Te-Form Masterclass — Complete Guide to 〜てください in Japanese

• Introduction
• 📖 Contents of this Article
• Lesson 1: What is the Te-form? — How to create the basic form
• What is the "Te-form"?
• How to Form the Te-form
• Group 1: ~kimasu type verbs
• Group 2: ~masu type verbs
• Group 3: Irregular verbs
• Lesson 2: 〜てください — How to make requests
• Scene 1: In a Japanese restaurant
• Incorrect way
• Correct way
• The formula for 〜てください
• Practical examples
• Scene 2: Real-life usage
• ✏️ Practice ①
• Lesson 3: 〜てもいいですか — How to ask for permission
• Scene 1: At a temple in Kyoto
• The formula for 〜てもいいですか
• Practical examples
• When you receive responses
• If the answer is YES
• If the answer is NO
• The difference between "ikemasen" and "dame desu"
• ✏️ Practice ②
• Lesson 4: 〜ています — How to talk about the "now"
• The most important power
• "Tabemasu" vs "Tabete imasu"
• Meaning of "tabemasu"
• Meaning of "tabete imasu"
• The mechanics of 〜ています
• Practical examples
• Actions in progress
• States that continue
• The power of 〜ています
• ✏️ Practice ③
• Summary: The 3 Magic Powers of the Te-form
• Homework
• 🎓 For those who want to learn more

Introduction

The "Te-form" is the most powerful particle in Japanese. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn the 3 main uses of the Te-form that will transform your ability to communicate in Japanese.

You'll be able to make requests, get permission, and talk about the present moment. With correct usage, your Japanese will evolve from "robotic" to "human."

📖 Contents of this Article

1. Lesson 1: What is the Te-form? — How to create the basic form
2. Lesson 2: 〜てください — How to make requests
3. Lesson 3: 〜てもいいですか — How to ask for permission
4. Lesson 4: 〜ています — How to talk about the "now"

Lesson 1: What is the Te-form? — How to create the basic form

What is the "Te-form"?

The Te-form is the most frequently used verb form in Japanese. It's used every day all across Japan.

The 3 Powers of the Te-form:

• First Power: You can make requests
• Second Power: You can get permission
• Third Power: You can talk about the present moment

How to Form the Te-form

Before we use the Te-form, let's learn the basics in just 30 seconds. There are three types of verbs.

Group 1: ~kimasu type verbs

~kimasu → ~ite

Example) Kakimasu (write) → Kaite

Group 2: ~masu type verbs

~masu → add "te"

Example) Tabemasu (eat) → Tabete

Group 3: Irregular verbs

Shimasu (do) → Shite Kimasu (come) → Kite

A complete list and practice problems are in the description box.

Lesson 2: 〜てください — How to make requests

Scene 1: In a Japanese restaurant

You're in a Japanese restaurant. You want to see the menu. What do you say to the staff?

Incorrect way

「Menu, I will look...?」

This means "I will look at the menu." It's not a request.

Correct way

「Menu o misete kudasai.」

Natural! Perfect!

The formula for 〜てください

Te-form + "kudasai"

"Kudasai" means "please give me." In other words, "please give me your action." That's why it's polite.

Practical examples

"Misemasu" (show) → "Misete kudasai" (Please show me) "Kikimasu" (listen) → "Kiite kudasai" (Please listen) "Machimasu" (wait) → "Matte kudasai" (Please wait)

Scene 2: Real-life usage

「Sumimasen, omizu o motte kite kudasai.」 (Excuse me, please bring me some water.)

With this, you won't have any more trouble. At convenience stores, stations, and hotels. You can use it all over Japan.

✏️ Practice ①

Convert the following verbs to the 〜てください form:

1. Tasukemasu (help)
2. Oshiemasu (teach)
3. Yomimasu (read)

Lesson 3: 〜てもいいですか — How to ask for permission

Scene 1: At a temple in Kyoto

You're at a temple in Kyoto. It's very beautiful. You want to take a picture, but...

