Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI get drunk | ||
| NegativeI don’t get drunk |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI got drunk | ||
| NegativeI didn’t get drunk |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgetting drunk, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am getting drunk | ||
| Please (て ください)please get drunk |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can get drunk | ||
| NegativeI can’t get drunk |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to get drunk | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to get drunk |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s get drunk |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I get drunk
- If, when (たら) if I get drunk
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) get drunk (do it)
- Plain command get drunk!
- Please don’t please don’t get drunk
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am gotten drunk | ||
| CausativeI make someone get drunk |
How to use よう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
わたし は ビール いっぱい で よいます。
I get drunk on one beer.
-
Past
ゆうべ は のみすぎて、 すっかり よった。
Last night I drank too much and got totally drunk.
-
Te-form
けんた、 もう よって いる？
Kenta, are you drunk already?
-
Potential
この おさけ は よわくて、 よえません。
This drink is weak; it won't get you drunk.
-
Want to
きょう は いやな こと が あった から、 よいたい。
I had a bad day, so I want to get drunk.
-
Volitional
よう まえ に、 みず を のんで おこう。
Before we get drunk, let's drink some water.
-
Conditional
よったら、 タクシー で かえりなさい。
If you get drunk, take a taxi home.
-
Commands and requests
あした は しごと だ から、 よわないで ね。
You've got work tomorrow, so don't get drunk.
-
Passive and causative
ふね の ゆれ が みんな を よわせた。
The rocking of the boat made everyone seasick.
Good to know
- よう is also to get motion sick: くるま に よう, ふね に よう.
- よって います, "I'm drunk", uses the て form.
- よおう, the volitional, is hardly said, so that sentence shows よう beside another verb.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).