Page 167 - Basic Japanese

the same form, which is tabe. This means that taberu is a

vowel verb. Do the same for kaeru and kaerimasu ‘returns.’
After removing -ru and -masu, you get kae and kaeri, which are

different. This means that kaeru ‘returns’ is a consonant

verb. No need to be alert all the time. You just need to be
alert if you see a verb that ends in -eru or -iru. The following

are pairs of consonant verbs and vowel verbs whose plain
imperfect forms are exactly the same.

Vowel Verb Consonant Verb

iru/imasu stays, exists iru/irimasu is necessary

kiru/kimasu wears on body kiru/kirimasu cuts

neru/nemasu sleeps neru/nerimasu kneads

kaeru/kaemasu changes kaeru/kaerimasu returns

Most verbs with the imperfect ending in -eru or -iru are

vowel verbs, so it is a good idea to memorize a small list of -

eru/-iru ending “consonant” verbs. The following list is not
exhaustive, but is helpful.

chiru/chirimasu falls,
scatters

hairu/hairimasu enters
hashiru/hashirimasu runs

heru/herimasu decreases
iru/irimasu is