Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 7/12

る-Verb (Negative-Past)る - Verbs (Negative-past tense)

When a past negative sentence has a connection with the present, for example, something was expected to happen but has not happened for the moment, the verb[て] + いません construction is used instead

Structure

Examples:
​​食(た)べる + なかった
​​見(み)る + なかった
​​寝(ね)る + なかった

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Verb

  • Word Type

    Auxiliary Verb

  • Register

    Standard

About る-Verb (Negative-Past)

In order to form the negative past form of る-Verbs, you will need to remove the る, and then follow it with the auxiliary verb ない (or ます), conjugated into their past forms. This will either be なかった (casual), or ませんでした (polite).

A semi-polite form may also be used. This is constructed by using なかった, and then simply adding です. This form is not grammatically correct, but is so common that most sources (and native speakers) would consider it correct.

Examples

--:--

    寿司(すし)を食(た)べなかった。
    寿司(すし)を食(た)べなかったです。
    寿司(すし)を食(た)べませんでした。

    I didn't eat sushi.

    テレビを見(み)なかった。
    テレビを見(み)なかったです。
    テレビを見(み)ませんでした。

    I didn't watch TV.

    お金(かね)を借(か)りなかった。
    お金(かね)を借(か)りなかったです。
    お金(かね)を借(か)りませんでした。

    I did not borrow money.

    早(はや)く起(お)きなかった。
    早(はや)く起(お)きなかったです。
    早(はや)く起(お)きませんでした。

    I didn't wake up early.

    これは教(おし)えなかった。
    これは教(おし)えなかったです。
    これは教(おし)えませんでした。

    I didn't tell you this.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

      There are no Online resources listed for 「る-Verb (Negative-Past)」.

      You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!

    • Offline

        There are no Offline resources listed for 「る-Verb (Negative-Past)」.

        You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      る-Verb (Negative-Past) – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

      • Daru

        Daru

        It’s a slight difference in nuance!

        見なかった is just saying that you didn’t watch the movie, a flat statement. Nothing else.
        見たことがない focuses on the fact that you haven’t watched the movie. While it seems similar, the nuance here is that seeing that movie is important or relevant to the conversation.

        Depending on the context, it could be as if you were talking about movies, and you said (a bit literally) that you haven’t had the experience of watching that movie, implying it’s something you reckon you ought do or plan to.

        Hope this helps!

      • hetore

        hetore

        I see!

        I was thinking something along those lines. Like, 見なかった being “I didn’t watch this movie that came out just last week”, and 見たことがない being more like “I have never watched this classic movie from the 90s”, similar to your example of “not having the experience of watching it”

        Thanks!

      • Daru

        Daru

        Happy to help! Good luck with your studies!

      Got questions about る-Verb (Negative-Past)? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion