Japanese verb · ru-verb · first needed at beginner level (A1)
いる
iru
to be, to exist (people, animals)
For people and animals; the one who is there takes (ga). Usually written in kana. It also forms ～ている (-te iru): (tabete iru), is eating.
Present
現在形
There is, is (somewhere), have (people, animals). The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.
| plain | いるiru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | いますimasu | |
| plain negative | いないinai | |
| polite negative | いませんimasen |
Past
過去形
Was (somewhere), there was. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ました is the default.
| plain | いたita | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | いましたimashita | |
| plain negative | いなかったinakatta | |
| polite negative | いませんでしたimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
Joins actions and builds requests and permission: (koko ni ite kudasai), please stay here.
| te-form | いてite | |
|---|---|---|
| -te kudasai (please do) | いてくださいite kudasai | |
| -te mo ii desu ka (may I) | いてもいいですかite mo ii desu ka |
Volitional
意向形
Let's stay: (mō sukoshi koko ni iyō), let's stay here a bit longer.
| plain (let's) | いようiyō | |
|---|---|---|
| polite (let's) | いましょうimashō | |
| polite (shall we?) | いましょうかimashō ka |
Potential
可能形
Can stay, can be (somewhere): (jitto shite irarenai), can't keep still.
| plain | いられるirareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | いられますiraremasu | |
| plain negative | いられないirarenai | |
| polite negative | いられませんiraremasen |
Causative
使役形
Making or letting someone stay. (isasete kudasai) means “please let me stay”.
| plain | いさせるisaseru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | いさせますisasemasu | |
| plain negative | いさせないisasenai | |
| polite negative | いさせませんisasemasen |
Conditional
条件形
If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.
| -ba | いればireba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | いたらitara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | いなければinakereba |
Examples
- 教室に学生が三人います。Kyōshitsu ni gakusei ga sannin imasu.There are three students in the classroom.
- 兄弟がいますか。Kyōdai ga imasu ka.Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- 昨日は一日中家にいました。Kinō wa ichinichijū ie ni imashita.I was at home all day yesterday.