Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI go forward | ||
| NegativeI don’t go forward |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI went forward | ||
| NegativeI didn’t go forward |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgoing forward, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am going forward | ||
| Please (て ください)please go forward |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can go forward | ||
| NegativeI can’t go forward |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to go forward | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to go forward |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s go forward |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I go forward
- If, when (たら) if I go forward
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) go forward (do it)
- Plain command go forward!
- Please don’t please don’t go forward
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am gone forward | ||
| CausativeI make someone go forward |
How to use すすむ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
この とけい は、 いちにち に いっぷん すすみます。
This clock gains a minute a day.
-
Past
こうじ は、 よてい より はやく すすんだ。
The construction moved ahead of schedule.
-
Te-form
まっすぐ すすんで、 ふたつめ の しんごう を みぎ です。
Go straight ahead, and it's right at the second light.
-
Potential
ゆき で、 くるま が ぜんぜん すすめない。
The car can't move forward at all in the snow.
-
Want to
だいがくいん に すすみたい と おもって いる。
I'm thinking I want to go on to graduate school.
-
Volitional
まよって いて も しかたない。 まえ に すすもう。
No use dithering. Let's move forward.
-
Conditional
この まま すすめば、 らいしゅう に は おわります。
If it goes on like this, it'll be done next week.
-
Commands and requests
あかしんごう で は、 ぜったい に すすまないで。
Never go forward on a red light.
-
Passive and causative
せんせい は、 せいと を じぶん の ペース で すすませる。
The teacher lets the students go at their own pace.
Good to know
- すすむ is to move ahead, on a road or in work; the transitive is すすめる, to move something ahead, or to recommend.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).