Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 9/12

~て (Conjunction)

And, Then (Linking events)

ている is often shortened to てる. This applies to all tenses, including てる, てて, てた, and even てます

Structure

Examples:
[る1]Verb() +

[る5]Verb(すわ) + って
[う]Verb(うた) + って
[つ]Verb() + って

[く]Verb(ある) + いて
[ぐ]Verb(およ) + いで

[ぬ]Verb() + んで
[ぶ]Verb() + んで
[む]Verb(やす) + んで

[す]Verb(はな) + して

Exceptions:
()く → ()って
するして
くるきて
()う → ()うて
()う → ()うて

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Verb

  • Word Type

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    動詞

  • 単語の種類

    接続助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About Verb + て

In Japanese, is a very important conjunction particle that can be used with many different structures. When it is partnered with a verb, it has special conjugation rules, depending on whether it is being added to a る-Verb or a う-Verb. In the case of う-Verbs, it also depends on what the preceding kana is.
The most common translation in any situation is just 'and' or 'then', due to (B) being highlighted as something that happens/happened after (A).
  • (やま)(のぼ)って(やす)
    To climb a mountain, then rest. (To climb a mountain, and rest)
  • ()()
    To eat, then sleep. (To eat, and sleep)
In these examples, we can see that basically means '(A) (B)' = '(A) happened, then (B)'. However, this is only when it is linked to another verb.
Sometimes the form appears as . This is a change that happened throughout the course of history, in order to make sentences flow more smoothly. Despite this, there is no difference in meaning between and as a vocal change.
  • (ほん)()んで(かえ)
    To read a book, then return it. (て appearing as で)
  • (あそ)んで(かえ)
    To play, then go home. (て appearing as で)
The easiest way to identify whether to use or is by looking at the preceding kana. If the plain (dictionary) form of the verb finishes in ぐ, ぬ, ぶ, or む, then will be used. る-Verbs never use .
Caution
There are several irregular verbs when it comes to form conjugation. Let's look at an example of each one.
  • 学校(がっこう)()勉強(べんきょう)する
    I go to school, then study. (()く's conjugation with て)
  • ダイエット()
    To go on a diet, then lose weight. (する's conjugation with て)
  • 公園(こうえん)()(あそ)ぶ。
    To come to the park, then play. (()る's conjugation with て)
  • (こた)()()
    To enquire about the answer, then write it down. (()う's conjugation with て)
  • 許可(きょか)()実行(じっこう)する
    To get permission, then act out. (()う's conjugation with て)
Apart from these 5 verbs, the rules for form conjugation are 100% consistent.

Synonyms

Examples

  • ()べる()

    To eat → To eat and then.

  • (あら)(あら)って

    To wash → To wash and then.

  • (かえ)(かえ)して

    To return (an object) → To return (an object) and then.

  • (ある)(ある)いて

    To walk → To walk and then.

  • (およ)(およ)

    To swim → To swim and then.

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Verb + て – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (40 in total)

  • RezoneH

    RezoneH

    About 6 months ago

    How can we say “i am trying to remember what I memorized yesterday.” // “kinou, oboeta no wo oboete miteimasu” ???
    for example: yesterday i learned lots of new kanji and today (now) i am looking the kanji and trying to remember, kanji’s meanings

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 5 months ago

    Some points:

    • In English, “to remember” can express both “to commit something to memory” and “to recall something from memory”. 覚える can’t do that, it can only cover the “commit” part. For “recall”, you could use 思い出す.
    • Similarly, -てみる means “try” in the “try it and see” kind of sense. Do something and see how it goes. It doesn’t express a conscious effort to achieve something. For that, you could use the volitional + とする construction.
    • The comma after 昨日 looks weird because it makes it seem like the 昨日 applies to the entire sentence.
  • RezoneH

    RezoneH

    About 5 months ago

    Thank you very very much for your reply.

    If I have learned this issue incorrectly or incompletely, I would like you to correct me. I know that “てみる” is “used in situations where you are not sure whether you will be successful in doing an action.” am I wrong? and in ...

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