📚 17 Essential Japanese Grammar Patterns Using Te-form (～て形) – JLPT N5/N4

The te-form (～て形) is one of the most important verb forms in Japanese. It’s used in a wide range of grammar structures such as making requests, connecting actions, expressing permission, prohibitions, and more. In this post, we’ll explore 17 key grammar patterns that use the te-form, suitable for JLPT N5 and N4 learners. Each grammar point includes explanations, bilingual example sentences, notes, and exercises.

📝 Grammar Patterns with て-form

1. Vてください – Please do V
   Meaning: A polite request.
   Example:
   ドアをしめてください。
   → Please close the door.
2. Vてもいいですか – May I do V?
   Meaning: Asking for permission.
   Example:
   トイレにいってもいいですか?
   → May I go to the bathroom?
3. V1てから、V2 – After V1, do V2
   Meaning: Sequence of actions.
   Example:
   ごはんをたべてから、べんきょうします。
   → I will study after eating.
4. Vています – Doing V (present continuous)
   Meaning: Ongoing action.
   Example:
   いま、テレビをみています。
   → I am watching TV now.
5. Vてはいけません – Must not do V
   Meaning: Prohibition.
   Example:
   ここでたばこをすってはいけません。
   → You must not smoke here.
6. Vても、V2 – Even if V, then V2
   Meaning: Expressing contrast.
   Example:
   あめがふっても、いきます。
   → Even if it rains, I will go.
7. Vてあげます – I do V for someone
   Meaning: Giving help.
   Example:
   ともだちにてつだってあげました。
   → I helped my friend.
8. Vてくれます – Someone does V for me
   Meaning: Receiving help.
   Example:
   先生がおしえてくれました。
   → The teacher taught me.
9. Vてもらいます – I receive V from someone
   Meaning: Receiving a favor.
   Example:
   先生になおしてもらいました。
   → I had the teacher correct it for me.
10. V1て、V2て – Do V1, then V2
    Meaning: Connecting actions.
    Example:
    うちへかえって、ばんごはんをたべます。
    → I will return home and eat dinner.
11. Vています – Habitual action
    Meaning: Regular activity or state.
    Example:
    まいにちコーヒーをのんでいます。
    → I drink coffee every day.
12. Vてあります – V has been done (result)
    Meaning: Passive result (with intention).
    Example:
    ドアがしめてあります。
    → The door has been closed (by someone).
13. Vてしまいました – Did V completely (regret)
    Meaning: Completion or regret.
    Example:
    財布をなくしてしまいました。
    → I lost my wallet (unfortunately).
14. Vておきます – Do V in advance
    Meaning: Preparation.
    Example:
    まどをあけておきます。
    → I’ll open the window (in advance).
15. Vて、～ – Because V
    Meaning: Reason or cause.
    Example:
    びょうきで、がっこうをやすみました。
    → I missed school because I was sick.
16. Vてみます – Try to do V
    Meaning: Try doing something.
    Example:
    このりょうりをたべてみます。
    → I’ll try eating this dish.
17. Vてきます – Go and come back after doing V
    Meaning: Leave to do something and return.
    Example:
    コンビニでかってきます。
    → I’ll go buy it at the convenience store and come back.

🗒 Vocabulary List

• ドア – door
• たばこ – cigarette
• ごはん – rice, meal
• てつだう – to help
• なおす – to fix
• まいにち – every day
• びょうき – illness
• りょうり – dish, cuisine

🈶 Kanji List

• 閉める（しめる）– to close
• 食べる（たべる）– to eat
• 助ける（たすける）– to help
• 先生（せんせい）– teacher
• 病気（びょうき）– sickness
• 学校（がっこう）– school

💡 Notes

• Te-form is used to connect multiple verbs and express sequences of actions.
• It’s also essential for making polite requests, giving/receiving actions, and more.
• Mastering this form is key to building fluency at beginner level.

📝 Practice Exercises

1. Translate: “Please turn off the light.” → __________
2. Make a sentence: “I helped my friend.” using Vてあげます
3. Fill in the blank: 朝ごはんを __________ 、会社へ行きます。

🔗 Related Grammar & Vocabulary

• JLPT N5 Grammar List– 60 Essential Grammar Points
• 何/誰/どこ/いつ/どう/どうして/どの/どんな– How to Ask Questions
• JLPT N5 Japanese Comparison Structures
• JLPT N5 Grammar: Common Sentence Patterns
• JLPT N5 How to Express Time in Japanese
• JLPT N5 Grammar: ここ / そこ / あそこ – This Place / That Place / That Place Over There
• JLPT N5 Grammar: この / その / あの
• これは / それは / あれは
• JLPT N5 Grammar: ～をほしがっている
• JLPT N5 Grammar: ～たい – Want to Do Something

✅ Summary

The te-form opens the door to hundreds of useful expressions in Japanese. From daily communication to JLPT test preparation, mastering these 17 grammar patterns will greatly boost your comprehension and fluency. Try using them in your own sentences and conversations to reinforce what you’ve learned!

thuandao

I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.