Dictionary / Grammar / Polite present: Verb ます

Polite present: Verb ます JLPT N5

The polite non-past form, the default register of everyday spoken Japanese.

Formation

Verb (ます-stem) + ます. Godan shift the final syllable to the い-row (書く -> 書き); ichidan drop る (食べる -> 食べ).

Explanation

ます attaches to the verb's ます-stem (連用形). It marks polite, non-past action and is the form textbooks introduce first. The plain (dictionary) form is the casual equivalent.