7 Methods to Use Te-Kind Japanese Conjugations in On a regular basis Dialog


Verb utilization goes past how the phrases seem within the dictionary. To make use of Japanese verbs successfully, you first must conjugate them primarily based on a number of components, akin to tense and ritual. The te-form Japanese conjugation is likely one of the most unusual and helpful grammatical types to be taught. This conjugation at all times ends in “te” or “de,” and it may be mixed with different phrases (like auxiliary verbs) to make extra complicated sentences.

Te-form has its personal conjugation guidelines, and it’s not solely used for verbs. This information has all of the conjugation charts you must perceive methods to flip dictionary type into te-form and 7 methods to place these conjugated phrases into context. 

What are te-form Japanese conjugations?

The Japanese te-form conjugation capabilities as a connection between phrases, clauses, and sentences. In lots of circumstances, it turns into part of the conjugated phrase and is just translated as “and,” turning into a conjunction with no separate phrase. It additionally lacks any indication of previous, future, or current tense, so it is dependent upon the remainder of the sentence to place the time into context.

Despite the fact that this provides one other important Japanese conjugation to the record, it’s so frequent that you just’ll use it in almost each dialog. This makes it a key grammatical element when studying Japanese. A few of the most frequent makes use of of te-form are as follows:

  • Current progressive tense (verbs ending in “-ing”)
  • Making requests
  • Giving directions
  • Explaining that issues are or can be ready
  • Expressing remorse for one thing that has occurred or will occur
  • Saying what somebody desires to be carried out
  • Asking for or giving permission

How do you conjugate te-form in Japanese?

Conjugating te-form isn’t only for verbs: Adjectives and nouns can be conjugated into te-form. Whereas all of them finish in “te” (or the voiced model “de”), the foundations change barely for every Japanese a part of speech. Under is a Japanese te-form chart for each state of affairs you want.

Te-form of verbs

Japanese verbs are divided into three classes relying on the ultimate character of the dictionary type. As a result of there are such a lot of doable endings, the Japanese verb conjugation for te-form can take some work to recollect, however the components is simple. All it’s important to do is drop the ultimate character of the dictionary type (or current tense of the brief type) and add the corresponding new ending primarily based across the “te” sound. 

That can assist you keep in mind them, you possibly can be taught a number of brief conjugation songs as mnemonic gadgets. It’s additionally value noting that the te-form conjugation for verbs is almost similar to that of the previous tense affirmative conjugation: Study one and also you virtually know them each! 

Dictionary Kind EndingTe-form Conjugation
~る (ichidan-ru~て -te
~う・~つ・~る (godan-u, -tsu, -ru~って -tte
~む・~ぶ・~ぬ -mu, -bu, -nu~んで -nde
~く -ku~いて -ite
~ぐ -gu~いで -ide
~す -su~して -shite

Listening to and announcing the excellence between the conjugations “-te” and “-tte” will be troublesome for newbie and intermediate Japanese learners to discern. Listening to audio recordings of native audio system to immerse your self in Japanese might help you overcome this pronunciation problem. 

Listed below are examples for every dictionary type ending so you possibly can see these conjugations in motion. The verbs for “to go” (iku, 行く), “to come back” (kuru, 来る), and “to do” (suru, する) are additionally included as a result of they’ve irregular verb conjugations.

Dictionary KindTe-form ConjugationEnglish
食べる taberu食べて tabeteeat
う auって attemeet
つ matsuって mattewait
る toruって tottetake
む yasumuんで yasunderelaxation
ぶ yobuんで yondename
ぬ shinuんで shindedie
ぐ oyoguいで oyoideswim
く kakuいて kaitewrite
落とす otosu落として otoshitedrop
く ikuって ittego
する suruして shitedo
来る kuru来て kitecome

Te-form of nouns

The te-form for Japanese nouns is synonymous with the te-form for the “to be” verb (or copula), desu (です). It’s usually translated as “and” in English even when the phrases are descriptors somewhat than two separate clauses.

  • Nijūnisai de, daigakuinsei desu.(22歳、大学院生です。)= I’m 22 and a graduate pupil.
  • Ane wa isha de, otōto wa kōkōsei desu.(姉は医者、弟は高校生です。)= My older sister is a physician and my little brother is a excessive schooler.

Te-form of adjectives

Conjugating Japanese adjectives into te-form is refreshingly easy. For i-adjectives, all you must do is drop the ultimate “-i” and add “-kute.” For na-adjectives, merely add “de” as if it had been a noun. The chart beneath exhibits the totally different te-form conjugations for the 2 sorts of adjectives and the one irregular adjective, ii (いい, good).

Dictionary KindTe-form ConjugationEnglish
 atsuiくて atsukutesizzling
 samuiくて samukutechilly
いい iiよくて yokutegood
便利 benri便利benridehandy
にぎやか nigiyakaにぎやか nigiyakadeenergetic

Te-form of destructive conjugations

Conjugating the te-form of phrases which have already been conjugated to their destructive type can be easy. When you’ve conjugated the phrase in query to the destructive brief type (which ends in “-nai”), drop the ultimate “-i” and add “-kute,” similar to i-adjectives!

