Welcome to Lesson 6! This is one of the most important lessons in GENKI because you’ll learn the “-te form” (て形), a versatile verb form that is used for many different grammar patterns. Mastering this form is a huge step toward fluency!
How to Make the “-te Form”
The rules for making the -te form are different for each verb group. You’ll need to memorize these!
Key Uses of the “Te- Form”
Once you have the -te form, you can use it for many different things.
Making a Request: 「〜てください」 (te kudasai)
To ask someone to do something, add 「ください」 to the -te form. This is a polite request.
- この 本 を 読んでください。Please read this book.
- ちょっと 待ってください。Please wait a moment.
Asking for Permission: 「〜てもいいですか」 (te mo ii desu ka)
To ask for permission to do something, use 「てもいいです」. To ask a question, add 「か」 at the end.
- この 部屋 で たべてもいいですか。May I eat in this room?
- 日本語で しゃべってもいいですか。May I speak in Japanese?
The answer to this question can be はい、いいです。 (Yes, that’s fine.) or いいえ、だめです。 (No, that’s not allowed.)
Prohibiting an Action: 「〜てはいけません」 (te wa ikemasen)
To tell someone that an action is not allowed, use 「てはいけません」. This is a strong and direct way to say “don’t.”
- ここ で たばこ を すってはいけません。You must not smoke here.
- この 部屋 で 写真 を とってはいけません。You must not take pictures in this room.
Describing a Sequence of Actions
You can connect two or more verbs using the -te form to describe a series of actions that happen in order.
- 朝 ごはん を 食べて, 学校 に 行きます。I eat breakfast, and then I go to school.
- 本 を 買って, 読みます。I buy a book, and then I read it.
The -te form is a powerful tool that will help you create more complex and natural Japanese sentences. Keep practicing the conjugations, and you’ll be able to use these new grammar patterns with confidence!