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As a total beginner I noticed that sometimes simple sentences end with ます and
sometimes with です. What is the difference?

Thanks
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2016-04-13T21:16:39.650
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usage verbs copula
Difference between ます and です
Another beginner answering here.

ます is a (polite) verb ending. The verb to eat (食べる) for example can be
conjugated to 食べ _ます_ , which can be used in polite speech.

です is a state of being, also to be used in polite conversations and can be
roughly translated as a conjugated "to be". Example: 私はドイツ人 _です_ (I'm German)
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2016-04-13T21:37:59.363
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です is the polite form of is/am/are/be. It can also come after adjectives to
make a sentence polite. ます is an ending attached to verbs, and functions to
make the sentence polite.

> これは猫です。  
>  This is a cat.  
>  今日は暑いです。  
>  Today is hot.  
>  ケーキを食べます。  
>  I eat cake.

Note that in the second example although the translation contains the word
**is** this is contained in the adjective 暑い = "be hot". です does not mean
**is** when it comes after an adjective, it just makes the sentence polite.

In the third example the verb 食べる (dictionary/plain form) becomes 食べます to make
it polite.
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2016-04-13T21:48:17.163
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answer