Verbs, verbs, verbs (HELP)

[aldergrove]

My major problem is finding the stem of Japanese verbs. In addition, sometimes I know the masu form, but can't figure out the dictionary form. I remember there was a podcast about this too, but I can't find it. Can someone tell me the tricks, or point me to a good website for help, or both? Thanks.

[Bueller_007]

My major problem is finding the stem of Japanese verbs. In addition, sometimes I know the masu form, but can't figure out the dictionary form. I remember there was a podcast about this too, but I can't find it. Can someone tell me the tricks, or point me to a good website for help, or both? Thanks.

For type-one verbs, the -masu stem is created by changing the final "-u" of the word into "-i", i.e. "yomu" -> "yomi", "oyogu" -> "oyogi"

For type-two verbs, the -masu stem is created by dropping the final "ru". i.e. "ochiru" -> "ochi"

Suru's stem is "shi" and kuru's stem is "ki".

Some polite verbs have an irregular "ru"->"i" stem formation. i.e. "irrasharu" -> "irrashai", "kudasaru" -> "kudasai"

P.S. I always confuse the terms "class-one" and "class-two", so the terms above may be screwed as well.

[annie]

P.S. I always confuse the terms "class-one" and "class-two", so the terms above may be screwed as well.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who doesn't know which is which.

[tiroth2]

You are right!

グループＩ動詞：　(五段動詞)
降る→降ります
言う→言います
取る→取ります

グループＩＩ動詞：　(一段動詞)
止める→止めます
見る→見ます

[Psy]

I learned them as go-dan (five-steps, change tsu to chi, su to shi, mu to mi, etc.) and ichi-dan (one-step, "drop ru"), and have never had a problem keeping them distinct, so I suggest everyone learns these terms instead of the more ambiguous type 1/2. Strictly speaking, when you encounter an unfamiliar word in its 〜ます form it is often impossible to reverse-conjugate. While it doesn't take long to guess, it is inconvenient... it's always better to learn a new verb in its dictionary form.

[GoddessCarlie]

Thanks Psy, that's a great way of looking at them. For me, I was always taught them as "u verbs" and "ru verbs" (opposed to type 1/2). That way it is easy for me to remember which group is which.

[Bueller_007]

Actually, that's not why they're called go-dan. They're called go-dan because there are five different roots, where as ichi-dan only has one.

i.e.

落ちる [ichi-dan]=
落ちない
落ちます
落ちる
落ちろ
落ちよう

話す [go-dan]＝
話さない
話します
話す
話せ
話そう