nomimasu

Nomimasu is the polite non-past form of the Japanese verb nomu, meaning “to drink.” It is used in formal or respectful speech and can indicate either present actions or future intention depending on context. Nomu belongs to the godan (u-verb) group; the polite form is created from the stem nomi-, giving nomimasu as the standard polite present/future form. In sentences, the direct object is marked with the particle o, as in mizu o nomimasu (I drink water) or o-cha o nomimasu (I drink tea).

Conjugation basics include: past polite nomimashita (drank), negative present nomimasen (do not drink), and negative past nomimasen deshita (did not drink). The te-form is nonde (drinking and...); for example, mizu o nonde kudasai means “Please drink water.” The potential form is nomeru, indicating the ability to drink (e.g., nomeru for “can drink”). The volitional form is nomimashou (let’s drink). Other forms, such as passive nomareru and causative nomaseru, exist as part of the godan conjugation patterns.

Usage notes include that nomimasu is appropriate for everyday dining, ordering, and polite conversation. It contrasts with the casual dictionary form nomu, which is used among friends or in informal writing. As with many Japanese verbs, the meaning shifts with tense and context, but nomimasu consistently represents a polite, non-past action related to drinking.