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The verb form which ends with て(te)or で(de) is When it's used to ask the listener to do something, す
called the て-form. How to make the て-form of a みませんが is often added before Verb[te-form]く
verb depends on which group the verb belongs to as ださい, which is politer than only saying Verb[te-
explained below form]ください

*Group 1 ②V て-form います [V te-form imasu] [VERY


IMPORTANT!!!]

a)V て-form います “be V-ing”

This sentence pattern indicates that a certain action or


motion is in progress

今 雨が降っていますか。[ima ame ga futte


QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor imasu ka?] - Is it raining now?
are needed to see this picture.
・・・はい、降っています。[hai, futte imasu] –
Yes, it is
・・・いいえ、降っていません。[iie, futte
imasen] – No, it's not

b)V て-form います

It's also used in describing a certain continuing state


which resulted from a certain action in the past
Depending on the last sound of the ます-form, the 私は 結婚しています。
て-form of the verbs of this group is made as shown Watashi ha kekkon shite imasu
in the form table
I'm married
Note that the verb 行きます(ikimasu – go) 行って
(iTTe) is an expression 田中さんを知っています。
Tanaka san wo shitte imasu
*Group 2 & Group 3
(I) know Mr. Tanaka
Attach て to the ます-form
大阪に住んでいます。
How to use Te-form Oosaka ni sunde imasu

①V て-form ください[V te-form kudasai] "please (I) live in Osaka


do..."
カメラを持っています。
This sentence pattern is used to ask, instruct or Kamera wo motte imasu
encourage the listener to do something. Naturally, if
the listener is one's superior, this expression cannot I have a camera
be used for giving instructions to him/her. The
sentences shown below are examples of asking, *持っています[motte imasu] means “be holding” &
instructing & encouraging respectively “possess” as well

すみませんが、この漢字の読み方を教えてくだ c)V て-form います


さい。
(sumimasen ga, kono kanji no yomikata wo oshiete It's also used in describing a habitual action; that is,
kudasai) when the same action is repeatedly performed over a
period of time
"Excuse me, please tell/teach me the way of reading
this kanji" Therefore, one's occupation can be expressed by this
sentence pattern. So if the question お仕事は(何で
ここに住所と名前を書いてください。 すか)[oshigoto ha (nan desu ka?) - what is your job/
Koko ni juusho to namae wo kaite kudasai. what do you do], this sentence pattern can be used to
answer it
"Please write your name & address here"
IMC は コンピューターソフトを作っています。
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IMC ha konpyu-ta- sofuto wo tsukutte imasu *When describing states in the past, V て-form いま
した is used
IMC (company name) makes computer software
今朝は 道が 込んでいました。
スーパーで フィルムを売っています。 Kesa ha michi ga konde imashita
Su-pa- de firumu wo utte imasu
The road was crowded this morning
(At) supermarkets, (they) sell films
More info about INTRANSITIVE &TRANSITIVE
妹は 大学で 勉強しています。 verbs:
Imouto ha daigaku de benkyoushite imasu 「火を消してください」と言ったが、もう消え
ています。Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
My younger sister is studying at university
e/2)N は V て-form います
d)V て-form います
When the subject of an act/action is taken up as a
An individual's customary action is expressed by this topic, it's indicated with は.In the example below,
sentence. A customary in the past is expressed by with the use of a demonstrative この(kono), the
using V て-form いました speaker clearly identifies the chair as the topic &
describes the state of it to the listener
毎朝 ジョッギングをしています。
Maiasa joggingu wo shite imasu いすが壊れました。
Isu ga kowaremashita
I jog every morning
The chair was broken
子供のとき、毎晩 8時に 寝ていました。
Kodomo no toki, maiban hachi ji ni nete imashita →このいすは 壊れました
Kono isu ha kowaremashita
I used to go to bed eight every morning when I was a
child This chair is broken

e)V て-form います expresses the state which results ③V て-form もいいです。[V te-form mo ii desu]
as a CONSEQUENCE of the action expressed by the “You may do...”
verb
This expression is used to grant permission
e/1)N が V て-form います
写真を撮ってもいいです。
1.窓が割れています。 Shashin wo totte mo ii desu.
Mado ga warete imasu
You may take photos
The window is broken
たばこを吸ってもいいですか。
2.電気がついています。 Tabako wo sutte mo ii desu ka?
Denki ga tsuite imasu
May I smoke a cigarette?
The light is on
***How to answer such a question using the same
As in the examples above, when the speaker sentence pattern is as follows. Note that an
describes the state he/she sees in front of him/her as euphemistic answer is given when permission is not
it is, the subject of the action is indicated with が(ga) granted
Exemple 1. shows that “the window was broken in
the past & at present its CONSEQUENCE このカタログをもらってもいいですか。[Kono
remains(=it's broken)” katarogu wo moratte mo ii desu ka?]
Verbs which are used with this expression are ・・・ええ、いいですよ。どうぞ。[Ee, ii desu
INTRANSITIVE verbs, & most of them indicate an yo. Douzo]
instantaneos act/action. Examples of such verbs ・・・すみません。ちょっと。[Sumimasen.
include 壊れます(kowarimasu -break)、消えます Chotto...]
(kiemasu – go off; disappear)、開きます(akimasu –
open)、込みます(komimasu – get crowed),ect. May I have this catalogue?
-Yes. Here you are
-Sorry. I'm afraid not
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[NOTE] This sentence pattern indicates that upon completion


