Free Japanese Quiz for Beginners
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Table of Contents
- Transitive Verb
- Intransitive Verb
- Transitive Verb & Intransitive Verb
🌀 31. Transitive & Intransitive
Let’s Take the Quiz!
Please complete sentences using a transitive verb or an intransitive verb. Click “answer” to see the correct form.
1
- わたしは でんきを ( )。
I turned on the light.
- でんきが ( )。
The light was switched on.
2
- わたしは ドアを ( )。
I closed the door.
- ドアが ( )。
The door was closed.
3
- わたしは とけいを ( )。
I stopped a clock.
- でんしゃが ( )。
The train stopped.
4
- わたしは ボールを ( )。
I dropped a ball.
- りんごが きから ( )。
An apple fell from the tree.
4
- せんせいは レッスンを ( )。
My teacher started a lesson.
- しあいが ( )。
The game started.
Well done!
Check the brief grammar notes and examples below for your review.
Grammar Note
⚫️ Transitive Verb
Transitive Verbs have an object with a particle of “o(を)”.
watashi [wa] kōhī [o] nomi-mashita.
( I drank a coffee. )
watashi [wa] hon [o] yomi-masu.
( I read books. )
watashi [wa] pan [o] kai-mashita.
( I bought some bread. )
⚫️ Intransitive Verb
Intransitive Verbs don’t have an object.
watashi [wa] shichi-ji [ni] oki-mashita.
( I woke up at 7. )
watashitachi [wa] mainichi hataraki-masu.
( We work everyday. )
There are 2 types of intransitive verb.
Volitional Verb
| はしります hashiri-masu | to run |
| あるきます aruki-masu | to walk |
| およぎます oyogi-masu | to swim |
non-Volitional Verb
| しまります shimari-masu | something closes |
| あきます aki-masu | something opens |
| とまります tomari-masu | something stops |
Some of non-Volitional Intransitive Verbs have a pair of Transitive Verb which has a similar form.
( Please see below for details. )
⚫️ Transitive Verb & Intransitive Verb
In Japanese transitive verb and intransitive verb have a different form, and some verbs can be a pair.
| Transitve | Intransitive |
|---|---|
| あけます ake-masu | あきます aki-masu |
| しめます shime-masu | しまります shimari-masu |
| つけます tsuke-masu | つきます tsuki-masu |
| けします keshi-masu | きえます kie-masu |
| はじめます hajime-masu | はじまります hajimari-masu |
| とめます tome-masu | とまります tomari-masu |
| おとします otoshi-masu | おちます ochi-masu |
| わります wari-masu | われます ware-masu |
| こわします kowashi-masu | こわれます koware-masu |
| かえます kae-masu | かわります kawari-masu |
Transitive Verb of the pair
A transitive verb expresses that it happened by someone’s volitional action.
watashi [wa] denki [o] keshi-mashita.
( I turned off a light. )
watashi [wa] mado [o] wari-mashita.
( I broke a window. )
What you want to say is that “I change something“.
Intransitive Verb of the pair
An intransitive verb which has a pair of a transitive verb sounds like it happened by nature or automatically.
denki [ga] kie-mashita.
( The light was switched off. )
The light bulb might burn out.
mado [ga] ware-mashita.
( A window broke. )
It could be because of the storm.
What you want to say is that “the movement of something“.
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 changed my password.
The traffic light changed.
Great job! You’ve completed this lesson. Ready for the next step?