Japanese for English speakers Zoo · Lesson 3

Past negative -i ending adjectives

Past negative of い-adjectives — drop 〜い, add 〜くなかった — 強い (strong) → 強くなかった (wasn't strong). Practice with ゴリラ (gorilla) and 弱い (weak).

Conversation

  1. Muri Muri

    このゴリラは弱いですね。

    kono gorira wa yowai desu ne.

    This gorilla is weak, isn't it?

    Tip: <gorira> = gorilla <yowai> = weak, frail

  2. Muri Muri

    木登りもできません

    kinobori mo dekimasen

    It can't even climb on a tree

    Tip: <kinobori> = tree climbing

  3. Yaya Yaya

    確かに、今朝は

    tashikani, kesa wa

    Indeed. This morning

  4. Yaya Yaya

    こんなに弱くなかったですね

    konnna i yowakunakatta desu ne

    It wasn't this weak

    Tip: Past negative of "i" adjectives: take away the final "i" and replace it with "kunakatta". "Takai desu" = it is expensive. "Taka kunakatta" = it wasn't expensive

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you form past negative for い-adjectives?

Drop い, add くなかった: 強い → 強くなかった ('wasn't strong'). Polite: 強くなかったです.

What does 木登り mean?

'Tree climbing' — 木 (tree) + 登り (climbing). The verb is 木登りする.

What does 確かに mean?

'Indeed' or 'for sure' — used to confirm someone else's statement.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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