N5 · Lesson 10
The て-form
making the て-form ・ 〜て ください ・ 〜て います ・ 〜て、〜て
In this lesson, you will learn the て-form, the most useful verb form in Japanese: how to make it from any ます verb, and how to use it to ask someone to do something, to say what is happening right now, and to string actions together in order. You will also meet Sakura.
By the end you will be able to say
この やさいを 切って ください。Please cut these vegetables.
ちょっと 待って ください。Please wait a moment.
今、やさいを 切って います。I'm cutting vegetables right now.
カフェで はたらいて います。I work at a café.
やさいを 洗って、切って、なべに 入れます。I wash the vegetables, cut them, and put them in the pot.
The grammar in this lesson
- Making the て-form — From the ます form, by the sound before ます.
- Please do: 〜て ください — て-form + ください asks someone to do something.
- Right now: 〜て います — て-form + います: an action going on now, or an ongoing situation.
- And then: 〜て、〜て — Join actions in the order they happen; only the last verb shows the tense.