う-Verb (Negative)

Will/Does/Do (not)

JLPT N5
Pattern

う-verb → ～ない / ～ません

How it works

For a う-verb, change the last sound to its -a version and add ない: 書く → 書かない, 飲む → 飲まない. Verbs ending in う use わ: 買う → 買わない. The polite form is ます-stem + ません.

Examples

  • おさけは 飲まない。I don't drink alcohol.
  • きょうは どこにも 行きません。I'm not going anywhere today.

Related grammar

Further reading

Bunpro N5 · Lesson 2

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