N5 · Lesson 13
The dictionary form
食べる・行く・する ・ 〜のが 好き/上手/下手 ・ 〜ことが できます ・ 〜前に ・ 〜方
In this lesson, you will learn the dictionary form of verbs and use it to say what you like doing and what you are good or bad at, what you can do, what you do before something else, and how to do something. It's the university club fair, and everyone picks a club.
By the end you will be able to say
料理を 作るのが 好きです。I like cooking.
漢字を 読む ことが できます。I can read kanji.
寝る 前に、日記を 書きます。I write in my diary before I go to bed.
カレーの 作り方を 習います。I'm learning how to make curry.
テニスを するのが 大好きです。I love playing tennis.
The grammar in this lesson
- The dictionary form — 食べる, 行く, する — Every verb has a plain dictionary form, made from the ます form by a simple rule.
- 〜のが 好き / 上手 / 下手 — like doing, good or bad at doing — Dictionary form + のが turns an action into something you like, are good at or are bad at.
- 〜ことが できます — can do — Dictionary form + ことが できます says that you can do something.
- 〜前に — before doing — Dictionary form + 前に says what you do before something else.
- 〜方 — how to do — Drop ます and add 方 (かた) to say how to do something.