Polite Present & Future: The ます (masu) Form
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The -masu form turns casual verbs into polite, standard Japanese suitable for any social situation.
- Group 1: Change the final 'u' sound to 'i' + masu. (e.g., {書く|かく} → {書きます|かきます})
- Group 2: Drop the final 'ru' and add 'masu'. (e.g., {食べる|たべる} → {食べます|たべます})
- Group 3: Irregular verbs {する|する} and {来る|くる} become {します|します} and {来ます|きます}.
The ます (masu) form is the polite present/future tense of Japanese verbs. It is the first verb form most learners encounter and is used in everyday polite conversation.
What It Expresses
The masu form covers both present habitual ("I eat," "I study") and future actions ("I will eat"). Japanese does not distinguish between these — context tells the listener which is meant.
How to Form It
- Group 1 (u-verbs): Change final -u to -i + ます: 書く → 書きます
- Group 2 (ru-verbs): Drop る + ます: 食べる → 食べます
- Group 3 (irregular): する → します, 来る → 来ます
When to Use It
Use masu form with strangers, coworkers, teachers, and anyone you are not extremely close to. When in doubt, default to masu form — it is safe in almost every situation.
Meanings
The -masu form is the standard polite way to express present or future actions in Japanese.
Present Habitual
Actions done regularly.
“{毎日|まいにち} {水|みず}を {飲み|のみ}ます。”
“{電車|でんしゃ}で {行き|いき}ます。”
Future Intent
Actions planned for the future.
“{明日|あした} {映画|えいが}を {見|み}ます。”
“{来週|らいしゅう} {旅行|りょこう}します。”
Polite Request/Offer
Used in polite inquiries.
“{何|なに}を {食べ|たべ}ますか？”
“{どこ|どこ}へ {行き|いき}ますか？”
Masu-Form Conjugation
| Verb Type | Dictionary | Stem | Masu-Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 書く | 書き | 書きます |
| Group 1 | 行く | 行き | 行きます |
| Group 2 | 食べる | 食べ | 食べます |
| Group 2 | 見る | 見 | 見ます |
| Group 3 | する | し | します |
| Group 3 | 来る | 来 | 来ます |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Stem + ます | 行きます |
| Negative | Stem + ません | 行きません |
| Question | Stem + ますか | 行きますか？ |
| Negative Question | Stem + ませんか | 行きませんか？ |
| Past Affirmative | Stem + ました | 行きました |
| Past Negative | Stem + ませんでした | 行きませんでした |
Formality Spectrum
食べます。 (Daily meal)
食べます。 (Daily meal)
食べる。 (Daily meal)
食う。 (Daily meal)
Verb Grouping
Group 1
- 書く to write
Group 2
- 食べる to eat
Group 3
- する to do
Examples by Level
{水|みず}を {飲み|のみ}ます。
I drink water.
{本|ほん}を {読み|よみ}ます。
I read a book.
{学校|がっこう}へ {行き|いき}ます。
I go to school.
{日本語|にほんご}を {勉強|べんきょう}します。
I study Japanese.
{明日|あした} {映画|えいが}を {見|み}ますか？
Will you watch a movie tomorrow?
{肉|にく}を {食べ|たべ}ません。
I do not eat meat.
{何|なに}を {買い|かい}ますか？
What will you buy?
{家|いえ}で {休み|やすみ}ます。
I will rest at home.
{来週|らいしゅう}の {会議|かいぎ}に {出席|しゅっせき}します。
I will attend next week's meeting.
{駅|えき}で {友達|ともだち}を {待ち|まち}ます。
I will wait for my friend at the station.
{忙しい|いそがしい}ので、{手伝い|てつだい}ません。
I am busy, so I will not help.
{電車|でんしゃ}が {遅れ|おくれ}ます。
The train will be late.
{資料|しりょう}を {確認|かくにん}しますので、{少々|しょうしょう} {お待ち|おまち}ください。
I will check the documents, so please wait a moment.
{プロジェクト|ぷろじぇくと}を {完了|かんりょう}させます。
I will complete the project.
{意見|いけん}を {述べ|のべ}ます。
I will state my opinion.
{詳細|しょうさい}を {説明|せつめい}します。
I will explain the details.
