A favor for me with てくれる

The idea

Attach くれる to the て-form when someone does something beneficial for the speaker or someone close to them. The doer is the subject; the recipient can be marked に.

Examples

• 友達ともだちは私わたしにお茶ちゃを入いれてくれました。My friend made tea for me.
• 友達ともだちは私わたしに本ほんを読よんでくれました。My friend read a book to me.
• 友達ともだちは私わたしに道みちを教おしえてくれました。My friend showed me the way.
• 友達ともだちは私わたしに料理りょうりを作つくってくれました。My friend cooked for me.
• 友達ともだちは私わたしの荷物にもつを持もってくれました。My friend carried my luggage for me.
• 友達ともだちは私わたしに歌うたを歌うたってくれました。My friend sang a song for me.

Watch out

Do not make the speaker the doer of a favor for someone else with てくれる. A respectful form for a higher-status doer is てくださる.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the sentence using てくれる; choose the appropriate form. 友達ともだちは私わたしにお茶ちゃを＿。（入いれてくれました／入いれてあげました） My friend made tea for me.

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   入れてくれました

   「入れてくれました」 — My friend made tea for me. Attach くれる to the て-form when someone does something beneficial for the speaker or someone close to them. The doer is the subject; the recipient can be marked に.

2. Complete the sentence using てくれる; choose the appropriate form. 友達ともだちは私わたしに本ほんを＿。（読よんでもらいました／読よんでくれました） My friend read a book to me.

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   読んでくれました

   「読んでくれました」 — My friend read a book to me. Attach くれる to the て-form when someone does something beneficial for the speaker or someone close to them. The doer is the subject; the recipient can be marked に.

3. Complete the sentence using てくれる; choose the appropriate form. 友達ともだちは私わたし＿道みちを教おしえてくれました。（に／を） My friend showed me the way.

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   に

   「に」 — My friend showed me the way. Attach くれる to the て-form when someone does something beneficial for the speaker or someone close to them. The doer is the subject; the recipient can be marked に.

Use it today

Write two new sentences using てくれる; explain your choices and check them against the table.