Why are the verb groups in Japanese called "consonant-stem" and "vowel-stem"?


They both contain vowels and consonants. So why should 1 be called consonant
and the other vowel?




You'll understand if you just look at them romanized:

  1. ## Vowel-stem verbs (一段動詞)
[code]     　食べない　tab **e** -nai

    　食べます　tab **e** -masu
    　食べる　　tab **e** -ru  
    　食べれば　tab **e** -reba
    　食べよう　tab **e** -yoo
    
[/code]

The stem is _tabe-_ , which ends with /e/, a vowel.

  2. ## Consonant-stem verbs (五段動詞)
[code]     　泳がない　oyo **g** -anai

    　泳ぎます　oyo **g** -imasu
    　泳ぐ　　　oyo **g** -u
    　泳げば　　oyo **g** -eba
    　泳ごう　　oyo **g** -oo
    
[/code]

The stem is _oyog-_ , which ends with /g/, a consonant.

Simple as that.

