う動詞（辞書形）

Godan verbs are the largest group of verbs in Japanese. The dictionary form ends in one of 「う、く、ぐ、す、つ、ぬ、ぶ、む、る」. When they conjugate, the last kana changes to another sound in the same row: 「書く」 → 「書かない」, 「書きます」, 「書けば」, 「書こう」. The dictionary form itself is the plain (casual) present.

How to tell whether a verb ending in 「る」 is godan:

•If the kana before 「る」 is in the あ, う or お row (座る, 終わる, 登る), it is always godan.

•If it is in the い or え row, it is usually ichidan, with a few godan exceptions (帰る, 入る, 走る, 切る, 知る).

•A verb that does not end in 「る」 (飲む, 行く, 話す) is always godan.