4.2 Verbs in ~MASEN Form

4.2 Verbs in ~MASEN Form

The ~MASEN form is the negative of the ~MASU form. 

"Watashi wa sushi wo tabemasen" could mean "I am not eating sushi" or "I do not eat sushi" or "I will not eat sushi" depending on the context.

The part of the verb before the ~MASEN is the verb stem.

This part is easy!

From the ~MASU form, chop off the "MASU" and then add "MASEN."

Step 1:  tabemasu

Step 2:  chop off "MASU" -->  tabe

Step 3:  add "MASEN"   -->  tabemasen

Nihongo	English
Watashi wa sakana wo tabemasen.	I don't eat fish.
Anata wa sakana wo tabemasen.	You don't eat fish.
Kanojo wa sakana wo tabemasen.	She doesn't eat fish.
Kare wa sakana wo tabemasen.	He doesn't eat fish.
Watashitachi wa sakana wo tabemasen.	We don't eat fish.
Anatatachi wa sakana wo tabemasen.	You (plural) don't eat fish.
Karera wa sakana wo tabemasen.	They don't eat fish.

Just like with the ~MASU form, no matter who is doing the action, the ~MASEN form doesn't change in Japanese. 

Watashi wa sakana wo tabemasen.
Kanojo wa sakana wo tabemasen.

In English, there is a different form depending on the subject.

I don't eat fish.
She doesn't eat fish.

Click the "+" button to see if you can change the sentences into the ~MASEN form! 

Soba wa nan desu ka.

Soba noodles are buckwheat noodles. 

Oishii desu!  = It's delicious!

Gakkou wa nan desu ka.

Gakkou is "school."