1. Why Japanese Grammar Feels Hard for English Speakers

If you’re an English speaker learning Japanese, you’re not alone if everything feels confusing.
Most learners memorize vocabulary and grammar rules, but still freeze when speaking.
Japanese feels difficult not because the language is impossible, but because most people use the wrong approach.

I experienced the same frustration—mixing tenses, sounding rude accidentally, and feeling lost even after months of studying.
The turning point came when I discovered a simple structural pattern hidden inside the language.

That pattern is what I now call the VENOM Formula, short for
Verbal–Nominal Formula.
It instantly clarifies about 80% of Japanese grammar for English speakers.

2. What Is the VENOM Formula?

In English, we use two types of sentences:
action sentences and description sentences.
Japanese is exactly the same.
The whole language is divided into:

• VERBAL Form – the world of action (run, eat, sleep, study)
• NOMINAL Form – the world of description (is a student, is cold, is expensive)

Once you categorize your thought as either an action or a description,
your sentence structure becomes automatic.

3. Verbal Form (Action World)

The verbal form controls all actions.
In polite Japanese, every action sentence ends with a variation of MASU.
The verb always comes last, so the ending determines the entire meaning.

To use verbal sentences correctly, you only need two connectors:

• は (wa) – topic marker (as for…)
• を (o) – object marker

Example:

わたしはパンを食べます。
Watashi wa pan o tabemasu.

I eat bread.

4. The 4 Essential MASU Endings

These four endings cover most polite verb situations in Japanese:

5. Nominal Form (Description World)

The Nominal Form handles identity, descriptions, and states.
Instead of MASU, it uses the polite linking word DESU.

Examples:

• これはリンゴです。 – This is an apple.
• 学生です。 – (I am) a student.

5.1 Important DESU Endings

5.2 How Nominal Sentences Work

Nominal sentences usually rely on the topic marker は (wa).

Example:
天気は寒いでした。
Tenki wa samui deshita.

The weather was cold.

6. VENOM Thinking: Automatic Grammar

Here’s how to think like a native:

1. Ask: Is this an action or description?
2. Ask: Is it present or past?
3. Choose the correct MASU or DESU ending.

Examples:

• “I didn’t buy it.” → Action → Past Negative → 買いませんでした
• “It is difficult.” → Description → Present → むずかしいです
• “I will study later.” → Action → Future → 勉強します
• “I’m not a student.” → Description → Negative → 学生ではありません

7. Examples

More VENOM-style examples for practice:

• 今日は忙しいです。 – I am busy today. (Nominal)
• 本を読みます。 – I will read a book. (Verbal)
• コーヒーを飲みません。 – I don’t drink coffee. (Verbal)
• 先生でした。 – I was a teacher. (Nominal)

8. Download the Free VENOM Starter Kit

To help you practice, download the free VENOM Starter Kit below.
It includes:

• 20 essential verb charts
• Nominal form cheat sheet
• Quick grammar reference

(download here)

9. Conclusion & Next Steps

The VENOM Formula simplifies Japanese into two forms:
Verbal (action) and Nominal (description).
Once you decide which one your idea belongs to, your grammar becomes automatic.

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FAQ: Japanese Grammar

Q: Why does Japanese grammar feel confusing?
A: Because learners try to memorize too many rules instead of using a simple structure like the VENOM Formula.

Q: Is MASU only for polite form?
A: Yes, MASU is always polite. Casual form uses dictionary verb endings.

Q: Can DESU be used with adjectives?
A: Yes, but only with na-adjectives.
For i-adjectives, desu is optional.