ます

auxiliary

polite verb ending

1. polite verb ending

An auxiliary attached to the stem of a verb to make the sentence polite toward the listener. It carries no meaning of its own: 行(い)く and 行(い)きます both mean "go", but the second is addressed politely.

毎朝(まいあさ)走(はし)ります。

I run every morning.

昨日(きのう)は何(なに)も食(た)べませんでした。

I didn't eat anything yesterday.

会議(かいぎ)は三時(さんじ)に始(はじ)まりますので、十分(じゅっぷん)前(まえ)にお越(こ)しください。

The meeting starts at three, so please come ten minutes beforehand.

Attaches to the 連用形(れんようけい) (the ます-stem): 書(か)く → 書(か)きます、食(た)べる → 食(た)べます、する → します、来(く)る → 来(き)ます.

Main forms

ます: present/future (行(い)きます)
ません: negative (行(い)きません)
ました: past (行(い)きました)
ませんでした: past negative (行(い)きませんでした)
ましょう: let's (行(い)きましょう)
ませんか: won't you? (行(い)きませんか)

Usage

The ます-form is the safe default with strangers, customers, teachers, and anyone senior. Plain forms are used with family and close friends, and inside relative clauses and most writing, where politeness is carried by the final verb of the sentence only.

Related Words

Related: です

general

Added 2026.8.11 12:21 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

30500/30562_masu