Japanese verb · ru-verb · first needed at elementary level (A2)
教える
oshieru
to teach, to tell
The learner takes (ni): (gakusei ni Eigo o oshieru). It also means “to tell” information: (jūsho o oshiete kudasai), please tell me your address.
Present
現在形
Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.
| plain | 教えるoshieru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 教えますoshiemasu | |
| plain negative | 教えないoshienai | |
| polite negative | 教えませんoshiemasen |
Past
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 | 教えたoshieta | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 教えましたoshiemashita | |
| plain negative | 教えなかったoshienakatta | |
| polite negative | 教えませんでしたoshiemasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
Joins actions and builds requests. (oshiete imasu): “is teaching” or “teaches” as a job; (oshiete kudasai): “please tell me”.
| te-form | 教えてoshiete | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | 教えていますoshiete imasu | |
| -te kudasai (please do) | 教えてくださいoshiete kudasai | |
| -te mo ii desu ka (may I) | 教えてもいいですかoshiete mo ii desu ka |
Volitional
意向形
Let's: the plain form between friends, ～ましょう in polite speech. ～ましょうか suggests (shall we?) or offers help (shall I?).
| plain (let's) | 教えようoshieyō | |
|---|---|---|
| polite (let's) | 教えましょうoshiemashō | |
| polite (shall we?) | 教えましょうかoshiemashō ka |
Potential
可能形
Can teach: (Eigo nara oshieraremasu), I can teach English. Same form as the passive.
| plain | 教えられるoshierareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 教えられますoshieraremasu | |
| plain negative | 教えられないoshierarenai | |
| polite negative | 教えられませんoshieraremasen |
Passive
受身形
Being taught, mostly in general statements: (gakkō de oshierarete iru), it is taught at school. For “someone taught me”, say (oshiete moratta).
| plain | 教えられるoshierareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 教えられますoshieraremasu | |
| plain negative | 教えられないoshierarenai | |
| polite negative | 教えられませんoshieraremasen |
Conditional
条件形
If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.
| -ba | 教えればoshiereba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | 教えたらoshietara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | 教えなければoshienakereba |
Examples
- 大学で英語を教えています。Daigaku de Eigo o oshiete imasu.I teach English at a university.
- 駅までの道を教えてください。Eki made no michi o oshiete kudasai.Please tell me the way to the station.
- 父は私に料理を教えてくれました。Chichi wa watashi ni ryōri o oshiete kuremashita.My father taught me to cook.