The ren'youkei + て (te) is used to combine verbs and verbal adjectives,
and to create subordinate clauses.
When using the ren'youkei + て (te) to combine verbs or create clauses
て can be used for successive and simultaneous actions, and can also
indicate a causal relation.
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お風呂に入って寝る。 (O-furo ni haitte neru.)
I'm going to take a bath and go to bed.
寿司を食べて日本酒を飲んだ。 (Sushi wo tabete
nihonshu wo nonda.)
He ate sushi and drank sake.
車が高くて買わなかった。 (Kuruma ga takakute
kawanakatta.)
The car was expensive, so I didn't buy it. |
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The tense of the ren'youkei + て (te) is the same as the tense of
the main (or closing) verb.
The ren'youkei + て (te) is one of the most common grammatical Japanese
forms, and can adopt many special functions when combined with particles
or certain verbs.
Contractions with group 4 verbs
The ～て (-te) form, as it is also known, of group 4 (or yodan katsuyou)
verbs, undergoes contractions in many cases.
Here's one example of how the contractions work:
買い (kai = ren'youkei) → 買い
+て (kai +te) → 買って (katte)
| Ren'youkei ends on: |
-te form: |
example: |
| ～い (i) |
→ |
～って (tte) |
買う (kau)
buy |
→ |
買って (katte)
buying |
| ～き (ki) |
→ |
～いて (ite) |
書く (kaku)
write |
→ |
書いて (kaite)
writing |
| ～ぎ (gi) |
→ |
～いで (ide) |
泳ぐ (oyogu)
swim |
→ |
泳いで (oyoide)
swimming |
| ～ち (tsi) |
→ |
～って (tte) |
待つ (matsu)
wait |
→ |
待って (matte)
waiting |
| ～に (ni) |
→ |
～んで (nde) |
死ぬ (shinu)
die |
→ |
死んで (shinde)
dying |
| ～び (bi) |
→ |
～んで (nde) |
遊ぶ (asobu)
play |
→ |
遊んで (asonde)
playing |
| ～み (mi) |
→ |
～んで (nde) |
飲む (nomu)
drink |
→ |
飲んで (nonde)
drinking |
| ～り (ri) |
→ |
～って (tte) |
入る ④(hairu)
enter |
→ |
入って (haitte)
entering |
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There is only one exception:
行き (iki = ren'youkei) → 行き
+て (iki +te) → 行って (itte)
| Present tense: |
Past tense: |
行く(iku)
go |
→ |
行って(itte)
going |
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All other group 4 verbs, all group 2 verbs, and all verbal adjectives
are regular, and in a cruel twist of fate, so are the irregular
verbs する (suru) and 来る (kuru).
| Rentaikei |
-te form |
| 買う |
kau |
買って |
katte |
| 書く |
kaku |
書いて |
kaite |
| 泳ぐ |
oyogu |
泳いで |
oyoide |
| 出す |
dasu |
出して |
dashite |
| 行きます |
ikimasu |
行きまして |
ikimashite |
| 待つ |
matsu |
待って |
matte |
| 死ぬ |
shinu |
死んで |
shinde |
| 遊ぶ |
asobu |
遊んで |
asonde |
| 飲む |
nomu |
飲んで |
nonde |
| 入る ④ |
hairu |
入って |
haitte |
 |
| 行く |
iku |
行って |
itte |
|
| いる |
iru |
いて |
ite |
| 食べる |
taberu |
食べて |
tabete |
| 出る |
deru |
出て |
dete |
| 見る |
miru |
見て |
mite |
|
| する |
suru |
して |
shite |
| 来る |
kuru |
来て |
kite |
|
| 高い |
takai |
高くて |
takakute |
| 大きい |
ookii |
大きくて |
ookikute |
| 新しい |
atarashii |
新しくて |
atarashikute |
| 小さい |
chiisai |
小さくて |
chiisakute |
だ (da)
The -te form of だ (da) is で (de).
| Rentaikei |
-te form |
| ある |
aru |
あって |
atte |
| である |
de aru |
であって |
de atte |
| だ |
da |
で |
de |
| です |
desu |
で |
de |
Combinations
with particles
Ren'youkei
+ てから (te kara)
The ren'youkei + てから (te kara) means "after".
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部屋を掃除してから買い物をします。 (Heya wo souji shite
kara kaimono wo shimasu.)
After I have cleaned my room, I'm going shopping. |
| |
Ren'youkei + ては
(te wa)
The ren'youkei + ては (te wa) is one of several conditional
forms. It should be translated as "if" or "when".
Ren'youkei + ては (te wa) can only be used in situations where, if
something does or doesn't happen, the result is negative or one
gets into trouble.
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お金がなくてはあんたに払えません。 (O-kane ga nakute
wa anta ni haraemasen.)
If I don't have any money I can't pay you.
彼が来なくては困る。 (Kare ga konakute wa
komaru.)
