Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI drive | ||
| NegativeI don’t drive |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI drove | ||
| NegativeI didn’t drive |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formdriving, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am driving | ||
| Please (て ください)please drive |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can drive | ||
| NegativeI can’t drive |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to drive | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to drive |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s drive |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I drive
- If, when (たら) if I drive
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) drive (do it)
- Plain command drive!
- Please don’t please don’t drive
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am driven | ||
| CausativeI make someone drive |
How to use うんてん する
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
にほん で は ひだりがわ を うんてん します。
In Japan you drive on the left.
-
Past
はじめて こうそくどうろ を うんてん した。
I drove on the expressway for the first time.
-
Te-form
いま うんてん して いる ので、 あとで かけなおします。
I'm driving right now, so I'll call you back later.
-
Potential
ベン さん は マニュアル の くるま が うんてん できます か。
Ben, can you drive a stick shift?
-
Want to
いつか おきなわ を うんてん したい。
One day I want to drive around Okinawa.
-
Volitional
こうたい で うんてん しよう。
Let's take turns driving.
-
Conditional
よる うんてん すれば、 みち は すいて います。
If you drive at night, the roads are empty.
-
Commands and requests
ねむい とき は うんてん しないで ください。
Please don't drive when you're sleepy.
-
Passive and causative
こども に くるま を うんてん させては いけません。
You mustn't let children drive a car.
Good to know
- うんてんしゅ is the driver, and めんきょ the licence.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: する verb.