Japanese 送る: sending something or seeing someone off

The idea

送おくる is a godan verb. Its polite non-past is 送おくります, polite negative 送おくりません, polite past 送おくりました, and て form 送おくって. The non-past can express a habit or a future event, depending on context. に marks a recipient; を marks the thing sent or the person accompanied, and まで gives the escort destination.

Examples

• 友達ともだちに手紙てがみを送おくります。I send a letter to a friend.
• 母ははに写真しゃしんを送おくりました。I sent a photo to my mother.
• 今日きょうは荷物にもつを送おくりません。I will not send the package today.
• 友達ともだちを駅えきまで送おくります。I see my friend off as far as the station.
• 父ちちは子こどもを学校がっこうまで送おくります。My father takes the child to school.
• メールを送おくってください。Please send an email.

Watch out

Do not add て directly to the dictionary form 送おくる; the correct て form is 送おくって.

Try it yourself

1. ＿。（送おくる→ます）

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   送ります

   送おくります is the polite non-past of 送おくる; context determines whether it describes a habit or the future.

2. ＿。（送おくる→て）

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   送って

   送おくって is the て form of 送おくる; it can link one action to a following clause.

3. 妹いもうと＿手紙てがみを送おくります。（に／を）

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   に

   に is correct here. に marks a recipient; を marks the thing sent or the person accompanied, and まで gives the escort destination.

Use it today

Make two sentences with 送おくる, one in the polite past and one negative. Check the forms and particles against the table and examples.