If he doesn't show up I don't know what to do. |
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Special combinations with ては are the ren'youkei + てはならない (te wa
naranai) or the ren'youkei + ては行けない (te wa ikenai). These combinations
form a prohibitive,
and are translated as "mustn't". When using the double
negatives mizenkei + なくてはならない (nakute wa naranai) or mizenkei +
なくては行けない (nakute wa ikenai) these combinations form an imperative,
and are translated as "must" or "have to".
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そのような本を読んでは行けない。 (Sono you na hon wo yonde
wa ikenai.)
You mustn't read a book like that.
すぐ行かなくてはならない。 (Sugu ikanakute wa
naranai.)
I must leave soon. |
| |
なくてはならない(nakute wa naranai) is often contracted to なきゃならない (nakya
naranai) or even to simply なきゃ (nakya).
| |
勉強しなきゃならない。 (Benkyou shinakya
naranai.)
I must study.
もう行かなきゃ。 (Mou ikanakya.)
I have to go. |
| |
Ren'youkei + ても
(te mo)
The ren'youkei + ても (te mo) means "even if", or "even
though".
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お金を貯めても金持ちにならない。 (O-kane wo tamete
mo kanemochi ni naranai.)
Even though I save money, I don't get rich.
払わなくてもいい。 (Harawanakute mo
ii.)
Even if you don't pay, it's alright. / You don't have to pay. |
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Combinations
with verbs and verbal adjectives
Ren'youkei
+ てあげる (te ageru)
The ren'youkei + てあげる (te ageru) is translated as doing something
for someone else. 上げる (ageru) is a humble verb, meaning to give
to someone higher than yourself. This construction shows respect
towards the person you are doing it for.
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手紙を送ってあげます。 (Tegami wo okutte
agemasu.)
I will send the letter for you. |
| |
Ren'youkei +
てある (te aru)
The ren'youkei + てある (te aru) is used to describe a result, and
can only be used in combination with transitive verbs. It is translated
as the grammatical perfect in English.
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手紙が書いてある。 (Tegami ga kaite aru.)
The letter has been written. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ ていただく (te itadaku)
The ren'youkei + ていただく (te itadaku) is translated as someone doing
something for you. 頂く (itadaku) is a humble verb, meaning to receive
from someone higher than yourself. This construction shows gratitude
and respect for the person who has done this for you.
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手紙を送っていただきました。 (Tegami wo okutte
itadakimashita.)
She posted the letter for me. |
| |
Ren'youkei +
ていく (te iku)
The ren'youkei + ていく (te iku) can mean "to do something and
then go" or it can describe a process that "get's away
from you". Sometimes it can even simply describe the way you
are going.
| |
コーヒーを飲んでいこう。 (Koohii wo nonde
ikou.)
Let's drink some coffee and then leave.
年を取っていく。 (Toshi wo totte iku.)
I'm getting older (and there's nothing I can do about it).
歩いていく。 (Aruite iku.)
I'm going on foot. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ ていない (te inai)
The ren'youkei + ていない (te inai) describes an action that has not
yet taken place.
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手紙を書いていない。 (Tegami wo kaite inai.)
(transitive)
I haven't written the letter yet.
日本に行っていない。 (Nihon ni itte inai.)
(intransitive)
I haven't been to Japan yet. |
| |
Ren'youkei +
ている (te iru)
When the ren'youkei + ている (te iru) is combined with an intransitive
verb it describes a result or a state, which is translated as the
grammatical perfect, or an action in progress, which is translated
as the -ing form or gerund. When the -te form is combined with a
transitive verb it can only describe an action in progress and is
always translated as the gerund.
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手紙を書いている。 (Tegami wo kaite iru.)
(transitive)
I'm writing a letter.
日本に行っている。 (Nihon ni itte iru.)
(intransitive)
He's going to Japan (underway).
日本に行っている。 (Nihon ni itte iru.)
(intransitive)
He's in Japan (after having gone there). |
| |
The ren'youkei + ている (te iru) can also describe a habit. This function
is more or less the same as the rentaikei's function of stating
a fact. There is only a slight difference in nuance.
| |
朝はいつもお茶を飲んでいます。 (Asa wa itsumo o-cha wo
nonde imasu.)
I always drink tea in the morning. (It's a habit I have.)
朝はいつもお茶を飲みます。 (Asa wa itsumo o-cha wo nomimasu.)
I always drink tea in the morning. (It's something I do.) |
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In the spoken language ～ている (-te iru) is often abbreviated to ～てる
(-teru).
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手紙を書いてる。 (Tegami wo kaiteru.)
手紙を書いてます。 (Tegami wo kaitemasu.) |
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Ren'youkei +
ておく (te oku)
The ren'youkei + ておく (te oku) means to do something and leave it
that way, or to do something before the need arises.
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皿はテーブルに置いておいた。 (Sara wa mou teeburu ni
oite oita.)
I put the dishes on the table (and left them there).
手紙を書いておきます。 (Tegami wo kaite okimasu.)
In the meantime I will write the letter. |
| |
In the spoken language ～ておく (-te oku) is often abbreviated to ～とく
(-toku).
| |
手紙を書いとく。 (Tegami wo kaitoku.)
