Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at elementary level (A2)

持つ

motsu

to hold, to have

(motte imasu) means “to have, to own”: (kuruma o motte imasu). (motte iku) and (motte kuru) mean “to take” and “to bring”.

Speed:

Present

現在形

Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.

過去形

What happened, or what has happened. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ました is the default.

plain	持ったmotta
polite	持ちましたmochimashita
plain negative	持たなかったmotanakatta
polite negative	持ちませんでしたmochimasen deshita

て形

Joins actions and builds requests. (motte imasu) means “to have, to own”, not only “is holding”.

意向形

Let's carry, let's take. (mochimashō ka) is “shall I carry it for you?”.

可能形

Can hold or carry: (hitori de motemasu ka), can you carry it on your own?

使役形

Making someone carry or hold: (kodomo ni okane o motaseru), to give a child money to carry.

条件形

If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.