JLPT N5 grammar

〜ます／ませんmeaning and usage

Meaning

Polite nonpast verb endings: ます is affirmative and ません is negative. Depending on context, they can refer to the present or future.

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)ます
  • verb (masu-stem)ません

How it is used

The polite non-past of verbs, for superiors, strangers and formal settings; it covers habits, the future and present intentions. For something happening right now, use 「〜ています」. The plain equivalents are the dictionary form and the ない-form.

Examples

  1. 今日は、 会議には出ません。

    I'm not attending the meeting today.

  2. 毎日、日本語を勉強します。

    I study Japanese every day.

  3. 私はお酒を飲みません。

    I don't drink alcohol.

About the example The ません in 出ません is a polite nonpast negative ending. Here it says the speaker is not attending the meeting today.