The te-form connects verbs, makes requests, asks permission, and describes ongoing actions.
| Base | Meaning | Te-form |
|---|---|---|
| taberu | eat | tabete |
| miru | watch | mite |
| neru | sleep | nete |
| okiru | wake up | okite |
| Ending | Rule | Example | Te-form |
|---|---|---|---|
| -u / -tsu / -ru | → tte | kau / matsu / tsukuru | katte / matte / tsukutte |
| -mu / -nu / -bu | → nde | nomu | nonde |
| -ku | → ite | kiku | kiite |
| -iku (special) | → itte | iku | itte |
| -su | → shite | hanasu | hanashite |
| Base | Te-form |
|---|---|
| suru | shite |
| kuru | kite |
Note: tsukuru (make) ends in -ru but is a U verb → te-form is tsukutte, not tsukute.
Te-form + iru (polite: imasu) = currently doing / have been doing.
| Te-iru | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tabeteiru | am eating |
| nondeiru | am drinking |
| benkyou shiteiru | am studying |
| hanashiteiru | am speaking |
| kiiteiru | am listening |
| tsukutteiru | am making |
ima nani o shiteimasu ka?
What are you doing right now?
nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu
I am studying Japanese.
itsu kara tsukutteimasu ka?
Since when have you been making it?
| Particle | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kara | from / since | ku-ji kara — from 9 |
| made | to / until | go-ji made — until 5 |
ku-ji kara go-ji made shigoto shimasu
I work from 9 to 5.
Te-form + kudasai = polite request.
| Request | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tabete kudasai | Please eat. |
| nonde kudasai | Please drink. |
| matte kudasai | Please wait. |
| kiite kudasai | Please listen. |
| benkyou shite kudasai | Please study. |
sukoshi matte kudasai / chotto matte kudasai
Please wait a little.
mizu o kudasai
Water, please. (noun + o + kudasai)
mizu o hitotsu kudasai
One water, please.
sukoshi / chotto = a little (chotto is more casual).
| Number | Japanese |
|---|---|
| 1 | hitotsu |
| 2 | futatsu |
| 3 | mittsu |
Te-form + mo ii desu ka? = asking permission. (ii = good/okay)
| Question | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tabete mo ii desu ka? | May I eat? |
| nonde mo ii desu ka? | May I drink? |
| kiite mo ii desu ka? | May I ask? |
| chuumon shite mo ii desu ka? | May I order? |
| yoyaku shite mo ii desu ka? | May I reserve? |
Te-form acts as "and" — lists or combines actions.
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tabete miru | eat and watch |
| nonde miru | drink and watch |
| kiite benkyou suru | listen and study |
| matte kiku | wait and listen |
For nouns, use to: ringo to banana = apple and banana.
| Concept | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| te-form (RU) | stem + te | tabete |
| te-form (U: -u/-tsu/-ru) | → tte | matte, tsukutte |
| te-form (U: -mu/-nu/-bu) | → nde | nonde |
| te-form (U: -ku) | → ite | kiite |
| te-form (iku) | → itte | itte |
| te-form (U: -su) | → shite | hanashite |
| ongoing | te + iru/imasu | nondeimasu |
| from / since | kara | ku-ji kara |
| to / until | made | go-ji made |
| please | te + kudasai | matte kudasai |
| please (noun) | noun + o + kudasai | mizu o kudasai |
| may I? | te + mo ii desu ka | kiite mo ii desu ka |
| chain verbs | verb1-te + verb2 | tabete miru |
| a little | sukoshi / chotto | chotto matte |
| 1 / 2 / 3 things | hitotsu / futatsu / mittsu | mizu o hitotsu |
Translate into Japanese:
| particles | kara | from / since | |
| made | to / until | ||
| adverbs | sukoshi | a little | |
| chotto | a little (casual) | ||
| counting | hitotsu | one (thing) | |
| futatsu | two (things) | ||
| mittsu | three (things) | ||
| nouns | mizu | water | |
| moufu | blanket | ||
| hon | book | ||
| verbs | tsukuru | to make | U |
| matsu | to wait | U | |
| yomu | to read | U | |
| chuumon suru | to order | irr. | |
| yoyaku suru | to reserve/book | irr. | |
| hanasu | to speak | U |