JLPT N5 Grammar: Verb Groups
Group 1 (godan), Group 2 (ichidan), and irregular — how to identify and conjugate every verb
JLPT N5 文法 動詞のグループ (五段・一段・不規則)
⏱️ Study time: 8–12 minutes
Every Japanese verb belongs to one of three groups. Knowing which group a verb belongs to is the key to all conjugation — ます form, て form, negative, past, and everything else. This guide teaches you how to identify verb groups at a glance, avoid the "fake ichidan" traps, and conjugate every verb correctly.
⚡ The Three Verb Groups at a Glance
Group 1 — Godan Verbs (u‑verbs)
Godan means "five levels". The final sound of the verb changes across all five vowel rows (a‑i‑u‑e‑o) depending on the conjugation. Their dictionary form always ends in a ‑u sound: ‑く, ‑ぐ, ‑す, ‑つ, ‑ぬ, ‑ぶ, ‑む, ‑る, or ‑う.
to write
Stem: 書き
to drink
Stem: 飲み
to speak
Stem: 話し
to buy
Stem: 買い
The stem rule is: change the final ‑u to the corresponding ‑i row sound. ‑く → ‑き, ‑む → ‑み, ‑す → ‑し, ‑う → ‑い, ‑る → ‑り, etc.
Group 2 — Ichidan Verbs (ru‑verbs)
Ichidan means "one level". The stem stays the same — you simply drop the final る for any conjugation. Nearly all ichidan verbs end in ‑iru or ‑eru, but not all verbs ending in ‑iru/‑eru are ichidan (some are godan traps).
to eat
Stem: 食べ
to see
Stem: 見
to get up
Stem: 起き
to sleep
Stem: 寝
The stem rule is: simply drop る. That's it — just one shape for all conjugations.
Irregular Verbs — する & 来る
There are exactly two irregular verbs in modern Japanese. They must be memorised because their stems don't follow normal rules.
Note: する also forms hundreds of compound verbs like 勉強する (to study), 散歩する (to take a walk) — all follow the same irregular pattern.
⚠️ Complete "Fake Ichidan" Exception List
These verbs look like Group 2 (they end in ‑iru or ‑eru), but they are actually Group 1 (godan). Their stems follow the godan pattern, not the ichidan pattern. All N5 learners must memorise these.
💡 Memory tip: Almost all godan verbs whose dictionary form has two or more kana before the final る (e.g., かえ.る, はい.る, はし.る) are Group 1. Verbs with one kana before る (e.g., 見る, 寝る) are usually Group 2 — but 切る and 練る are the main exceptions to that pattern.
📊 Complete Polite Conjugation by Verb Group
This table shows every verb group with its stem rule and all four polite forms. Use it as a reference to check your conjugation work.
📝 The three stem rules in one sentence: Group 1: change final ‑u to ‑i row • Group 2: drop る • Irregular: memorise し and 来 (ki) — that's it!
🔍 How to Identify a Verb's Group Quickly
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
JLPT N5 Practice Questions
1. Which group is 食べる (taberu)?
2. Which verb is an irregular "fake ichidan" (godan)?
3. What is the ません form of 買う (to buy)?
Test yourself with a free mock exam →
About the Instructor
Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.
Related Grammar
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 帰る Group 1 and not Group 2?
Despite ending in ‑eru, 帰る is historically a godan verb. Its stem changes across all five vowels (帰ら・帰り・帰る・帰れ・帰ろう), which proves it's godan. It's on the fake ichidan list you must memorise.
Are there really only two irregular verbs?
Yes — する and 来る. However, 行く (iku) has an irregular て form (行って, not いいて). Some textbooks call this a "semi‑irregular", but it's still Group 1 for all other conjugations.
How can I tell if a new verb ending in ‑iru/‑eru is Group 1 or 2?
Check the complete fake ichidan list above. If the verb isn't there, it's likely Group 2. The pattern: if two or more kana come before る (e.g., かえ.る), it's probably Group 1. When in doubt, look it up.
Continue Learning
Next: ます (masu) — the polite verb form.
Learn ます →→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub
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