Grow with Kitty

〜た(た形) (-ta (ta-kei)) — the plain past (ta) form

Turning a verb into its plain past form — same rules as the て-form.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

Verb Vて [て] + た
Verb Vで [で] + だ
from て-form (て-रूपबाट) 食べて tabete
+
suffix (प्रत्यय) た/だ (-ta / -da)
=
ta-form (past) (た रूप (भूतकाल)) 食べた tabeta

Select a verb (विवरण हेर्न क्रिया चयन गर्नुहोस्)

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

Meaning

  • It is the verb's plain past ("ate / went" in plain speech).
  • It is the base of たことがあります, たり〜たり and the plain form in Lesson 20.

How to attach

  • Good news: there is no new rule for the た-form.
  • Take the て-form from Lesson 14 and turn て into た and で into だ — that is all.
  • 食べて ──> 食べた, 飲んで ──> 飲んだ, 書いて ──> 書いた, して ──> した, 来て ──> 来た, 行って ──> 行った.
  • If your て-form is solid, the た-form comes free.

Step-by-step breakdown (चरणबद्ध रूपान्तरण)

to eat (G2) 食べる (taberu)
食べた
  1. 1 Start: たべる (taberu)
  2. 2 First the て-form: たべて (tabete)
  3. 3 て ➔ た: たべた (tabeta)
to drink (G1) 飲む (nomu)
飲んだ
  1. 1 Start: のむ (nomu)
  2. 2 First the て-form: のんで (nonde)
  3. 3 で ➔ だ: のんだ (nonda)
to write (G1) 書く (kaku)
書いた
  1. 1 Start: かく (kaku)
  2. 2 First the て-form: かいて (kaite)
  3. 3 て ➔ た: かいた (kaita)
to go (exception) 行く (iku)
行った
  1. 1 Start: いく (iku)
  2. 2 First the て-form (exception): いって (itte) 行いて ❌
  3. 3 て ➔ た: いった (itta)

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

What is the た-form of 飲む?

💡 Hint: Verbs ending in む/ぶ/ぬ → んだ.

Free Japanese tips by email

New lessons, JLPT / JFT-Basic prep, and tools for Nepali speakers — straight to your inbox. No spam.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

Which JLPT level are you studying? It helps us send you the right tips.

Your level
Email language