Editing Classical Japanese (section)

===== Table notes =====

The existence of irrealis form is still a controversy. Some scholars assume that the ancient construction called {{nihongo2|ク語法}} (''Ku-gohō'' "Ku-grammar") uses the irrealis form to form nouns from verbs and adjectives; e.g., {{nihongo2|安し (やすし)}} (''yasu-shi'' "peaceful") → {{nihongo2|安け (やすけ)}} (''yasu-ke'') + {{nihongo2|～く}} (-''ku'') → {{nihongo2|安けく (やすけく)}} (''yasukeku'' "peace of mind"). Meanwhile, others assumed the construction {{nihongo2|～くば}} (-''kuba'') / {{nihongo2|～しくば}} (-''shikuba'') appears to be an irrealis form {{nihongo2|～く}} (-''ku'') / {{nihongo2|～しく}} (-''shiku'') + particle {{nihongo2|～ば}} (-''ba'') (since that particle usually attaches to the irrealis form). However, the scholars agreeing with "Ku-grammar theory" argue that it's actually {{nihongo2|～く}} (-''ku'') / {{nihongo2|～しく}} (-''shiku'') + particle {{nihongo2|は}} (''ha''; modern pronunciation ''wa'') with a sequential voicing sound change from {{nihongo2|は}} (''ha'') to {{nihongo2|ば}} (''ba'').

The compound forms are derived from continuitive form {{nihongo2|～く}} (-''ku'') / {{nihongo2|～しく}} (-''shiku'') + {{nihongo2|有り}} (''ar-i'') → {{nihongo2|～くあり}} (-''kuar-i'') / {{nihongo2|～しくあり}} (-''shikuar-i''), which then became {{nihongo2|～かり}} (-''kar-i'') / {{nihongo2|～しかり}} (-''shikar-i'') by regular sound change rules from Old Japanese. The forms then follow the R-irregular conjugation type like {{nihongo2|有り}} (''ar-i''), but lack the conclusive form.

Similarly, the basic conjugations have no imperative form. When it is used, therefore, the {{nihongo2|～かれ}} (-''kar-e'') / {{nihongo2|～しかれ}} (-''shikar-e'') forms are used. It is however, relatively rare, even in classical Japanese.