JLPT N5 grammar
～ません — Meaning & Examples
Polite negative present/future: I don't ~ / I won't ~. Replace ます with ません. たべません (don't eat), いきません (won't go), わかりません (don't understand).
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on ～ません. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. にくを たべません (niku o tabemasen) means?
- I don't eat meat
- I don't like meat
- I ate meat
- I want to eat meat
Show answer
Answer: I don't eat meat
ません is the present/future polite negative. たべます → たべません (don't eat / won't eat). にくをたべません = I don't eat meat.
2. えいがを みませんでした (eiga o mimasen deshita) means?
- I will watch the film
- I watched the film
- I don't want to watch the film
- I didn't watch the film
Show answer
Answer: I didn't watch the film
ませんでした is the past negative form — replace ます with ませんでした. みます → みませんでした (didn't watch). This is the fourth and final basic verb form.
Practise ～ません in the free app
This point is part of the “Negative, Past and て-Form” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Negative, Past and て-Form
Frequently asked questions
What does ～ません mean?
Polite negative present/future: I don't ~ / I won't ~. Replace ます with ません. たべません (don't eat), いきません (won't go), わかりません (don't understand).
Is ～ません on the JLPT N5 test?
～ません is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Negative, Past and て-Form”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ～ません?
Open the “Negative, Past and て-Form” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.