手紙を書いときます。 (Tegami wo kaitokimasu.) |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てくださる (te kudasaru)
The ren'youkei + てくださる (te kudasaru) is translated as someone doing
something for you. 下さる (kudasaru) is an honorific verb, meaning
to give to someone lower. This construction shows respect towards
the person who is doing this for you.
The ren'youkei + てください (te kudasai) is a polite request, and is
normally translated as "please".
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手紙を送ってくださいます。 (Tegami wo okutte
kudasaimasu.)
She will mail the letter for me.
手紙を送ってください。 (Tegami wo okutte kudasai.)
Please mail the letter for me. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てくる (te kuru)
The ren'youkei + てくる (te kuru) can mean "to do something and
come back" or it can describe a process that "comes upon
you". Sometimes it can even simply describe the way you are
coming.
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買い物をしてくる。 (Kaimono wo shite kuru.)
I'm going to go shopping (and come back afterwards).
分かってきた。 (Wakatte kita.)
I've come to understand it. / I understand it now.
歩いてくる。 (Aruite kuru.)
He's coming on foot. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てくれる (te kureru)
The ren'youkei + てくれる (te kureru) is translated as someone doing
something for you. くれる (kureru), meaning to give to someone lower,
is, unlike 下さる (kudasaru), not honorific. It is therefore only used
in situations where there is no difference in level between you
and the person who is doing this for you. For more information check
the polite
forms page.
The ren'youkei + てくれ (te kure) is a request, but, unlike ren'youkei
+ てください (te kudasai), lacks any form of politeness. This form is
preferably abbreviated to ren'youkei + て (te), even when using it
among friends, because it sounds more friendly than ren'youkei +
てくれ.
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手紙を送ってくれる。 (Tegami wo okutte kureru.)
She will mail the letter for me.
手紙を送ってくれ。 (Tegami wo okutte kure.)
Mail the letter for me.
手紙を送って。 (Tegami wo okutte.)
Mail the letter for me, will you? |
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Ren'youkei
+ てしまう (te shimau)
The ren'youkei + てしまう (te shimau) translates as "to do something
completely", but often has the connotation that you are not
happy with the result.
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全部食べてしまった。 (Zenbu tabete shimatta.)
I ate everything (and now there's nothing left / and now I
have a stomachache).
手紙を書いてしまいたい。 (Tegami wo kaite shimaitai.)
I want to finish writing the letter first. |
| |
In the spoken language ～てしまう (-te shimau) is often abbreviated
to ～ちゃう (-chau), and ～てしまった (-te shimatta) to ～ちゃった (-chatta)
| |
全部食べちゃった。 (Zenbu tabechatta.)
I ate everything (and now there's nothing left / and now I have
a stomachache). |
| |
Ren'youkei +
てない (te nai)
See ren'youkei + ていない (te inai)
Ren'youkei
+ てほしい (te hoshii)
The ren'youkei + てほしい (te hoshii) is translated as "I want
you to ...". This function is identical to ren'youkei
+ てもらいたい (te moraitai).
| |
帰ってほしい。 (Kaette hoshii.)
I want you to come home. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てみる (te miru)
The ren'youkei + てみる (te miru) is translated as "to try"
or "to try something on for size". Literally it translates
as "to do something and see how it turns out".
| |
ふぐを食べてみる。 (Fugu wo tabete miru.)
I'm going to try the blowfish.
彼の日本語を聞いてみると・・・ (Kare no nihongo wo kiite
miru to...)
You should hear his Japanese... |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てもらう (te morau)
The ren'youkei + てもらう (te morau) is translated as someone doing
something for you. 貰う (morau), meaning to receive from someone higher
than yourself, is, unlike 頂く (itadaku), not humble. This construction
shows gratitude but no respect for the person who has done this
for you. It is therefore only used in situations where there is
no difference in level between you and the person who is doing this
for you. For more information check the polite
forms page.
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手紙を送ってもらった。 (Tegami wo okutte
moratta.)
She mailed the letter for me. |
| |
The ren'youkei + てもらいたい (te moraitai) is translated as "I
want you to ...". This function is identical to ren'youkei
+ てほしい (te hoshii).
| |
帰ってもらいたい。 (Kaette moraitai.)
I want you to come home. |
| |
Ren'youkei
+ てやる (te yaru)
The ren'youkei + てやる (te yaru) is translated as doing something
for someone else. 遣る (yaru), meaning to give to someone higher than
you, is, unlike 上げる (ageru), not humble. It is therefore only used
in situations where there is no difference in level between you
and the person who you are doing this for. For more information
check the polite
forms page.
| |
手紙を送ってやる。 (Tegami wo okutte
yaru.)
I will mail the letter for you. |
| |
Ren'youkei + てる (teru)
See ren'youkei + ている (te iru)
Related pages:
Clauses
Conditional
forms
Desiderative
forms
Interrogative
forms
Imperative
forms
Polite forms
prohibitive
forms
Tenses |
