Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI work for | ||
| NegativeI don’t work for |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI worked for | ||
| NegativeI didn’t work for |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formworking for, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am working for | ||
| Please (て ください)please work for |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can work for | ||
| NegativeI can’t work for |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to work for | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to work for |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s work for |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I work for
- If, when (たら) if I work for
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) work for (do it)
- Plain command work for!
- Please don’t please don’t work for
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am worked for | ||
| CausativeI make someone work for |
How to use つとめる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
そつぎょう したら、 ぎんこう に つとめます。
After I graduate, I'll work for a bank.
-
Past
ちち は さんじゅうねん おなじ かいしゃ に つとめた。
My father worked for the same company for thirty years.
-
Te-form
あね は しやくしょ に つとめて います。
My older sister works at the city hall.
-
Potential
がいこくじん でも この びょういん に つとめられます か。
Can foreigners work at this hospital too?
-
Want to
しょうらい は ゆうめいな ホテル に つとめたい。
In the future I want to work for a famous hotel.
-
Volitional
らいねん から ちち の みせ に つとめよう と おもう。
I'm thinking of working at my father's shop from next year.
-
Conditional
おおきな かいしゃ に つとめれば、 あんしん です か。
If you work for a big company, are you set for life?
-
Commands and requests
どこ に つとめる か は、 じぶん で きめなさい。
Decide for yourself where you'll work.
-
Passive and causative
ちち は あに を じぶん の かいしゃ に つとめさせた。
My father had my brother work at his own company.
Good to know
- つとめる takes に for the company: ぎんこう に つとめて います; はたらく takes で. It is nearly always said in the て います form.
- Nobody is ordered to be employed, so the imperative sentence shows つとめる beside another verb.
Where you hear つとめる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- わたし は よく けっこんしき の しかい を つとめます。 I often act as master of ceremonies at weddings.
- きょねん、 がっこう の パーティー で しかい を つとめました。 Last year, I was master of ceremonies at the school party.
- らいねん、 がっこう の パーティー で しかい を つとめます。 Next year, I'll be master of ceremonies at the school party.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).