書く（かく）Conjugation
JLPT N5 · Godan verb (Group 1) · Meaning: to write
Full conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form The base form — casual speech and the stem for many grammar patterns. | 書く | かく |
| masu (polite present) Polite present/future affirmative. | 書きます | かきます |
| masen (polite negative) Polite present negative. | 書きません | かきません |
| mashita (polite past) Polite past affirmative. | 書きました | かきました |
| masen deshita (polite past neg.) Polite past negative. | 書きませんでした | かきませんでした |
| te-form The most versatile form — linking, requests, progressive and more. | 書いて | かいて |
| ta (plain past) Plain past affirmative. | 書いた | かいた |
| nai (plain negative) Plain present negative. | 書かない | かかない |
| nakatta (plain past neg.) Plain past negative. | 書かなかった | かかなかった |
| Potential Ability or possibility — 'can do'. | 書ける | かける |
| Passive Passive voice — 'to be done to'. | 書かれる | かかれる |
| Causative Causative — 'to make/let someone do'. | 書かせる | かかせる |
| Volitional Volitional — 'let's…' or intention. | 書こう | かこう |
| Imperative Imperative — a strong command; used sparingly. | 書け | かけ |
| Prohibitive Prohibitive — 'don't do it!'. | 書くな | かくな |
| Conditional (ba) Hypothetical 'if' — leans written. | 書けば | かけば |
| Conditional (tara) The most versatile everyday 'if / when'. | 書いたら | かいたら |
Example sentences
- ノートに新しい単語を書く。 — I write new vocabulary words in my notebook.
- 久しぶりに友達に手紙を書いた。 — I wrote a letter to a friend for the first time in a while.
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