Mastering Dictionary-Form Endings in GCSE Japanese (1JA0)
Welcome to your complete revision guide for Dictionary-Form Endings! In Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Japanese, moving beyond basic sentences is the key to unlocking top marks in Paper 2 (Speaking) and Paper 4 (Writing). By learning how to attach key endings to the dictionary form (辞書形) of a verb, you can describe future intentions, routines, personal abilities, hobbies, and the order in which events happen.
Don't worry if Japanese verb grammar feels tricky at first. We will break down each pattern step by step with clear rules, real exam examples, and memory tricks to help you avoid common traps!
The Golden Rule: What is the Dictionary Form?
Before jumping into the five endings, let's review the core building block: the dictionary form (辞書形 - jishokei). This is the plain, non-past, affirmative form of a verb—the exact form you look up in a dictionary!
Quick Examples of Dictionary Forms:
• Group 1 (U-verbs): 行く (iku - to go), 飲む (nomu - to drink), 話す (hanasu - to speak), 泳ぐ (oyogu - to swim)
• Group 2 (Ru-verbs): 食べる (taberu - to eat), 見る (miru - to watch/see)
• Group 3 (Irregular verbs): する (suru - to do), 来る (kuru - to come)
Crucial Rule: For all five grammatical patterns in this chapter, you must attach the structure directly to the dictionary form. Never attach them to the ます (masu) stem or the た (ta) past form!
1. Verb + 前に (まえに) — "Before doing..."
Meaning: Expresses a sequence of events, meaning "before doing [action]".
Grammar Formula:
Verb (Dictionary Form) + 前に、[Main Clause]
Official Specification Example:
ご飯を食べる前に、手をあらいます。
(Gohan o taberu mae ni, te o araimasu.)
"Before eating a meal, I wash my hands."
Why this is an Examiner Favourite:
Examiners love testing time sequencing. Notice that the action directly before 前に happens second in real time! (First, you wash your hands; second, you eat.)
Key Takeaway: Always keep the verb right before 前に in the dictionary form, even if the entire sentence is in the past tense! (e.g., 寝る前に、本を読みました = Before sleeping, I read a book.)
2. Verb + つもりです — "I intend / plan to do..."
Meaning: Expresses your personal determination, intention, or resolve to do something.
Grammar Formula:
Verb (Dictionary Form) + つもりです
Official Specification Example:
大学で日本語を勉強するつもりです。
(Daigaku de nihongo o benkyou suru tsumori desu.)
"I intend to study Japanese at university."
How to use it effectively in Speaking & Writing:
Use 〜つもりです when answering GCSE questions about future plans, such as what you want to do next weekend, your holiday plans, or your future career goals.
Key Takeaway: つもり reflects personal intention from the speaker's own mind and will.
3. Verb + よていです — "I am scheduled / planning to do..."
Meaning: Expresses pre-arranged plans, timetables, or scheduled events.
Grammar Formula:
Verb (Dictionary Form) + よていです
Official Specification Example:
来年は日本に行くよていです。
(Rainen wa nihon ni iku yotei desu.)
"I am scheduled / planning to go to Japan next year."
Important Distinction: つもり vs よてい
• つもり (tsumori): Your personal intention or resolve ("I have made up my mind to...").
• よてい (yotei): An official arrangement, external schedule, or pre-set calendar plan ("It is scheduled on the calendar that...").
Key Takeaway: When an event involves travel dates, school timetables, or fixed bookings, よていです is the most natural choice.
4. Verb + ことができます — "Can / Be able to do..."
Meaning: Expresses personal ability or the possibility of doing something ("can do" or "am able to do").
How it works:
In Japanese, you cannot attach the subject particle が directly to a verb. The magical word こと (koto) acts as a "nominaliser"—it turns the verb into a noun phrase (e.g., 泳ぐ = to swim; 泳ぐこと = the act of swimming). Then you add が できます (is possible / can be done).
Grammar Formula:
Verb (Dictionary Form) + ことができます
Official Specification Example:
私は泳ぐことができます。
(Watashi wa oyogu koto ga dekimasu.)
"I can swim / I am able to swim."
Key Takeaway: Never forget こと! The chain is always: [Dictionary Verb] + こと + が + できます.
5. Verb + ことが好きです (すきです) — "Like doing..."
Meaning: Expresses that you like doing a particular activity or hobby.
How it works:
Just like with ことができます, the word こと turns the action into a noun phrase, allowing it to take the particle が before the Na-adjective 好きです (sukidesu).
Grammar Formula:
Verb (Dictionary Form) + ことが好きです
Official Specification Example:
料理をすることが好きです。
(Ryouri o suru koto ga suki desu.)
"I like cooking / I like making food."
Memory Trick: Think of [Verb] + こと as the English "-ing" form! (料理をすること = cooking; 料理をすることが好きです = I like cooking).
Key Takeaway: When talking about hobbies in GCSE Speaking and Writing, using ことが好きです instead of just simple nouns shows the examiner higher-level grammar.
Top 4 Pitfalls & Examiner Warnings
Examiners frequently report common errors on these exact structures. Make sure you avoid these common traps:
Pitfall 1: Changing the tense before 前に
• Incorrect: 食べた前に、手を洗いました。(Incorrectly putting the verb before 前に in the past tense)
• Correct: 食べる前に、手を洗いました。(The verb before 前に must always be in the dictionary form!)
Pitfall 2: Attaching endings to the ます stem
• Incorrect: 話しことができます / 食べよていです
• Correct: 話すことができます / 食べるよていです
Pitfall 3: Dropping the nominaliser こと
• Incorrect: 泳ぐが好きです / 泳ぐができます
• Correct: 泳ぐことが好きです / 泳ぐことができます
Pitfall 4: Using the wrong particle with 好き or できます
• Incorrect: 料理をすることを好きです
• Correct: 料理をすることが好きです (Always use が before 好きです and できます!)
Quick Reference Revision Summary
1. 〜前に: [Dictionary Form] + 前に (Before doing...)
2. 〜つもりです: [Dictionary Form] + つもりです (Intend/plan to do...)
3. 〜よていです: [Dictionary Form] + よていです (Scheduled to do...)
4. 〜ことができます: [Dictionary Form] + ことができます (Can/able to do...)
5. 〜ことが好きです: [Dictionary Form] + ことが好きです (Like doing...)
Keep these five rules in mind, use them confidently in your speaking and writing exams, and you will be well on your way to achieving a top grade in your GCSE Japanese!