notes

formal Japanese

• 「ます」 is a helper verb that attaches to the い stem
  • it does not change the meaning of the verb, it just makes it formal
  • it is irregular
    • the negative is 「ません」
    • the past negative is 「ませんでした」 (using the past tense of 「です」)
• 「です」 is the formal version of 「だ」 copula
  • 「です」 can be attached to い adjectives to make it formal, but has no grammatical purpose
  • 「ないです」 can be used as a negative formal

    the volitional form

• the volitional form invokes a will to do something
  • differs from 「たい」 which expresses desire
• in godan verbs, the volitional helper is う and attaches to the お stem
• in ichidan verbs, the volitional helper is よう
• 「ます」 becomes 「ましょう」
• 「だ」 becomes 「だろう」 and 「です」 becomes 「でしょう」, putting these at the end of a sentence carries a meaning of “probably”

  resources

• youtube