Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at elementary level (A2)
使う
tsukau
to use
The thing you use takes (o): (pasokon o tsukau). (tsukaikata) means “how to use”.
Present
現在形
Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.
| plain | 使うtsukau | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 使いますtsukaimasu | |
| plain negative | 使わないtsukawanai | |
| polite negative | 使いませんtsukaimasen |
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 | 使ったtsukatta | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 使いましたtsukaimashita | |
| plain negative | 使わなかったtsukawanakatta | |
| polite negative | 使いませんでしたtsukaimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
Joins actions (“and then”) and builds ～ています (doing now), ～てください (please do) and ～てもいいですか (may I).
| te-form | 使ってtsukatte | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | 使っていますtsukatte imasu | |
| -te kudasai (please do) | 使ってくださいtsukatte kudasai | |
| -te mo ii desu ka (may I) | 使ってもいいですかtsukatte 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) | 使おうtsukaō | |
|---|---|---|
| polite (let's) | 使いましょうtsukaimashō | |
| polite (shall we?) | 使いましょうかtsukaimashō ka |
Potential
可能形
Can use. The object usually takes (ga) instead of (o). (kādo ga tsukaemasu ka).
| plain | 使えるtsukaeru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 使えますtsukaemasu | |
| plain negative | 使えないtsukaenai | |
| polite negative | 使えませんtsukaemasen |
Passive
受身形
Being used, common for things in general: (kono kotoba wa yoku tsukawareru), this word is often used. The user takes (ni).
| plain | 使われるtsukawareru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 使われますtsukawaremasu | |
| plain negative | 使われないtsukawarenai | |
| polite negative | 使われませんtsukawaremasen |
Causative
使役形
Making or letting someone use it. (tsukawasete kudasai) means “please let me use it”.
| plain | 使わせるtsukawaseru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | 使わせますtsukawasemasu | |
| plain negative | 使わせないtsukawasenai | |
| polite negative | 使わせませんtsukawasemasen |
Conditional
条件形
If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.
| -ba | 使えばtsukaeba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | 使ったらtsukattara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | 使わなければtsukawanakereba |
Examples
- このペンを使ってもいいですか。Kono pen o tsukatte mo ii desu ka.May I use this pen?
- 仕事でパソコンを使います。Shigoto de pasokon o tsukaimasu.I use a computer at work.
- この言葉は若い人によく使われます。Kono kotoba wa wakai hito ni yoku tsukawaremasu.This word is often used by young people.