Trying something with てみる

The idea

Attach みる to the て-form: 飲のんでみる means try drinking to find out what it is like. The auxiliary changes tense and politeness: 読よんでみました is a past polite trial.

Examples

• このお茶ちゃを飲のんでみます。I will try drinking this tea.
• 新あたらしい靴くつをはいてみます。I will try on the new shoes.
• この言葉ことばを使つかってみます。I will try using this word.
• 友達ともだちに聞きいてみます。I will try asking a friend.
• この本ほんを読よんでみました。I tried reading this book.
• 家いえですしを作つくってみました。I tried making sushi at home.

Watch out

Here みる is an auxiliary for trying, not literal visual seeing. The sentence reports an experiment, not necessarily a successful result.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the sentence using てみる; choose the appropriate form. このお茶ちゃを＿。（飲のんでみます／飲のんでおきます） I will try drinking this tea.

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   飲んでみます

   「飲んでみます」 — I will try drinking this tea. Attach みる to the て-form: 飲のんでみる means try drinking to find out what it is like. The auxiliary changes tense and politeness: 読よんでみました is a past polite trial.

2. Complete the sentence using てみる; choose the appropriate form. この言葉ことばを＿。（使つかってみました／使つかってみます） I will try using this word.

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   使ってみます

   「使ってみます」 — I will try using this word. Attach みる to the て-form: 飲のんでみる means try drinking to find out what it is like. The auxiliary changes tense and politeness: 読よんでみました is a past polite trial.

3. Complete the sentence using てみる; choose the appropriate form. この本ほんを＿。（読よんでみました／読よんでみます） I tried reading this book.

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   読んでみました

   「読んでみました」 — I tried reading this book. Attach みる to the て-form: 飲のんでみる means try drinking to find out what it is like. The auxiliary changes tense and politeness: 読よんでみました is a past polite trial.

Use it today

Write two new sentences using てみる; explain your choices and check them against the table.