丁寧形と普通形 (teineikei to futsuukei) — Polite form vs. Plain form
When to use です／ます and when to use plain form — the two registers.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Japanese has two registers for saying the same thing. The first is 丁寧形 (teineikei), the polite form — it uses です and ます, and you use it with strangers, customers, or superiors. The second is 普通形 (futsuukei), the plain/casual form — used with friends, family, or those younger than you. In plain form verbs appear in their dictionary form, and nouns/な-adjectives take だ instead of です. Example: 学生です (polite) → 学生だ (plain), 食べます (polite) → 食べる (plain).
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
私は学生だ。
watashi wa gakusei da.
I am a student. (です → だ)
ごはんを食べる。
gohan o taberu.
I eat rice. (食べます → 食べる)
この本は高い。
kono hon wa takai.
This book is expensive. (高いです → 高い)
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Question: 1/3What is the plain form of 「食べます」?
💡 Hint: Drop ます and use the dictionary form.
The plain form of 食べます is the dictionary form 食べる.
Make 「これは本です」 plain:
💡 Hint: With a noun, です becomes だ.
For nouns, だ replaces です in plain form: 本だ.
Plain form of 「高いです」?
💡 Hint: い-adjectives do not take だ.
For い-adjectives, just drop です — 高い is already plain; no だ is added.
Your score: /3