Grammar

Japanese Verb Groups: Godan, Ichidan, and Irregular Verbs

類N5–N4

Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups: Group 1 (godan / う-verbs), Group 2 (ichidan / る-verbs), or Group 3 (irregular: する and くる). The group determines how the verb conjugates into every other form — te-form, negative, past, potential, and more.

Group 2 (Ichidan / る-verbs) — the simpler group

Ichidan verbs always end in る, and the syllable before る is always an い-sound or え-sound (i-row or e-row kana). To conjugate, simply drop る and add the target ending. This makes them the "easy" group.

食べる → 食べます → 食べて → 食べない → 食べたたべる → たべます → たべて → たべない → たべたto eat: polite / te-form / negative / past

見る → 見ます → 見て → 見ない → 見たみる → みます → みて → みない → みたto see/watch

起きる → 起きます → 起きて → 起きない → 起きたおきる → おきます → おきて → おきない → おきたto wake up

Group 1 (Godan / う-verbs) — the larger group

Godan verbs end in any of eight う-column sounds: く、ぐ、す、む、ぬ、ぶ、つ、う、る. The る-ending godan verbs (書く ends in く but 帰る ends in る) are the main source of confusion. Te-form follows sound patterns: く→いて, ぐ→いで, す→して, む/ぬ/ぶ→んで, つ/う/る→って.

書く → 書きます → 書いて → 書かない → 書いたかく → かきます → かいて → かかない → かいたto write (ends in く → godan)

話す → 話します → 話して → 話さない → 話したはなす → はなします → はなして → はなさない → はなしたto speak (ends in す → godan)

帰る → 帰ります → 帰って → 帰らない → 帰ったかえる → かえります → かえって → かえらない → かえったto return home (ends in る but is godan — the vowel before る is え, an e-row kana... but this is godan anyway — a true exception to memorize)

How to identify Group 1 vs Group 2 for る-ending verbs

The reliable test: look at the kana before る. If it is an い-sound (き、み、り、に、い、び、ち…) or え-sound (け、め、れ、ね、え、べ、て…) it is almost certainly ichidan. If the preceding kana is an あ、お、or う sound, it is godan. Exceptions (帰る, 走る, 知る, 切る, 入る) must be memorized.

食べる (た・べ・る) → べ is え-row → ichidan ✓たべるto eat → Group 2

帰る (か・え・る) → え-row → should be ichidan, but it is godan ✗かえるto return — EXCEPTION, memorize as godan

走る (は・し・る) → し is い-row → should be ichidan, but godan ✗はしるto run — EXCEPTION, godan

Common mistakes

Wrong

帰って (treating 帰る as ichidan: 帰る→帰て)

Right

帰って (godan: る→って)

帰る is a godan verb despite ending in る preceded by an え-sound. It is a vocabulary exception — conjugate as godan: 帰ります、帰って、帰らない.

Wrong

食べって

Right

食べて

食べる is ichidan — drop る, add て. The godan て-form rule (る→って) does NOT apply to ichidan verbs.

Wrong

起きって

Right

起きて

起きる is ichidan — drop る, add て directly. Never add っ before て for ichidan verbs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between godan and ichidan verbs in Japanese?

Godan verbs (Group 1 / う-verbs) conjugate by changing the final kana across the five vowel rows of the Japanese syllabary. Ichidan verbs (Group 2 / る-verbs) conjugate by simply dropping the final る and adding a suffix. Ichidan conjugation is simpler and more regular; godan has more rules but covers more verbs.

How do I tell if a る-ending verb is godan or ichidan?

Check the kana immediately before る. If it is an い-row or え-row kana (き、に、び、け、め、べ etc.), the verb is almost certainly ichidan. Exceptions to memorize as godan: 帰る (to return), 走る (to run), 知る (to know), 切る (to cut), 入る (to enter), 要る (to need). All other verbs ending in a non-る consonant (く、す、む、つ etc.) are always godan.

What are the Group 3 irregular verbs?

Only two: する (to do) and くる (to come). They do not follow godan or ichidan patterns. する: します、して、しない、した、できる (potential). くる: きます、きて、こない、きた、こられる (potential). Compound する-verbs (勉強する、説明する) conjugate the same as する.