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Polite past
Definition
The polite past tense verb form 〜ました is used to describe a completed action in the past in a polite manner. It is often used to express what happened or what someone did. This form is particularly useful when speaking to someone you want to show respect or politeness towards. The polite past tense verb form can also be used to describe a past action that is no longer relevant or has been completed.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plain form of the verb | Verb + ました | 食べました (ate) |
| Te-form of the verb | Te-form of the verb + ました | 食べていました (ate regularly) |
| Ba-form of the verb | Ba-form of the verb + ました | 食べました (ate) |
Examples
昨日、映画を観ました。
Kinō, eiga o mimi mashita.
I watched a movie yesterday.
昨日 (yesterday), 映画 (movie), 観る (to watch), ました (polite past tense)
先週の日曜日に東京に旅行に行きました。
Makiyō no nichiyōbi ni Tōkyō ni ryokō ni ikimashita.
I went on a trip to Tokyo last Sunday.
先週の日曜日 (last Sunday), 東京 (Tokyo), 旅行 (trip), 行く (to go), ました (polite past tense)
「朝ごはんを食べましたか。」「はい、食べました。"
「Asa gohan o tabemashita ka.」「Hai, tabemashita.」
Q: Did you eat breakfast? A: Yes, I did.
「朝ごはんを食べましたか」 (Did you eat breakfast?), 「はい」 (yes), 「食べました」 (I ate)
「昨日、公園に行きましたか。」「はい、行きました。"
「Kinō, kōen ni ikimashita ka.」「Hai, ikimashita.」
Q: Did you go to the park yesterday? A: Yes, I did.
「昨日、公園に行きましたか」 (Did you go to the park yesterday?), 「はい」 (yes), 「行きました」 (I went)
「先週、東京に旅行に行きましたか。」「はい、行きました。"
「Makiyō, Tōkyō ni ryokō ni ikimashita ka.」「Hai, ikimashita.」
Q: Did you go on a trip to Tokyo last week? A: Yes, I did.
「先週、東京に旅行に行きましたか」 (Did you go on a trip to Tokyo last week?), 「はい」 (yes), 「行きました」 (I went)
Context
The polite past tense verb form 〜ました is used to describe a completed action in the past in a polite manner. It is often used to express what happened or what someone did. This form is particularly useful when speaking to someone you want to show respect or politeness towards. The polite past tense verb form can also be used to describe a past action that is no longer relevant or has been completed.
Watch out
The present form ます is used to describe an action that is happening now or is a general truth, while the polite past tense form 〜ました is used to describe a completed action in the past.
The verb ending ました is used for past affirmative, while the verb ending ませんでした is used for past negative.
The polite past tense verb form 〜ました is used to describe a completed action in the past, while the present form ます is used to describe an action that is happening now or is a general truth.
Strategy
When answering JLPT questions, pay attention to the context and use the polite past tense verb form 〜ました to describe a completed action in the past. Be careful not to confuse it with the present form ます or the past negative form ませんでした.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N5 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 〜ました used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
昨日、映画を見ました。
Pattern used: 見ました
昨日 (yesterday) signals a past action. 〜ました is the polite past tense form.
先週の日曜日に東京に行きました。
Pattern used: 行きました
先週 (last week) indicates a completed past event. 〜ました correctly expresses what was done.
「朝ごはんを食べましたか。」「はい、食べました。」
Pattern used: 食べました
The question asks about a past action (食べましたか). The answer confirms it with the same past form 〜ました.
Interactive
昨日、映画を______。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.