Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am useful | ||
| NegativeI am not useful |
JAPANESE VERB
やくに たつ
役に立つ
to be useful
- #210 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was useful | ||
| NegativeI was not useful |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbeing useful, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am being useful | ||
| Please (て ください)please be useful |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can be useful | ||
| NegativeI can’t be useful |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to be useful | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to be useful |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s be useful |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I am useful
- If, when (たら) if I am useful
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) be useful (do it)
- Plain command be useful!
- Please don’t please don’t be useful
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | ||
| Causative |
How to use やくに たつ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
この アプリ は りょこう で やくに たちます。
This app is useful when travelling.
-
Past
ベン の えいご が とても やくに たった。
Ben's English was very useful.
-
Te-form
あの じしょ は いま も やくに たって いる。
That dictionary is still useful even now.
-
Potential
みなさん の やくに たてる と うれしい です。
I'd be glad if I can be of use to you all.
-
Want to
ひと の やくに たちたい。
I want to be useful to people.
-
Volitional
すこし でも ひと の やくに たとう と おもう。
I mean to be of some use to people.
-
Conditional
やくに たてば、 うれしい です。
If it's useful, I'm glad.
-
Commands and requests
すこし は やくに たちなさい！
Make yourself useful for once!
-
Passive and causative
ぜひ この けいけん を やくに たたせて ください。
Please put this experience to good use.
Good to know
- やくに たたない, useless, is said of things and, unkindly, of people.
Where you hear やくに たつ
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- この じしょ は やくに たつ。 This dictionary is useful.
- かさ が やくに たった。 The umbrella came in useful.
- あした、 この ちず が やくに たつ よ。 This map will be useful tomorrow.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).