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JAPANESE VERB

うそ を つく

嘘をつく

to tell a lie

  • #257 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI tell a lie
NegativeI don’t tell a lie

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI told a lie
NegativeI didn’t tell a lie

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formtelling a lie, and…
Doing now (て います)I am telling a lie
Please (て ください)please tell a lie

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can tell a lie
NegativeI can’t tell a lie

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to tell a lie
NegativeI don’t want to tell a lie

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s tell a lie

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I tell a lie
  2. If, when (たら) if I tell a lie

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) tell a lie (do it)
  2. Plain command tell a lie!
  3. Please don’t please don’t tell a lie

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am told a lie
CausativeI make someone tell a lie

How to use うそ を つく

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    わたし は かぞく に うそ を つきません。

    I don't lie to my family.

  2. Past

    ちこく は でんしゃ の せい だ と、 うそ を ついた。

    I lied and said I was late because of the train.

  3. Te-form

    けんた は なにか うそ を ついて いる。

    Kenta is lying about something.

  4. Potential

    はは の かお を みる と、 うそ を つけません。

    When I look at my mother's face, I can't lie.

  5. Want to

    うそ を つきたくない から、 ほんとう の こと を いう。

    I don't want to lie, so I'll tell the truth.

  6. Volitional

    うそ を つこう と した が、 できなかった。

    I tried to lie, but I couldn't.

  7. Conditional

    うそ を つけば、 あと で もっと こまる よ。

    If you lie, you'll be in more trouble later.

  8. Commands and requests

    うそ を つかないで。 ぜんぶ しって いる から。

    Don't lie. I know everything.

  9. Passive and causative

    しんじて いた ひと に うそ を つかれた。

    I was lied to by someone I trusted.

Good to know

  • うそ！ on its own is "No way!", not an accusation.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).