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The TE form of Verbs

The TE form of a verb in Japanese has many uses. There are 5 main
uses we need concern ourselves with here:

1. When making a request
2. Joining two sequential events with the word AND
3. When asking for permission
4. When denying permission or saying that something is not allowed.
5. Construction of the past & present continuous tense i.e. ing

Construction of the TE form
Type 1 / verbs

Unlike the formation of the MASU (formal) form of verbs, there is no
process which we can follow to construct the TE form of verbs. Instead with
take one example of each of the 9 possible endings of Type 1 verbs and apply
the same TE form ending to every verb with a similar ending. Learn off the
following 9 verbs and their TE form endings:

Dictionary / plain form TE form Example
Type 1 / verbs

Say it in Japanese (please)

Write your name (please)

Quick! Hurry up!


Talk to your teacher (please)

Stand up (please)

Die (please!)

Wont you come and
play (please)?

Drink this (please)

Take a photo (please)

Note: There is one exception to these patterns: the verb (to go).
Although is the same as (to write) in that they both end in ,
the conjugation of (to go) is and not








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Type 2 / verbs

The formation of Type 2 / verbs is simply to remove the plain verb
ending RU and replace it with TE.

For example:

Eat (please)

Look (please)

Type 3 / irregular verbs

Learn the TE form for the irregular verbs of (to do) and (to come).
Note that I am not giving (to be) a TE form.

For example:
Do (it please)

Come (here please)

When you convert a dictionary form of a verb to its TE form recognise
the following points:

1. The verb is still in plain language, i.e. spoken amongst friends and family.
2. The verb is now in a form where you are asking / requesting the listener to
do the action.
3. The verb is positive.
4. The verb does not reveal any obvious tense.

















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A: Making a request
Verb

The verb in its form is how we express a polite request, i.e. please do
action A. It is often followed by or in formal requests.

Onaka ga suiteimasu ka. Douzo tabete kudasai.
Are you hungry? Please, eat.

2

Mina, urusai desu yo! Shizuka ni shite kudasai.
You are all too noisy! Please, keep quiet!

3
Patii ni nanika tabemono wo motte kite onegai shimasu.
Please bring some food to the party.

Practice 1
Change these sentences to make them into requests using :

Raise your hand please

Its cold so please close the window

Your loud so please be less noisy.

Best of luck with your test tomorrow.

Its hot so open the door please.

Pass the salt please.

Lend me your pen please.

Turn on the light please.
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Practice 2
Translate the following sentences into English.

Practice 3
Translate the following sentences into Japanese.

1. Turn on the lights please.

2. Sit down please.

3. Lend me your umbrella please

4. Bring drinks tomorrow please

5. Im cold. Close the window please.