You're not sure if it's allowed. There are many rules in Japan. If you do something without asking, you'll get scolded. So first, you ask.

The formula for 〜てもいいですか

Te-form + "mo" + "ii desu ka"

Let's break it down:

• "~te" ... an action
• "mo" ... "even if"
• "ii desu ka" ... Is it okay?

It means: "Is it okay even if I do this?"

Practical examples

"Shashin o torimasu" (take a photo) → "Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?" (Is it okay if I take a photo?) "Koko ni suwarimasu" (sit here) → "Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?" (Is it okay if I sit here?) "Toire o tsukaimasu" (use the bathroom) → "Toire o tsukatte mo ii desu ka?" (Is it okay if I use the bathroom?)

When you receive responses

If the answer is YES

「Hai, ii desu yo.」(Yes, that's fine.)

If the answer is NO

「Sumimasen, ~te wa ikemasen.」

Example:

「Sumimasen, koko de shashin o totte wa ikemasen.」 (Excuse me, you cannot take photos here.)

The difference between "ikemasen" and "dame desu"

In Japan, asking before acting is fundamental. This alone will make your impression completely different.

✏️ Practice ②

Convert the following verbs to the 〜てもいいですか form:

1. Kaerimasu (go home)
2. Nomimasu (drink)
3. Tsukaimasu (use)

Lesson 4: 〜ています — How to talk about the "now"

The most important power

Personally, this is the most important one. I have a question for you:

What is "tabemasu" in English?

It's "I eat," right? Or "I will eat." Then what about "I am eating"?

"Right now, eating." Is it "tabemasu"? No, it's not.

"Tabemasu" vs "Tabete imasu"

Meaning of "tabemasu"

• Habit: I eat every day
• Future: I will eat tomorrow
• General fact: I like to eat sushi

Meaning of "tabete imasu"

• "Now": I am eating right now

The mechanics of 〜ています

"Imasu" means "to exist."

"To exist in a state of eating" = "I am eating"

It means that action is happening right now.

Practical examples

Actions in progress

"Benkyou shimasu" → "Ima, benkyou shite imasu." (I'm studying now) "Hashirimasu" → "Ima, hashitte imasu." (I'm running now)

States that continue

Once an action is complete, if that result is still true "now," we also use 〜ています:

"Kekkon shimasu" → "Kekkon shite imasu." (Meaning: "I am married." - That state has continued)

"Tokyo ni sumimasu" → "Tokyo ni sunde imasu." (Meaning: "I live in Tokyo." - I'm still living there)

"Kono hito o shirimasu" → "Kono hito o shitte imasu." (Meaning: "I know this person." - I still know them)

The power of 〜ています

With just 〜ています, your Japanese will change from "robotic" to "human".

Native speakers constantly use 〜ています when speaking Japanese.

✏️ Practice ③

Convert the following verbs to the 〜ています form:

1. Miru (watch)
2. Benkyou suru (study)
3. Neru (sleep)

Summary: The 3 Magic Powers of the Te-form

Homework

In the comments section, using 〜ています, write what you are doing right now.

For example:

「I'm watching this video (Kono douga o mite imasu).」 「I'm studying Japanese (Nihongo o benkyou shite imasu).」 「I'm sleeping in bed (Beddo de nete imasu).」

I will check your answers. If you want to practice more, or if you want to talk to me directly, please book through the Preply link.

▶️ Short videos for this article:

• Grammar Trap! Tabemasu
• Japan Rule!
• Wrong Order! Mimasu

💡 Tip: These shorts cover the key points quickly and simply. But if you want to truly master the Te-form, I recommend watching the full lesson in Japanese. Turn on English subtitles and you'll learn so much more:

▶️ Watch the full lesson (with subtitles)

🎓 For those who want to learn more

Would you like to practice with Keigo on Preply?

On YouTube, I teach the rules, but on Preply, we mainly practice conversation. I'll diagnose your Te-form usage and help you learn practical Japanese.

👉 Book a lesson on Preply

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

And if you haven't already, hit that subscribe button! New lessons drop every week.

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube