The mizenkei + う (u) and the mizenkei + よう (you) are used to
create the subjunctive form. With the subjunctive form you can encourage
people to do something. In English this would translate as "Let's
...", or "Shall we ...?".
The mizenkei + う (u) is used with group 4 (or yodan katsuyou) verbs
and the mizenkei + よう (you) is used with group 2 (or nidan katsuyou)
verbs.
Contractions with group 4 verbs
The mizenkei + う (u) of group 4 (or yodan katsuyou) verbs undergoes
a contraction.
Here's how the contractions works:
行か (ika = mizenkei) → 行か+う
(ika+u) → 行こう (ikou = subjunctive)
NOTE: Group 4 verbs where the rentaikei
ends on う (u) receive the following contraction:
買わ (kawa = mizenkei) → 買わ+う
(kawa+u) → 買おう (kaou = subjunctive)
Irregular verbs
The subjunctive form of 来る (kuru) is formed by placing よう (you)
after the mizenkei. The subjunctive form of する (suru) is formed
by placing よう (you) after し (shi).
| Rentaikei |
Subjunctive |
| 買う |
kau |
買おう |
kaou |
| 書く |
kaku |
書こう |
kakou |
| 出す |
dasu |
出そう |
dasou |
| 待つ |
matsu |
待とう |
matou |
 |
| 食べる |
taberu |
食べよう |
tabeyou |
| 見る |
miru |
見よう> |
miyou |
|
| する |
suru |
しよう |
shiyou |
| 来る |
kuru |
来よう |
koyou |
The subjunctive of the ～ます (masu) form
The ～ます (masu) form has an irregular subjunctive form.
| Rentaikei |
Subjunctive |
| 行きます |
ikimasu |
行きましょう |
ikimashou |
| |
| |
チェコに行こう。 (Cheko ni ikou.)
Let's go to the Czech Republic.
チョコを食べよう。 (Choko wo tabeyou.)
Let's have some chocolate.
テレビを見ましょうか。 (Terebi wo mimashou
ka.)
Shall we watch TV? |
| |
だろう (darou) and でしょう (deshou)
だ (da) and です (desu) are contractions of である (de aru) and でございます
(de gozaimasu), and have the same contractions.
| Rentaikei |
Subjunctive |
| である |
de aru |
であろう |
de arou |
| だ |
da |
だろう |
darou |
| でございます |
de gozaimasu |
でございましょう |
de gozaimashou |
| です |
desu |
でしょう |
deshou |
だろう (darou) and でしょう (deshou) are, however, not subjunctive forms,
but dubitative
forms. They should be translated as "it probably is".
だろう (darou) and でしょう (deshou) can be combined with verbal adjectives.
| |
マイク君が来るでしょうね。 (Maiku-kun ga kuru deshou
ne.)
Mike is coming, right?
高いだろう。 (Takai darou.)
It must be expensive.
寒かったでしょう。 (Samukatta deshou.)
It must have been cold. |
| |
Related pages:
Dubitative
forms
Subjunctive
forms |
