Irregular verbs
Building block:する and 来る
Only two verbs are fully irregular: する (to do) and 来る (to come). Their stems change from form to form, so each form has to be learned for them.
How it works
- する uses し for most forms, さ for the passive and causative (される, させる), and a different verb, できる, for the potential.
- 来る keeps its kanji but changes its reading: き before ます and て, こ before ない and in the potential, and く in the dictionary form.
- Many verbs are a noun plus する, like 勉強する (to study). They conjugate exactly like する: 勉強します.
- A few ordinary verbs break the pattern in just one or two forms, like 行く (to go) in the て-form. Those are listed on the forms they affect.
Examples
Notes
- Beyond "do", する also describes a perceived sound, smell or taste. See sensory Nがする for this separate use.