With this Japanese Verbs Eight, of the learn Japanese series, we will look at how to express the idea of "have to do" or "must do." This is done by adding "nakereba naranai" to the verb's stem.
For those verbs that end in "u," use the negative stem. Otherwise, use the regular stem.
Basically, take the verb stem and then just add the ending …nakereba naranai.
For example, the verb yomu, which means to read:
Negative verb stem = yoma. Now add "nakereba naranai," which becomes yomanakereba naranai.
There are three types of verb:
Plain Form Verb Stem "+nakereba naranai" Kanji/Kana
Kuru ko konakereba naranai 来なければならない
Suru shi shinakereba naranai しなければならない
Verbs that end in "ru:"
Miru mi minakereba naranai 見なければならない
Taberu tabe tabenakereba naranai 食べなければならない
Verbs that end in "u:"
Katsu kata katanakereba naranai 勝たなければならない
Yomu yoma yomanakereba naranai 読まなければならない
Modoru modora modoranakereba naranai 戻らなければならない
Beware of the "u" form, they are not supposed to be irregular. However, the way they change is sometimes not what you would expect. Most verbs that end in "ru" behave like "taberu," but not all.
After the word list are a few examples:
自転車 = ji ten sha = bycycle. 新しい = atara shii = new
買 = ka. Dictionary form = kau = to buy.
日本の = ni hon no = Japanese. 料理 = ryou ri = food
生徒さん = sei to san = student(s). 英語 = ei go = English.
今学期 = kon gak ki = this term.
勉強する = ben kyou suru = to study.
Jill must buy a new bicycle.
ジルは新しい自転車を買わなければなりません。
Kana must eat Japanese food.
カナは日本の料理を食べなければなりません。
The students must study English this term.
生徒さんは今学期英語を勉強しなければなりません。
Plain Form Verb Stem "+nakereba naranakatta" Kanji/Kana
Kuru ko konakereba naranakatta 来なければならなかった
Suru shi shinakereba naranakatta しなければならなかった
Verbs that end in "ru:"
Miru mi minakereba naranakatta 見なければならなかった
Taberu tabe tabenakereba naranakatta 食べなければならなかった
Verbs that end in "u:"
Katsu kata katanakereba naranakatta 勝たなければならなかった
Yomu yoma yomanakereba naranakatta 読まなければならなかった
Modoru modora modoranakereba naranakatta 戻らなければならなかった
Beware of the "u" form, they are not supposed to be irregular. However, the way they change is sometimes not what you would expect. Most verbs that end in "ru" behave like "taberu," but not all.
After the word list are a few examples:
自転車 = ji ten sha = bycycle. 使う = tsukau = to use.
買 = ka. Dictionary form = kau = to buy.
クレヂトカード = crejito ca-do = credit card
夕食をとる yuu shoku o toru = eat dinner たくさん = takusan = a lot of
ビール = beer 生徒さん = sei to san = student(s)
毎日 mai nichi = every day 許可なく = kyo ka naku= without permission
先生の = sen sei no = teacher's 新聞 = shin bun = newspaper
Jill had to buy a new bicycle.
ジルは新しい自転車を買わなければなりませんでした。
Kana had to eat Japanese food.
カナは日本の料理を食べなければなりませんでした。
The students had to study English last term.
生徒さんは前期英語を勉強しなければなりませんでした。
Plain Form Verb "te" form "+tewa naranai" form Kanji/Kana
Kuru kite kite wa naranai 来てはならない
Suru shite shite wa naranai してはならない
Verbs that end in "ru:"
Miru mite mite wa naranai 見てはならない
Taberu tabete tabete wa naranai 食べてはならない
Verbs that end in "u:"
Katsu katte katte wa naranai 勝ってはならない
Yomu yonde yonde wa naranai 読んではならない
Modoru modotte modotte wa naranai 戻どってはならない
Beware of the "u" form, they are not supposed to be irregular. However, the way they change is sometimes not what you would expect. Most verbs that end in "ru" behave like "taberu," but not all.
After the word list are a few examples:
自転車 = ji ten sha = bycycle. 使う = tsukau = to use.
買 = ka. Dictionary form = kau = to buy.
クレヂトカード = crejito ca-do = credit card
夕食をとる yuu shoku o toru = eat dinner たくさん = takusan = a lot of
ビール = beer 生徒さん = sei to san = student(s)
毎日 mai nichi = every day 許可なく = kyo ka naku= without permission
先生の = sen sei no = teacher's 新聞 = shin bun = newspaper
Jill must not buy an expensive bicycle.
ジルは高い自転車を買ってはなりません。
Kana must not eat candy.
カナはキャンデイーを食べてはなりません。
The students must not talk in class.
生徒さんは授業中喋ってはなりません。
Basic Japanese vocabulary for the below exercise.
It's written first in English, then kanji and finally hiragana:
Now = 今 = いま return = 帰る = かえる someone = ある人 = あるひと
to employ = 雇う = やとう she = 彼女 = かのじょ
safety = 安全 = あんぜん belt = ベルト to attach = 付ける = つける
every morning = 毎朝 = まいあさ beard = ひげ to shave = 剃る そる
7 o'clock = 七時 = しちじ by = までに tomorrow = 明日 = あした
he = 彼 = かれ to meet = 会う = あう this morning = 今朝 けさ
early = 早く = はやく to get up = 起きる = おきる week = 週 しゅう
twice = 二回 = にかい hospital = 病院 = びょういん to go = 行く = いく
to drive = 運転する = うんてんする father = お父さん = おとうさん
that kind of = あんな to speak =口を聞く = くちをきく
be in a hurry = 急ぐ = いそぐ to understand = 分かる = わかる
to have someone ... = もらう message = 伝言 = でんごん
three times = 三 度 = さんど to say = 言う = いう
Try to translate English to Japanese for the below sentences, using the above list of words.
1. Bill must go home now.
2. You will have to(must) employ someone.
3. She had to wear a safety belt.
4. You must shave every day.
5. Must I come by 7 o'clock?
6. She will have to meet him tomorrow.
7. He had to get up early this morning.
8. He must go to the hospital twice a week.
9. You must not drive fast.
10. You must not speak to your father like that.
11. I'm in a hurry and must leave right now.
12.He had to say the message three times before she understood it.
Once you have done it, click here to see how you did.
You will also come across other slightly different constructions:
...nakute wa narimasen
...neba naranai
...nakereba ikemasen.
For example:
Kanojo wa anshin beruto o tsukeneba naranai.
Kanojo wa anshin beruto o tsukenakute wa naranai.
Kanojo wa anshin beruto o tsukenakute wa ikemasen.
Also notice another construction for "to have someone do something" in the special use of the verb morau and its rather more polite itadaku.
For example:
Sumisu-san ni kaite itadakimasu ka?
Would you please write to Mr Smith?
The only way to remember all this in Japanese Verbs Eight is to practice it on a regular basis.
The best way to do this is: