Plain past basics
The plain past form appears constantly in stories, diary-style writing, and less formal narration.
Examples
JapaneseTranslation
昨日その映画を見た。Kinō sono eiga o mita.
I watched that film yesterday.
駅で友だちに会った。Eki de tomodachi ni atta.
I met a friend at the station.
朝はパンを食べた。Asa wa pan o tabeta.
I ate bread in the morning.
Pattern
time + object + plain past verb
How it works
The plain past form appears constantly in stories, diary-style writing, and less formal narration. This pattern typically appears as time + object + plain past verb and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The plain past is common outside fully polite conversation.
- Reading practice becomes easier once you recognize plain and polite forms side by side.
Why it matters
Link actions and describe simple sequences more naturally.
Use in context
A short plain-form page helps you prepare for more native-like reading before they tackle more complex structures.