Japanese from zero · N4 Lesson 5
Doing things for each other
〜て あげる ・ 〜て くれる ・ 〜て もらう ・ 〜て やる ・ 〜て ほしい
In this lesson, you will learn to talk about favors: doing something for someone, someone doing something for you, getting someone to do something, the casual 〜て やる, and saying you want someone to do something. Every evening, Hiro drills Lisa in kanji, and Lisa helps him with his English homework.
By the end you will be able to say
宿題を 手伝って あげます。I'll help you with your homework.
ひろが 漢字を 教えて くれます。Hiro teaches me kanji.
ひろに 漢字を 教えて もらいます。I learn kanji from Hiro.
僕が 教えて やる！I'll teach you!
リサさんに 手伝って ほしい。I want Lisa to help me.
The grammar in this lesson
- Doing it for someone: 〜て あげる — て-form + あげる says you do something as a favor for another person.
- Someone does it for me: 〜て くれる — て-form + くれる says someone does something for you or for someone on your side.
- Getting a favor: 〜て もらう — て-form + もらう says you get someone to do something for you; that person takes に.
- Casual and bossy: 〜て やる — て-form + やる is a casual 〜て あげる for someone younger, an animal or a plant; it can also sound tough.
- I want you to: 〜て ほしい — て-form + ほしい says you want someone else to do something; that person takes に.