masu ます

Auxiliary verb expressing politeness

A verb that ends a sentence is usually followed by this auxiliary, while a verb that ends a relative or noun clause is not.
The masu-form usually expresses definite future actions or events, the speaker's intentions, present habitual actions, or potential actions. The progressiv form with masu expresses continuing actions or states. masu follows the conjunctive form of verbs.
masu has the following forms:
Non-past negative form: masen
Past affirmative form: mashita
Past negative form: masen deshita
Volitional form: mashou



1. Expressing future action/event
私は明日新幹線で京都に行きます
Watashi wa ashita shinkansen de kyouto ni ikimasu.
I will go to Kyoto by shinkansen tomorrow.
彼女は一緒に旅行には行きません
Kanojo wa isshoni ryokou ni wa ikimasen.
She is not going with me on the trip.
閉会式は十時より行われます
Heikaishiki wa juu ji yori okonawaremasu.
The closing ceremony will be held from ten.

2. Expressing speaker's intention
後で電話します
Ato de denwa shimasu.
I'll call you later.

3. Expressing habitual action
私は毎朝ご飯とみそ汁を食べます
Watashi wa mai asa gohan to miso shiru o tabemasu.
I eat rice and miso soup every morning.
私はあまりタバコを吸いません
Watashi wa amari tabako o suimasen.
I don't smoke much.

4. Expressing continuing action or state of being
彼女は今あそこで新聞を読んでいます
Kanojo wa ima asoko de shinbun o yonde imasu.
She is now reading a newspaper over there.
私はとてもおなかがすいています。
Watashi wa totemo onaka ga suite imasu.
I am very hungry.
彼はもうその会社では働いていません
Kare wa mou sono kaisha dewa hataraite imasen.
He is not working at that company any more.

5. Expressing present condition
このホテルは景色がよく見えます
Kono hoteru wa keshiki ga yoku miemasu.
We have a good view from this hotel.

6. Expressing past/perfect action
私は昨日図書館でマイクに会いました
Watashi wa kinou toshokan de maiku ni aimashita.
I met Mike in the library yesterday.
もうその本は読みましたか。
Mou sono hon wa yomimashita ka.
Have you read that book yet?

7. Expressing volition
一緒に美味しい料理を食べましょう
Isshoni oishii ryouri o tabemashou.
Let's eat some good food together.

8. Expressing suggestion
窓を閉めましょうか。
Mado o shimemashou ka.
Shall I shut the window?

9. Expressing invitation
お茶でも一緒に飲みませんか。
Ocha demo isshoni nomimasen ka.
Would you have tea (or something) with me?

-> See also: arimasen, temasu, Polite Language (2), Verb forms (2)

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