This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.
Verb [stem]Primary
This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.
デパートへ行き、買い物をした。
I went to the department store and did some shopping.
沖縄の海で泳ぎたいです。
I want to swim in the sea in Okinawa.
彼の話し方はとても丁寧だ。
His way of speaking is very polite.
この漢字は覚えにくいですね。
This kanji is hard to remember, isn't it.
テレビを見ながら勉強はしません。
I don't study while watching TV.
Think of the verb stem as a building block. It connects to other parts to make a full word. It cannot stand alone at the end of a sentence. It joins with endings like -ます or -たい. It can also link with other verbs to make new verbs.
The stem form and the te-form both link parts of a sentence. But the stem form sounds more formal. It is often used in writing. The te-form is more common in talking. It usually shows actions happening in order.
Watch out: Making the stem can be tricky. For Group 1 verbs, change the 'u' sound to 'i'. For example, かく becomes かき. For Group 2 verbs, just remove the る. For example, たべる becomes たべ. Do not mix these rules up.
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