{状況|じょうきょう}を {鑑み|かんがみ}て、{判断|はんだん}します。
I will make a judgment considering the situation.
{提案|ていあん}を {検討|けんとう}します。
I will consider the proposal.
{懸念|けねん}を {表明|ひょうめい}します。
I will express my concerns.
{合意|ごうい}に {至り|いたり}ます。
We will reach an agreement.
{本件|ほんけん}に {関し|かんし}て、{回答|かいとう}いたします。
Regarding this matter, I will provide an answer.
{諸般|しょはん}の {事情|じじょう}により、{中止|ちゅうし}します。
Due to various circumstances, we will cancel it.
{見解|けんかい}を {共有|きょうゆう}します。
I will share my perspective.
{秩序|ちつじょ}を {維持|いじ}します。
We will maintain order.
Easily Confused
Learners often use dictionary form in formal settings.
Desu is for nouns/adjectives, Masu is for verbs.
Te-form is for connecting, Masu is for ending.
Common Mistakes
食べるます
食べます
行くます
行きます
食べますか。
食べますか？
するます
します
行きますません
行きません
食べますか？はい、食べます。
はい、食べます。
明日行きます
明日行きます
行こうます
行きます
食べたいます
食べたいです
行きますので、いいです
行きますので、大丈夫です
行かれます
行きます
食べさせます
食べます
行きますと思う
行くと思います
Sentence Patterns
私は ___ を ___ ます。
明日、___ へ ___ ます。
___ と ___ を ___ ます。
___ なので、___ ます。
Real World Usage
コーヒーを飲みます。
頑張ります。
明日行きます。
切符を買います。
本を読みます。
注文します。
Listen for -masu
Don't over-use
Group 2 is easiest
Politeness is key
Smart Tips
Check if it's Group 2 (iru/eru) or Group 1 (aru/oru/uru).
Always remember the 'ka' particle.
Use -masu, but consider honorifics too.
Default to -masu.
Pronunciation
Masu reduction
The 'u' in 'masu' is often devoiced, sounding like 'mass'.
Question
行きますか↑
Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Masu is like a polite bow; you add it to the end of your verb to show respect.
Visual Association
Imagine a waiter in a fancy restaurant. Every time they finish a sentence, they bow slightly and say 'masu'.
Rhyme
When you want to be polite, add masu with all your might.
Story
Ken is a new student in Tokyo. He meets his teacher. He wants to say 'I study'. He remembers to use the polite form. He says 'Benkyou shimasu' instead of 'Benkyou suru'. The teacher smiles and nods.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 5 things you will do tomorrow using the -masu form.
Cultural Notes
The -masu form is the backbone of 'polite' speech (teineigo). It is used to maintain social distance.
In Osaka, you might hear 'masu' replaced by 'hen' or different endings, but -masu is still understood.
In business, -masu is the minimum. You must also use humble/honorific forms.
The -masu form evolved from the auxiliary verb 'mairasu', which was a humble way to say 'to give'.
Conversation Starters
明日、何をしますか？
毎日、日本語を勉強しますか？
週末はどこへ行きますか？
将来、何をしますか？
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
私は本を ___ (読む).
私は肉を ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
私は行くます。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I will study Japanese.
Answer starts with: 日本語...
Stem of 食べる?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: 明日行きますか？ B: ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises私は本を ___ (読む).
私は肉を ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
私は行くます。
ます / 飲み / 水 / を / 私
I will study Japanese.
Stem of 食べる?
する -> ?
A: 明日行きますか？ B: ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, past tense uses -mashita.
You can, but it sounds distant.
Only the irregular verbs 'suru' and 'kuru'.
Add 'ka' to the end of the -masu form.
Most verbs are Group 1. Guessing Group 1 is safer.
It is polite (teineigo).
No, it stays the same.
The 'u' is often devoiced in speech.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Usted conjugation
Spanish conjugates for person; Japanese does not.
Vouvoiement
French changes pronouns; Japanese changes verb endings.
Sie-form
German changes pronouns; Japanese changes verb endings.
Nin (您)
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Formal register
Arabic is highly inflectional; Japanese is agglutinative.
Desu-masu
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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Polite Past Negative: ませんでした (masen deshita) — "I didn't..."
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