Free Japanese Quiz for Beginners
Ready for a challenge? Master Beginner Japanese step-by-step with JP-QUIZ!
⌛️ 38. Tense
Let’s Take the Quiz!
Fill in the blanks with the correct form for each tense. Click “answer” to see the result.
Present:
いま テレビを ( )。
I am watching TV.
つくえの うえに ほんが ( )。
There is a book on the desk.
わたしは いつも この パンを ( )。
I always buy this bread.
にほんじんは にほんごを ( )。
Japanese people speak Japanese.
きょうは ( )。
It’s cold today.
わたしは ( )。
I am a student.
Future:
わたしは あした しんじゅくへ ( )。
I’m going to go to Shinjuku tomorrow.
らいしゅうは とうきょうに ( )。
I’ll be in Tokyo next week.
あしたは ( )。
I’m busy tomorrow.
てんきよほうによると、あしたは ( )。
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Past:
わたしは きのう ほんを ( )。
I bought a book yesterday.
わたしは ( )。
I was sleepy.
わたしは ( )。
I was 10 years old.
Present Perfect:
おかねは もう ( )。
I have already paid.
その ほんは もう ( )。
I have already read that book
Well done!
Check the brief grammar notes and examples below for your review.
Grammar Note
⚫️ action verb
Present:
- …ています
- …ていますか？
- …ていません
Future:
- …ます
- …ますか？
- …ません
Past:
- …ました
- …ましたか？
- …ませんでした
in general, things happen repeatedly:
- …ます
- …ますか？
- …ません
Present Perfect:
- もう …ました
- もう …ましたか？
- まだ …ていません
Present:
watashi [wa] ima kuruma [o] unten shite-imasu.
( I’m driving a car now. )
ima kuruma [o] unten shite-imasuka?
( Are you driving a car now? )
watashi [wa] kuruma [o] unten shite-imasen.
( I’m not driving a car now.
Future:
ashita shinjuku [e] iki-masu.
( I’m going to Shinjuku tomorrow. )
kyō sūpā [e] iki-masuka?
( Are you going to a supermarket today? )
kyō [wa] sūpā [ewa] iki-masen.
( I’m not going to a supermarket today. )
Past:
kinō [wa] ku-ji [ni] ne-mashita.
( I went to bed at 9 yesterday. )
kinō pan [o] kai-mashitaka?
( Did you buy bread yesterday? )
kinō kōhī [wa] nomi-masendeshita.
( I didn’t drink coffee yesterday. )
in general, things happen repeatedly:
watashi [wa] maiasa shichi-ji [ni] oki-masu.
( I wake up at 7 every morning. )
nihonjin [wa] hashi [o] tsukai-masuka?
( Do Japanese people use chopsticks? )
satō-san [wa] niku [o] tabe-masen.
( Ms.Sato doesn’t eat meat. )
Present Perfect:
Actually Japanese people don’t recognize difference between PAST and PRESENT PERFECT in their mind. However, ‘もう (mō)’ is often used together in the present perfect sentences to make it clear that it is complete. And in the negative form, using ‘まだ (mada)’ makes it clear whether it is PAST or PRESENT PERFECT.
shukudai [wa] mō shi-mashita.
( I’ve already done homework. )
shukudai [wa] mō shi-mashitaka?
( Have you already done homework? )
watashi [wa] mada shukudai [o] shite-imasen.
( I’ve not done my homework yet. )
⚫️ stative verb
Present:
eki [ni] ‘ATM’ [ga] ari-masu.
( There is an ATM at the station. )
eki [ni] ‘ATM’ [wa] ari-masuka?
( Is there an ATM at the station? )
eki [ni] ‘ATM’ [wa] ari-masen.
( There isn’t an ATM at the station. )
⚫️ i-Adjective
Present, Future:
- -いです
- -いですか？
- -くないです
Future:
- -かったです
- -かったですか？
- -くなかったです
Present, Future:
Adjectives have the same form in the present and future tense
watashi [wa] atsui-desu.
( I’m hot now. )
ashita [wa] atsui-desuka?
( Is it going to be hot tomorrow? )
ima [wa] atsu-kunaidesu.
( I’m not hot now. )
Past:
kinō [wa] samu-kattadesu.
( It was cold yesterday. )
kinō [wa] samu-kattadesuka?
( Was it cold yesterday? )
kinō [wa] samu-kunakattadesu.
( It wan not cold yesterday. )
⚫️ na-Adjective
Present, Future:
- -です
- -ですか？
- -じゃありません
Past:
- でした
- でしたか？
- じゃありませんでした
Present, Future:
watashi [wa] ima hima-desu.
( I have time now. )
ashita hima-desuka?
( Do you have time tomorrow? )
kyō [wa] hima-jaarimasen.
( I don’t have time today. )
Past:
watashi [wa] sakana [ga] kirai-deshita.
( I didn’t like fish before. )
sono hoteru [wa] kirei-deshitaka?
( Was the hotel clean? )
gonen-mae [wa] kare [wa] yūmei-jaarimasendeshita.
( He wasn’t famous 5 years ago. )
⚫️ Noun
Present, Future:
- -です
- -ですか？
- -じゃありません
Past:
- でした
- でしたか？
- じゃありませんでした
Present, Future:
Nouns also have the same form in the present and future tense.
kare [wa] satō-san-desu.
( He’s Mr.Sato. )
ashita [wa] yasumi-desuka?
( Are you taking day off tomorrow? )
koko [wa] basutei-jaarimasen.
( This place is not a bus stop. )
Past:
kinō [wa] ame-deshita.
( It rained yesterday. )
kinō [wa] ame-deshitaka?
( Did it rain yesterday? )
kinō [wa] ame-jaarimasendeshita.
( It didn’t rain yesterday. )
Let’s say it in Japanese !
Let’s practice speaking!
Look at the English sentences and try to say them in Japanese. Click “answer” to check the correct sentence and practice with the audio.
I’m studying now.
わたしは いま ( )。
I was listening to music.
わたしは おんがくを ( )。
Korean people speaks Korean.
かんこくじんは かんこくごを ( )。
I always take a bus.
わたしは いつも バスに ( )。
I’m going to work in Japan next year.
わたしは らいねん にほんで ( )。
I met Mr.Sato yesterday.
わたしは きのう さとうさんに ( )。
I’ve already ate dinner.
わたしは もう よるごはんを ( )。
I haven’t bought a ticket yet.
わたしは まだ チケットを ( )。
I ddin’t buy a ticket yesterday.
わたしは きのう チケットを ( )。
Great job! You’ve completed this lesson. Ready for the next step?