Practicing ました
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” - Albert Einstein
Let’s take a look at some examples then try things out for ourselves. Also, remember to keep studying your verbs vocab words (from both lists!) as you’ll be using them in this chapter (and many future chapters) as well!
a にほんご を はなします
I speak Japanese
a にほんご を はなしました
I spoke Japanese
a ハッピーバースデー を うたいます
I will sing Happy Birthday
a ハッピーバースデー を うたいました
I sang Happy Birthday
Now it’s your turn. Take the first version of the sentence and make it past tense using ました.
a こうえん に あるきます
I will walk to the park
a こうえん に あるきました
I walked to the park
a いす に すわります
I will sit in the chair
a いす に すわりました
I sat in the chair
a とうきょう に つきます
I will arrive in Tokyo
a とうきょう に つきました
I arrived in Tokyo
a １０００円 を かします
I will lend 1000 yen
a １０００円 を かしました
I lent 1000 yen
I imagine you get the idea and are ready to move on to the next conjugation. The most important thing is that you know and remember ました and know how to use it, at least in a basic sense. As long as you know how to use ます and ました, move on to the next page where we’ll learn the next one (and continue to practice these as well).