Damaging ConjugationTe-form ConjugationEnglish
待たない matanai待たなくて matanakutenot ready
新しくない atarashikunai新しくなくて atarashikunakutenot new
静かじゃない shizuka janai静かじゃなくて shizuka janakutenot quiet
英語じゃない eigo janai英語じゃなくて eigo janakutenot English

7 methods to make use of Japanese te-form

A part of what makes te-form such an important conjugation is its versatility. As soon as you understand how to conjugate it, a number of useful expressions turn out to be instantly accessible to you. Listed below are seven methods you need to use te-form to make your Japanese extra pure.

1. Join sentences and clauses

Whereas there are separate phrases in Japanese for the conjunctions “however” and “or,” the conjunction “and” is part of te-form. There’s a Japanese particle for “and” to attach nouns (to, と), however te-form is used for connecting clauses and sentences. As a result of it’s used as a connection to separate components of a sentence, commas can be utilized as a visible help, however they aren’t important.

  • Depāto ni itte, atarashii fuku o katta.(デパートに行って、新しい服を買った。)= I went to the division retailer and purchased new garments.
  • Tomodachi wa shinsetsu de atama ga ii.(友だちは親切で頭がいい。)= My good friend is sort and good.

2. Make requests and provides directions

There are a lot of methods in Japanese to ask individuals to do issues, however two of the best methods use te-form by itself. If you wish to be a bit extra well mannered, simply add kudasai (ください) after the conjugated verb.

  • Ato de denwa shite ne.(後で電話してね。)= Name me later, okay?
  • Shizuka ni yonde kudasai.(静かに読んでください。)= Please learn quietly.

Advising individuals to not do issues can be an vital utilization of te-form. Particularly should you go to Japan, hold a watch out for the phrases -te wa ikenai (~てはいけない) or -te wa ikemasen (~てはいけません) prohibiting actions or actions, significantly on signage.

  • Hashitte wa ikemasen.(走ってはいけません。)= Don’t run.
  • Shashin o totte wa ikenai.(写真を撮ってはいけない。)= Don’t take footage.

3. Present ongoing actions

How usually do you employ phrases ending in “-ing?” In all probability a minimum of as soon as in most conversations! The Japanese model of the current progressive type makes use of te-form and the auxiliary verb iru (いる) to create the ending “-teiru” (~ている). As soon as mixed, it turns into an ichidan verb and conjugates accordingly.

  • Kion ga agatte imasu.(気温が上がっています。)= The temperature is rising.
  • Nanika sagashite imasu ka?(何か探していますか?)= Are you wanting for one thing?

4. Describe preparations

Two handy te-form expressions go collectively: -te oku (~ておく) means one thing can be carried out in preparation, whereas -te aru (~てある) means one thing has already been carried out with intent. Oku and aru are each auxiliary verbs on this case, and ought to be conjugated appropriately within the larger context of the sentence.

  • Ame ga furisō kara mado o shimete oku.(雨が降りそうから窓を閉めておく。)= It seems to be like rain, so I’ll go forward and shut the window.
  • shimete arimasu.(もう閉めてあります。)= It’s already been closed.

5. Categorical remorse

Whether or not you overslept, ate an excessive amount of, or dropped your cellphone, –te shimau (~てしまう) is the proper strategy to categorical remorse. Merely pair the te-form of a verb with the auxiliary verb shimau and conjugate accordingly.

  • Shukudai o wasurete shimaimashita.(宿題を忘れてしまいました。)= I [regrettably] forgot my homework. 

This expression additionally implies that one thing has been carried out fully, whether or not good or dangerous.

  • Oishikute zenbu tabete shimatta.(美味しくて全部食べてしまった。)= It was so good, I ate the whole lot.

6. Declare desires

The phrase for expressing stuff you need is hoshii (ほしい), an i-adjective. You’ll use a separate verb conjugation for when you wish to do one thing, however hoshii is used with te-form to specific that you really want another person to do one thing.

  • Kaette kite hoshii.(帰って来てほしい。)= I would like you to come dwelling.

7. Ask for and provides permission

One of the vital helpful te-form expressions is asking if one thing is allowed or acceptable to do. Actually, the expression -temo ii (~てもいい) is akin to saying, “Even when [this happens], it’s OK.” Nonetheless, in apply, it’s near, “You could.”

  • Shashin o tottemo ii desu yo.(写真を撮ってもいいですよ。)= You could take footage.
  • Kirei ja nakutemo ii?(きれいじゃなくてもいい?)= Is it OK if it’s not clear?

Grasp te-form Japanese conjugations with Rosetta Stone

Despite the fact that you gained’t discover an equal to te-form Japanese conjugations in English, you’ll uncover that it’s a concise conjugation that opens up many grammatical doorways as you be taught Japanese. As a substitute of utilizing easy sentences in your Japanese conversations, attempt combining two sentences into one with the te-form of Japanese verbs for apply. 

If you happen to’re not fairly prepared for full conversations, you possibly can apply te-form by yourself. By studying Japanese by Rosetta Stone’s bite-sized classes, you’ll be launched to new vocabulary and grammar constructions in a pure method. This consists of te-form, which you’ll see in context from the very first lesson. Conjugations don’t exist in a vacuum: Seeing them in motion is one of the simplest ways to be taught!

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