Practicing ませんでした
“It not knowing what to do, it’s doing what you know.” - Tony Robbins
Now that you know all four verb conjugations, it’s time to put that knowledge to use. Just like the last practice page, I’m going to ask you questions. This time, though, you need to pay attention to whether the question is in past tense or present tense. For example, if I ask “did you eat sushi?” then you have to answer “yes I ate sushi” using past tense as well. You couldn’t respond to that question by saying “Yes I will eat sushi,” since that’s not answering anything. The goal of this practice is to get you to use all the verb conjugations as well as to help you notice when things are in present or past tense (since it’s important to know that kind of thing in a conversation!).
a Q. エッセイ を かきましたか？
Did you write the essay?
a A1. はい、エッセイ を かきました
Yes, I wrote the essay
a A2. いいえ、エッセイ を かきませんでした
No, I did not write the essay
a Q. スーパー を でましたか？
Did you exit the supermarket?
a A1. はい、スーパー を でました
Yes, I exited the supermarket
a A2. いいえ、スーパー を でませんでした
No, I did not exit the supermarket
a Q. ぎゅうにゅう を のみますか？
Do you drink milk?
a Q. てがみ を おくりましたか？
Did you send the letter?
a A1. はい、てがみ を おくりました
Yes, I sent the letter
a A2. いいえ、てがみ を おくりませんでした
No, I did not send the letter
a Q. にほんご を べんきょうしますか？
Do you study Japanese?
a A1. はい、にほんご を べんきょうします
Yes, I study Japanese
a A2. いいえ、にほんご を べんきょうしません
No, I do not study Japanese
a Q. なに を べんきょうしますか？
What will you study?
a A1. にほんご を べんきょうします
I will study Japanese
a A2. えいご を べんきょうします
I will study English
a A3. すうがく を べんきょうします
I will study math
a A4. りか を べんきょうします
I will study science
a A5. フランスご を べんきょうします
I will study French
A6. ____________________ (your answer here)
It’s incredibly simple to use verbs in these ways, and just knowing these four conjugations will actually get you pretty far. Unfortunately, there are about a billion more verb conjugations coming up (mostly in season 4), so you’re not quite there yet. However, knowing the verbs (keep studying your lists) and knowing just these four conjugations is probably 50%. The other 50% will take a little longer, but that’s because it consists of a lot of smaller things.
Before moving on, I’ve also created a verb conjugation practice sheet which will help you to practice your conjugations as well as your verb vocabulary. At this point, you should feel pretty good about at least 80-90% of the verbs from this chapter and the previous chapter (if you don’t, study them! You’ll need them!).