| 📖 At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Topic | The て-form — what it is and all its uses |
| Level | N5 |
| Key rule | Conjugation depends on verb group (ru-verb, u-verb, irregular) |
| Uses covered | Sequence, requests, permission, prohibition, ongoing state, and more |
| Time to read | ~12 min |
You’ve seen て on the end of Japanese verbs. But what is it doing there? The て-form (te-form) is one of the most versatile verb forms in Japanese — it connects actions, makes requests, expresses permission, shows ongoing states, and much more. Once you master it, your Japanese fluency jumps dramatically.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Connect two actions | 食べて、飲んで帰った | Ate, drank, then went home |
| Make a request (~てください) | 座ってください | Please sit down |
| Ask/give permission (~てもいい) | ここに座ってもいい？ | Can I sit here? |
| Describe ongoing state (~ている) | 雨が降っている | It’s raining |
| Try something (~てみる) | 食べてみて！ | Try eating it! |
| Do in advance (~ておく) | 準備しておく | Prepare in advance |
| Express result (~てある) | 窓が開けてある | The window has been opened |
| Connect reason/manner | 走って来た | Came running |
| Ask/give prohibition (~てはいけない) | 入ってはいけない | You must not enter |
| Express sequence | シャワーを浴びて寝た | Showered, then slept |
How to Make the Te-Form
The te-form follows clear conjugation rules based on the verb group. Japanese verbs fall into three groups: Group 1 (u-verbs), Group 2 (ru-verbs), and Group 3 (irregular verbs).
Group 2 (ru-verbs) — Easiest
Drop る and add て.
| Dictionary | Te-form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 食べる (taberu) | 食べて (tabete) | eat |
| 見る (miru) | 見て (mite) | see |
| 起きる (okiru) | 起きて (okite) | wake up |
Group 1 (u-verbs) — Sound change rules
The ending changes depending on the last consonant of the verb stem.
| Rule | Example | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| く → いて | 書く → 書いて | kaku → kaite |
| ぐ → いで | 泳ぐ → 泳いで | oyogu → oyoide |
| す → して | 話す → 話して | hanasu → hanashite |
| つ/る/う → って | 待つ → 待って | matsu → matte |
| ぬ/ぶ/む → んで | 飲む → 飲んで | nomu → nonde |
| Exception: 行く → 行って | iku → itte (NOT ikite) |
Group 3 (Irregular)
| Dictionary | Te-form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| する (suru) | して (shite) | do |
| 来る (kuru) | 来て (kite) | come |
YukaI used to get confused between く verbs and the exception 行く. My trick: iku is the only く-verb that becomes って instead of いて. Just memorize that one exception!
(行く is the only くverb exception — remember it alone.)
ReiRight. And for つ/る/う → って, think of it as a ‘double-t’ sound. 待つ → 待って, 帰る → 帰って. The doubling is what makes Japanese sound punchy.
(The っ before て creates a short stop — that’s why it sounds crisp.)
10 Key Uses of the Te-Form with Examples
1. Connecting actions in sequence
Use て to chain actions that happen in order, like ‘and then.’
朝ごはんを食べて、歯を磨いて、学校へ行った。
(I ate breakfast, brushed my teeth, and went to school.)
2. Requests: ~てください
The most common polite request form.
もう一度言ってください。
(Please say it one more time.)
ゆっくり話してください。
(Please speak slowly.)
3. Ongoing actions: ~ている
Describes something currently happening or a resulting state.
彼は今、本を読んでいる。
(He is reading a book right now.)
結婚している。
(I am married.) [resulting state]
4. Permission: ~てもいい
Ask or grant permission.
ここに座ってもいいですか？
(May I sit here?)
はい、座ってもいいですよ。
(Yes, you may sit.)
5. Prohibition: ~てはいけない
State something is not allowed.
ここで写真を撮ってはいけない。
(You must not take photos here.)
6. Trying: ~てみる
Attempt something to see what it’s like.
この料理を食べてみて！
(Try eating this dish!)
7. Doing in advance: ~ておく
Prepare something ahead of time.
旅行の前にホテルを予約しておいた。
(I booked the hotel in advance before the trip.)
8. Resulting state: ~てある
Something was done and the result remains.
看板が貼ってある。
(A sign has been posted [and it’s still there].)
9. Expressing manner
Show how an action is done.
彼は走って来た。
(He came running.)
10. Cause or reason (informal)
Used in casual speech to give a reason.
雨が降って、試合が中止になった。
(It rained, so the game was cancelled.)
YukaI remember mixing up ~ている and ~てある. My teacher explained: ている = who is doing it matters; てある = the result matters, not who did it.
(ドアが開いている = the door is open [observation]; ドアが開けてある = the door was opened [by someone, for a reason].)
ReiIn the office, we use ~ておく a lot: 資料を準備しておきます — I’ll prepare the materials in advance. It sounds professional because it shows you’re thinking ahead.
(~ておく signals proactive preparation — very valued in Japanese work culture.)
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
| Mistake | Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Using te-form as a complete sentence | ×食べて。 (alone) | ○食べてください。/ 食べてもいい？ |
| Forgetting the 行く exception | ×行いて (ikite) | ○行って (itte) |
| Confusing ている / てある | ×窓が開いてある (if stating observation) | ○窓が開いている (observation) / 開けてある (prepared state) |
| Over-using てください for all requests | Sounds stiff in casual speech | Use て alone with friends: 食べて！ |
Quick Quiz: Test Your Te-Form
1. Change 書く (kaku) to te-form: ___
→ 書いて (kaite)
2. How do you say ‘Please wait’ using te-form?
→ 待ってください (matte kudasai)
3. What is the te-form of 来る (kuru)?
→ 来て (kite)
4. Fill in: 宿題をし___おいた。(I did my homework in advance.)
→ して (shite)
5. True or False: 行く becomes 行いて in te-form.
→ False — it becomes 行って (itte).
Have you mixed up any of these te-form uses? Which one do you find hardest? Drop a comment below — we’d love to help!
Quick Decision: Which Te-Form Pattern to Use?
When you see a て-form, ask yourself what job it is doing:
Is the verb followed by...
│
├─ ください → request (~てください)
├─ もいい → permission (~てもいい)
├─ はいけない → prohibition (~てはいけない)
├─ いる → ongoing action or state (~ている)
├─ ある → resulting state (~てある)
├─ みる → try it out (~てみる)
├─ おく → do in advance (~ておく)
└─ (nothing — connects to next verb) → sequential actionWhen in doubt, read the verb after the て-form — it usually tells you which pattern you are looking at.
Keep Learning
More Grammar to Master
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