The て-form is the Swiss army knife of Japanese grammar. With it you can request (〜てください), describe ongoing actions (〜ている), give permission (〜てもいい), and forbid (〜てはいけません).
Take this lesson one step at a time. Try each quick check before revealing its answer, then take the quiz. Add vocabulary and grammar to your reviews to practise them over time.
In the classroom — test day.
Tap a line to hear it. Shadow mode leaves a gap after each line — repeat it aloud, then hear it again. Don’t worry about being perfect; worry about being out loud.
Please close the door.
V(て形) + ください
Polite request using the て-form of a verb.
More examples: 〜てくださいV(て形) + いる
Expresses an action in progress (is doing) or an ongoing state that resulted from an action (is married, knows).
More examples: 〜ているV(て形) + もいいです
Grants or asks permission. As a question (〜てもいいですか) it asks "may I ...?".
More examples: 〜てもいいですV(て形) + はいけません
The sentences below are extra reading and may use later grammar. Sentence questions in the quiz use the dialogue above.
A doorway leaning open — duck in to enter.
A mountain growing out of a mountain — climb out. Exit.
States that an action is forbidden.
Going further: The Japanese て-form
please do ... (request)
to wait · まつ