Japanese grammar
What does て形（te form） mean? Japanese grammar N5
て形（te form） means te form — the foundation for connecting sentences and building many grammar patterns.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V て |
| Romaji | te-kei |
| Meaning | te form — the foundation for connecting sentences and building many grammar patterns |
Forming it
| Group 2 | たべる → たべて (drop る, add て) |
|---|---|
| Group 3 | する → して、くる → きて |
| Group 1: す | → して (はなす→はなして) |
| Group 1: く / ぐ | → いて / いで (かく→かいて、およぐ→およいで) |
| Group 1: う・つ・る | → って (かう→かって、まつ→まって、とる→とって) |
| Group 1: む・ぶ・ぬ | → んで (のむ→のんで、あそぶ→あそんで) |
How to use it
Never used alone; it's the base for building てください, ています, てもいい, and more.
- The te form is the "master key" of Japanese — a huge number of grammar patterns grow out of it.
- Group 1 conjugation rules must be memorized by ending sound. There's a well-known mnemonic rhyme, but the surest way is drilling until it becomes reflex.
- IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: 行く → 行って (not 行いて).
Examples
手紙を書いて、ポストに入れました。
I wrote a letter and put it in the mailbox.
朝ご飯を食べて、学校へ行きます。
I eat breakfast and go to school.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong行いて
Correct行って
行く is an EXCEPTION — even though it ends in く, its te form is 行って.
Exam tips
- Conjugating the te form is the most-tested point in N5 — especially the exception 行って.