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TA-form verbs (Lesson 12)

The TA-form of verbs is the conjugation form of verbs that ends with TA or DA. It is for the past or the perfect aspect of verbs. Let me explain how you can change the MASU-form to the TA-form. The basic pattern is to change MASU to TA. NAREMASU (to get used to) becomes NARETA. You notice that in NAREMASU, the syllable just before MASU is RE, and its vowel is "E". This pattern applies to all the verbs with the vowel in the syllable just before MASU is "E", and some verbs with the vowel in the syllable just before MASU is "I".

In the other pattern, you not only change MASU but also one syllable just before it.

For example, if the syllable just before MASU is RI, you change RI and MASU together, RIMASU, to TTA. ATSUMARIMASU (to gather) becomes ATSUMATTA. This rule also applies, when the syllable before MASU is I or CHI. Here, too, you change I or CHI and MASU together to TTA.

If the syllable just before MASU is MI, NI, or BI, you change both the syllable and MASU to NDA. For example, YOMIMASU (to read) becomes YONDA.

Now, if f the syllable before MASU is KI, you change the syllable and MASU to ITA. So, KIKIMASU,　(to listen to), becomes KIITA. If the syllable before MASU is GI, you change the syllable and MASU to IDA. ISOGIMASU, (to hurry up), becomes ISOIDA.

IKIMASU (to go) is the only exception to this rule. It becomes ITTA.

You may have noticed that the way to make TA-form verbs is the same as how to make TE-form verbs you learned in Lessons 8 and 9. Just replace TE with TA, and DE with DA.

Let’s memorize this by a song. The song tells you how you can change MASU-form verbs to TA-form verbs, depending on the syllables before MASU. Please access "Leaning Tools" page.