て-forms #

て-forms are very important in Japanese conversation. They are used for:

• Making requests.
• Giving and asking for permission. (You may.../May I...)
• Stating that something is forbidden. (You must not...)

Conjugating て-forms are complexed as there are separate rules for る, う, and irregular verbs.

る-verbs to て-form #

To make る-verbs into their て-form simply replace る with て.

For example:

う-verbs to て-form #

There are five (5) rules to turn う-verbs into their て-form:

1. Verbs ending in う,つ,る become って.
2. Verbs ending in む,ぶ,ぬ become んで.
3. Verbs ending in く become いて (with the exception being 行く, which gets transformed into って).
4. Verbs ending in ぐ become いで.
5. Verbs ending in す become して.

For example:

Making Requests #

To make a polite request, provide ください after the verb with its て-form.

For example:

ちょっと 話して ください (Please speak a little)

教科書 を 読んで ください (Please read the textbook)

Asking/Giving Permission #

To ask for permission use the expression: verb(て-form) + もいいですか.

To give permission repeat the verb (without the か), or simply say いいです, or just say どうぞ.

For example:

A: 水 を 飲んで も いいですか (May I please drink the water?)

B: どうぞ (Yes you may/Please)

Forbidding Something #

To forbid someone from doing something use the expression: verb(て-form) + はいけません.

For example:

ここ で 写真 を 撮って は いけません (Please don't take pictures here.)

Explaining a Situation #

A sentence that ends with から explains the situation of the sentence that came before it:

.から.

For example:

1. 僕 は 教科書 を 読みます (I have to read a textbook)
2. 明日 テスト が ありますから (Because there is a test tomorrow)

Offering Assistance #

Use the expression: ~ましょうか to offer assistance.

For example:

遣りましょうか (Let me do it)