Grammar · Verbs

ます, the polite present and future

[Verb stem] ます

The ます form is polite and covers both the present and the future. Japanese does not separate the two, so context decides.

The mistake to avoid

Learn every new verb in its ます form first. It is the form you will actually say.

Examples

読みます。

よみます。

I read. / I will read.

明日行きます。

あしたいきます。

I will go tomorrow.