Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI grab | ||
| NegativeI don’t grab |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI grabbed | ||
| NegativeI didn’t grab |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgrabbing, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am grabbing | ||
| Please (て ください)please grab |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can grab | ||
| NegativeI can’t grab |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to grab | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to grab |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s grab |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I grab
- If, when (たら) if I grab
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) grab (do it)
- Plain command grab!
- Please don’t please don’t grab
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am grabbed | ||
| CausativeI make someone grab |
How to use つかむ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
あかちゃん は、 なんでも て で つかみます。
Babies grab everything with their hands.
-
Past
ころびそう に なって、 てすり を つかんだ。
I nearly fell and grabbed the handrail.
-
Te-form
つりかわ を しっかり つかんで ください。
Please hold the strap firmly.
-
Potential
て が ぬれて いて、 ボール を つかめなかった。
My hands were wet and I couldn't grab the ball.
-
Want to
こんど こそ、 ゆめ を つかみたい。
This time for sure, I want to get hold of my dream.
-
Volitional
いま しか ない。 この チャンス を つかもう。
It's now or never. Let's seize this chance.
-
Conditional
こつ を つかめば、 じてんしゃ は かんたん だ。
Once you get the knack, riding a bike is easy.
-
Commands and requests
わたし の て を つかみなさい。 ひっぱる から。
Grab my hand. I'll pull you.
-
Passive and causative
うしろ から かた を つかまれて、 びっくり した。
Someone grabbed my shoulder from behind and gave me a fright.
Good to know
- つかむ is to grab and hold; つかまえる is to catch something that was getting away.
- こつ を つかむ is to get the knack of something.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).