do desu and masu mean the same thing? just one is more polite then the other?
desu masu

(deleted)
July 31, 2008

Sayaka-Matsuura
August 1, 2008
Desu and Masu are *NOT* the same! :shock:
*MASU* is usually added to the shortest form (which cannot stand alone) of a verb, you can call it a verb suffix that makes affirmative polite verbs. For example, let's take the verb "_to eat_", *TABERU*. The shortest form, or stem form, is *TABE*, now add *MASU*, and you get "_I eat_" - politely.
There are four verb endings used to speak politely:
For affirmative present verbs, add -*MASU*
For negative present verbs, add -*MASEN*
For affirmative past verbs, add -*MASHITA*
For negative past verbs, add -*MASENDESHITA*
Now *DESU* is a VERB, "TO BE".
It expresses the identity or state of people and things. It's used in the following pattern:
X wa Y desu.
*DESU* follows a noun or an adjective. So, to say I am well, you would say *WATASHI WA GENKI DESU*. :idea:

(deleted)
August 1, 2008
Thank you for answering my questions....ive just started with the rocket lessons so i dont know much and im fairly sure the answer is somewhere in the lessons i just havnt gotten that far yet.
arigato!

(deleted)
August 2, 2008
so wait...if desu is a verb can you add masu to desu?