When speaking in Japanese, you often need to connect multiple actions in a sentence. Instead of saying, “I went to the store. I bought milk,” you can make the sentence more natural by saying, “I went to the store and bought milk.” In Japanese, this is done using the て-form of verbs.
て-Form
Linking Actions
JLPT Level: N5
Understanding it once is only the first step
With spaced review, personalized example sentences, and targeted grammar questions, Kotoba Kards helps you actually remember grammar and use it with confidence
How to Use It
The て-form is essential for linking actions in Japanese. When you want to list multiple actions that happen in sequence, you conjugate the first verb into the て-form and follow it with another verb. This structure makes sentences smoother and more natural.
Usage Pattern
- Ru-Verbs: Drop る and add て
- U-Verbs:
- う, つ, る → Drop the final character and add って
- む, ぶ, ぬ → Drop the final character and add んで
- く → Drop the final character and add いて
- ぐ → Drop the final character and add いで
- す → Drop the final character and add して
- Irregular Verbs:
- する → して
- くる → きて
- 行く → 行って
Example 1
彼女は本を読んで、音楽を聞きました。
かのじょ は ほん を よんで、おんがく を ききました。
Kanojo wa hon o yonde, ongaku o kikimashita..
She read a book and listened to music
Example 2
私はレストランに行って、昼ごはんを食べました。
わたし は れすとらん に いって、ひるごはん を たべました。
Watashi wa resutoran ni itte, hirugohan o tabemashita.
I went to a restaurant and ate lunch.
Example 3
友達と映画を見て、公園を散歩しました。
ともだち と えいが を みて、こうえん を さんぽ しました。
Tomodachi to eiga o mite, kōen o sanpo shimashita.
I watched a movie with my friend and took a walk in the park.
Want to actually remember this?
Practice it with spaced repetition and example sentences built from words you already know.