Verb conjugation「食べる (たべる、taberu)」 eat, will eat | Learn Japanese grammar

Japanese verbs have conjugations.「食たべる」is a verb and means “eat” or “will eat.” We will teach you the conjugation in this page. You can also learn example sentences using verb conjugations.

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Vocabulary Video

Before you learn the conjugations, please learn about the pronunciation of the verb in dictionary and polite forms.

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Dictionary Form/ます Form

As you know, English tenses are roughly divided into present, future, and past tenses. However, it is said that Japanese tenses consist only of “Past Tense” and “Non-Past Tense.” Therefore, we used “Dictionary Form,” not “Present Tense” in this heading.

Japanese people use two types of language. One is “non-honorific language” and the other is “honorific language.” When we focus on these languages, “dictionary” and “plain” forms are in “non-honorific language.” “Polite form” is in honorific language.

English Meaning: eat, will eat

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Dictionary & Plain Form	食たべる	taberu
ます & Polite Form	食べます	tabemasu

「辞書じしょ形けい (dictionary form)」is the original form. The technical term is for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.「ます形けい (ます form)」is the polite form of a dictionary form. The term is also for non-native Japanese speakers.

I’ll eat curry for dinner.

夕飯ゆうはんにカレーを食べる。(Plain Form)
夕飯にカレーを食べます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: do not eat, will not eat

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべない	tabenai
Polite Form	食べません	tabemasen

I won’t eat curry for dinner.

夕飯にカレーを食べない。(Plain Form)
夕飯にカレーを食べません。(Polite Form)

Past Tense

English Meaning: ate

The plain form is in “た form”. “た form” is also a technical term for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
た & Plain Form	食たべた	tabeta
Polite Form	食べました	tabemashita

I ate pasta yesterday.

昨日きのうはパスタを食べた。(Plain Form)
昨日はパスタを食べました。(Polite Form)

I ate bread, salad and yogurt this morning.

今朝けさは、パンとサラダとヨーグルトを食べた。(Plain Form)
今朝は、パンとサラダとヨーグルトを食べました。(Polite Form)

I ate as much as I wanted today.

今日きょうは食たべたいだけ食べた。(Plain Form)
今日は食べたいだけ食べました。(Polite Form)

I was a little hungry, so I ate some sweets.

少すこしおなかが空すいたので、お菓子かしを食べた。(Plain Form)
少しおなかが空いたので、お菓子を食べました。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: did not eat

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべなかった	tabenakatta
Polite Form	食べませんでした	tabemasen deshita

I ate pasta yesterday.

昨日きのうはパスタを食べなかった。(Plain Form)
昨日はパスタを食べませんでした。(Polite Form)

て Form

English Meaning: N/A

We cannot know the exact meaning without knowing the sentence and situation.

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
て Form	食たべて	tabete

About the phrases「ている」and「ています」: Here
About the phrase「～てください。」: Here

I ate a donut and I’m thirsty.

ドーナッツを食べて喉のどが乾かわきました。 (Polite Form)

In this case,「て」means “and” or “after.”

I ate dinner and slept.

夕飯ゆうはんを食べて寝ねました。 (Polite Form)

Volitional Form 1: Will, (Own) Intention, Determination

English Meaning: will eat

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべよう	tabeyō
Polite Form	N/A	N/A

This phrase is used only in plain form. This is because we use it when we talk to ourselves or think in our minds. When we talk or think to ourselves, we usually do not use the polite form.

I’ll eat a hamburger. (Will)

ハンバーガーを食べよう。(Plain Form)

Volitional Form 2: Solicitation, Intention, Invitation

English Meaning: let’s eat

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべよう	tabeyō
Polite Form	食べましょう	tabemashō

Let’s eat pizza together.

一緒いっしょにピザを食たべよう。(Plain Form)
一緒にピザを食べましょう。(Polite Form)

Potential

English Meaning: can eat/be able to eat

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべられる	taberareru
Polite Form	食べられます	taberaremasu

We can eat fresh fish at this shop.

この店みせでは、新鮮しんせんな魚さかなが食べられる。(Plain Form)
この店では、新鮮な魚が食べられます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: cannot eat/not able to eat

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべられない	taberarenai
Polite Form	食べられません	taberaremasen

We can’t eat fresh fish at this shop.

この店では、新鮮な魚が食べられない。(Plain Form)
この店では、新鮮な魚が食べられません。(Polite Form)

Imperative Form

English Meaning: eat (order, command)

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべろ	tabero

“Imperative form” is used only in plain form and this phrase often becomes rude depending on the situation. Please show us your Japanese when you use it. We will check and teach suitable Japanese.
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Eat this!

これを食べろ。(Plain Form)

Eat vegetables!

野菜やさいを食べろ。(Plain Form)

Prohibition and Order

English Meaning: Do not eat!

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべるな	taberuna

Don’t eat this!

これを食べるな。(Plain Form)

Don’t eat this snack!

このお菓子かしを食べるな。(Plain Form)

Conditional Form

English Meaning: if (subject) eat

The form「～ば」is sometimes called “ば Form”. It is also a technical term for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.

Conjugation	Romaji Reading
食たべれば	tabereba

If I eat this, I’ll be full.

これを食べれば、満腹まんぷくになります。(Polite Form)

If you eat this, you’ll be fine.

これを食べれば、元気げんきになるでしょう。(Polite Form)

Hypothetical/Definite Conditions, Sequence of Actions

This form「～たら」has some usages. More explanations are in our conversation lessons or mail support.

Conjugation	Romaji Reading
食たべたら	tabetara

This is the example sentence that「たら」indicates “sequence of actions.”

I have/had a stomach ache after eating raw oysters.

生なま牡蠣がきを食べたら、おなかが痛いたくなりました。(Polite Form)

Causative Form

English Meaning: make/let/have (person) eat

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべさせる	tabesaseru
Polite Form	食べさせます	tabesasemasu

I’ll make my daughter eat vegetables.

野菜やさいを娘むすめに食べさせる。(Plain Form)
野菜を娘に食べさせます。(Polite Form)

My mother makes me eat green peppers.

母ははは私にピーマンを食べさせる。(Plain Form)
母は私にピーマンを食べさせます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: do not make/let/have (person) eat

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	食たべさせない	tabesasenai
Polite Form	食べさせません	tabesasemasen

I won’t make my daughter eat spicy foods.

辛からい食たべ物ものを娘に食べさせない。(Plain Form)
辛い食べ物を娘に食べさせません。(Polite Form)

My mother doesn’t make me eat high class steak.

母ははは私わたしに高級こうきゅうステーキを食べさせない。(Plain Form)
母は私に高級ステーキを食べさせません。(Polite Form)

These above sentences are grammatically correct. However, we usually use these phrases:

母は私に高級ステーキを食べさせてくれない。(Plain Form)
母は私に高級ステーキを食べさせてくれません。(Polite Form)

Most Japanese Learners Use Incorrect Verb Conjugations

Japanese verb conjugation is too complicated. Judging from our teaching experience, most Japanese learners use it incorrectly. Therefore, we provide lessons and services where we teach and correct your Japanese daily. If you want to know more about the details, please check out our website.
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