The Te-form

Vocabulary

食(た)べるた・べるru-verbto eat

飲(の)むの・むu-verbto drink

するirregularto do

来(く)るく・るirregularto come

昼(ひる)ご飯(はん)ひる・ご・はんlunch

寝(ね)るね・るru-verbto sleep

待(ま)つま・つu-verbto wait

見(み)るみ・るru-verbto see

書(か)くか・くu-verbto write

て-form is an incredibly versatile conjugation used for connecting sentences, making requests, and present progressive actions.

Conjugation rules

The rules are exactly the same as the Past Tense, but you replace た with て and だ with で.

Examples

食(た)べる→食(た)べた→食(た)べて

飲(の)む→飲(の)んだ→飲(の)んで

する→した→して

書(か)く→書(か)いた→書(か)いて

Common Usages

1. Sequence of Events

昼(ひる)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べて、寝(ね)る。Eat lunch, and then sleep.

本(ほん)を読(よ)んで、勉強(べんきょう)する。Read a book, and then study.

起(お)きて、顔(かお)を洗(あら)う。Wake up and wash my face.

2. Requests

Add ください after the te-form.

来(き)てください。Please come.

待(ま)ってください。Please wait.

見(み)てください。Please look.

3. Present Progressive

Add いる after the te-form.

食(た)べている。I am eating.

本(ほん)を読(よ)んでいる。I am reading a book.

友達(ともだち)を待(ま)っている。I am waiting for a friend.

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Advanced Usages

4. Expressing Cause and Effect (Because/Since)

Te-form can express the reason or cause for something.

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ってきたので、家(いえ)にいる。It's raining, so I'm staying home.

(Note: This often uses ので as well)

朝寝坊(あさねぼう)して、学校(がっこう)に遅(おく)れた。I overslept, so I was late to school.

(Cause → Result)

仕事(しごと)が終(お)わって、友達(ともだち)と遊(あそ)ぶ。After work is done, I'll play with friends.

5. Permission and Prohibition (~てもいい / ~てはいけない)

Te-form + もいい (it’s okay to) or te-form + はいけない (you mustn’t).

ここに座(すわ)ってもいい。It's okay to sit here.

走(はし)ってはいけない。You mustn't run.

質問(しつもん)してもいいですか。May I ask a question? (polite)

映画(えいが)を見(み)てもいい。It's okay to watch a movie.

6. State or Condition (Results that remain)

Te-form + いる can also show a state that resulted from a past action.

窓(まど)が開(ひら)いている。The window is open. (It was opened and is in that state)

電気(でんき)がついている。The lights are on. (They were turned on and are in that state)

本(ほん)が置(お)いてある。There is a book placed (on the table). (Someone put it there)

7. Showing Manner or Method (How you do something)

Te-form can show how or in what manner something is done.

歩(ある)いて学校(がっこう)に行(い)く。Go to school by walking.

電話(でんわ)して連絡(れんらく)する。Contact (someone) by calling.

手(て)で食(た)べる。Eat using your hands.

8. Simultaneous Actions (While doing…)

Two actions happening at the same time, expressed with te-form.

音楽(おんがく)を聞(き)いて勉強(べんきょう)する。Study while listening to music.

テレビを見(み)て夜(よる)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べる。Eat dinner while watching TV.

笑(わら)ってしゃべる。Talk while laughing.

9. Giving and Receiving (Expressing relationships)

Te-form is used in expressions about giving and receiving help or favors.

友達(ともだち)に手伝(てつだ)ってもらう。Get help from a friend / Have a friend help me.

先生(せんせい)に教(おし)えてもらった。I had the teacher teach me. (Someone did something for me)

母(はは)に作(つく)ってもらう。Have my mother make it (for me).

10. Connecting to Adjectives or Descriptions

Te-form can connect descriptive elements.

背(せ)が高(たか)くて、髪(かみ)が長(なが)い。(He/she is) tall and has long hair.

美(うつく)しくて、親切(しんせつ)だ。(It is) beautiful and kind.