[~は]ちょっと・・・ of the action denoted by V1, the action of V2 is to be
[~] is a bit difficult (an euphemism used when conducted. The TENSE of the sentence is determined
declining an invitation/sugguestion) by the tense of the LAST VERB in the sentense

国へ帰ってから、父の会社で働きます。
Kuni he kaette kata, chichi no kaisha de
hatarakimasu
④V て-form は いけません[V te-form wa
ikemasen] “You must not do...” I'll word at my father's company after going back to
(my) country
This sentence pattern is used to express prohibition
コンサートが終わってから、レストランで食事
ここで たばこを吸っては いけません。禁煙 しました。
ですから。 Konsa-to ga owatte kara, resutoran de
Koko de tabako wo sutte wa ikemasen. Kinen desu shokujishimashita
kara.
We had a meal/ ate at a restaurant after the concert
You must not smoke here. Because (this is) no finished/ was over
smoking area
[NOTE]The subject of a subordinate clause is
*When you strongly wish to refuse permission to indicated by が, as shown above
question using the expression V て-form もいいです
か, you answer いいえ、いけません[iie, ⑦V て-form あげます/もらいます/くれます
ikemasen], omitting V て-form は. This expression
CAN'T be used by an inferior to a superior NOTE:くれます
あげます(agemasu -give) CANNOT be used when
先生、ここで 遊んでもいいですか。[sensei, somebody else gives something to the speaker OR
koko de asonde mo ii desu ka?] the speaker's family, etc. くれます(kuremasu – give
・・・いいえ、いけません。[iie, ikemasen] [me] ) is used instead

May we play here, teacher/ ma'dam/sir? 私は 佐藤さんに 花をあげました。


-No, you must not Watashi ha Satou san ni hana wo agemashita

⑤V て-form、[V て-form]~ I gave flowers to Ms.Sato

To connect verb sentence, the te-form is used. When [O] 佐藤さんは 私に 葉書をくれました。


2 or more actions take place in succession, the Satou san ha watashi ni hagaki wo kuremashita
actions are mentioned in the order of occurrence by
using the te-form. The TENSE of the sentence is Ms.Sato gave me a postcard
determined by the tense of the LAST VERB in the
sentence [X] 佐藤さんは 私に 葉書をあげました。
Satou san ha watashi ni hagaki wo agemashita
朝 ジョッギングをして、シャワーを浴びて、
学校へ行きます。 智一さんは 妹に お菓子をくれました。
Asa joggingu wo shite, shawa- wo abite, gakkou he Tomokazu san ha imouto ni okashi wo kuremashita
ikimasu
Mr.Tomokazu gave candies to my younger sister
In the morning, I jog, take a shower & go to school
a)V て-form あげます
神戸へ行って、映画を見て、お茶を飲みました。
Koube he itte, eiga wo mite, ocha wo nomimashita V て-form あげます indicates that one does
something for somebody with a sense of goodwill
I went to Kobe, saw a movie & drank tea
I lent Ms.Kimura a book
More examples:
日本は楽しくて、面白くて、きれいな所です。 →私は 木村さんに 本を 貸して あげまし
Conjugating sentences た。
Watashi ha Kimura san ni hon wo kashite agemashita
⑥V1 て-form から、V2 [I “gave” Ms.Kimura the action “lending a book”]
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Like V て-form もらいます, this expression also


→私は 木村さんに 本を 貸しました。 conveys a sense of gratitude on the part of those who
Watashi ha Kimura san ni hon wo kashimashita receive a favor.
[I lent Ms. Kimura a book]
The different is that V て-form もらいます has the
*When the speaker is the ACTOR & the listener is receiver of the act as the subject of the sentence,
the receiver of the act, this expression could give the WHILE V て-form くれます has the actor as the
impression that the speaker is being patronizing. You subject of the sentence implying the actor (the
are, therefore, advoided to avoid using this subject) voluntarily takes the action. The receiver of
expression directly to someone whom you don't the act in V て-form くれます is often the speaker,
know well or who is senior or superior to you. so 私(the receiver)に is OFTEN omitted
[Instead, we can use さしあげます(sashiagemasu)].
You may use it to someone with whom you have a
very close, friendly relationship. So, when you offer
assistance to someone who is not very close to you,
V ましょうか(V mashou ka?) is used

タクシーを呼びましょうか。
Takushi- wo yobimashoka?

Shall I call a taxi (for you)?

手伝いましょうか。
Tetsudaimashouka ?

May I help you?

b)V て-form もらいます

This expression conveys a sense of gratitude on the


part of those who receive a favor

Ms.Kanae told me the telephone number of the


library

→私は 香苗さんに 図書館の電話番号を教え
ました。
Watashi ha Kanae san ni toshokan no denwa bangou
wo oshiemashita
[Ms.Kanae told me the telephone number]

→私は 香苗さんに 図書館の電話番号を教え
てもらいました。
Watashi ha Kanae san ni toshokan no denwa bangou
wo oshiete moraimashita
[I “received” the act “telling the telephone number”
from Ms.Kanae]

c)V て-form くれます

My mother sent me a sweater

→母は [私に] セーターを送ってくれました。
Haha wa [watashi ni] se-ta- wo okutte kuremashita
[My mother sent me a thing: a sweater]

→母は 私に セーターを送りました。
Haha wa watashi ni se-ts- wo okurimashita
[My mother “gave” me the act “sending a sweater”]

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