Japanese verb て-form: how to make it

The idea

For godan verbs, endings う・つ・る become って; む・ぶ・ぬ become んで; く becomes いて, ぐ becomes いで, and す becomes して. For ichidan verbs drop る and add て: 食べる → 食べて. Irregular forms include する → して, 来る → 来て, and 行く → 行って. The form can connect successive actions.

Examples

• 手紙てがみを書かいて、友達ともだちに送おくります。I write a letter and send it to a friend.
• ドアを開あけて、部屋へやに入はいります。I open the door and enter the room.
• 水みずを飲のんで、休やすみます。I drink water and take a break.
• 店みせへ行いって、パンを買かいます。I go to the shop and buy bread.
• 窓まどを閉しめて、出でます。I close the window and leave.
• 宿題しゅくだいをして、十時じゅうじに寝ねます。I do my homework and go to bed at ten.

Watch out

Not every verb ending in る is ichidan: 帰る is godan and becomes 帰って. Learn the class with each verb; て-form alone does not state tense or politeness.

Try it yourself

1. Write the て-form. 「書かく」→ ＿＿

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   書いて

   書いて — For godan verbs, endings う・つ・る become って; む・ぶ・ぬ become んで; く becomes いて, ぐ becomes いで, and す becomes して.

2. Write the て-form. 「飲のむ」→ ＿＿

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   飲んで

   飲んで — For godan verbs, endings う・つ・る become って; む・ぶ・ぬ become んで; く becomes いて, ぐ becomes いで, and す becomes して.

3. Write the て-form. 「行いく」→ ＿＿

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   行って

   行って — For ichidan verbs drop る and add て: 食べる → 食べて. Irregular forms include する → して, 来る → 来て, and 行く → 行って. The form can connect successive actions.

4. Write the て-form. 「食たべる」→ ＿＿

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   食べて

   食べて — For ichidan verbs drop る and add て: 食べる → 食べて. Irregular forms include する → して, 来る → 来て, and 行く → 行って. The form can connect successive actions.

Use it today

Cover the examples. Make two new sentences using the pattern, then check them against the table.