s ask a question |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I ask a question
- If, when (たら) if I ask a question
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) ask a question (do it)
- Plain command ask a question!
- Please don’t please don’t ask a question
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am asked a question | ||
| CausativeI make someone ask a question |
How to use しつもん する
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ゆい は じゅぎょう で よく しつもん します。
Yui often asks questions in class.
-
Past
せんせい に かんじ の よみかた を しつもん した。
I asked the teacher how to read the kanji.
-
Te-form
て を あげて から しつもん して ください。
Please raise your hand before asking a question.
-
Potential
えいご で しつもん できます か。
Can I ask my question in English?
-
Want to
ひとつ しつもん したい こと が あります。
There's one thing I'd like to ask.
-
Volitional
わからない ところ は あとで しつもん しよう。
Let's ask about the parts we don't understand later.
-
Conditional
しつもん すれば、 ていねい に こたえて くれる よ。
If you ask, they'll answer you kindly.
-
Commands and requests
はずかしがらないで、 どんどん しつもん しなさい。
Don't be shy, ask away.
-
Passive and causative
めんせつ で しゅみ に ついて しつもん された。
At the interview I was asked about my hobbies.
Good to know
- しつもん する is to ask a question; to ask someone for something is たのむ.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: する verb.