N4#te-form#verbs#grammar#n4

Te-Form & Connecting Lesson 2

Mastering essential Te-form auxiliary patterns: ている, てある, てもいい, and てはいけない.

Context

Setting the Scene

In your daily life in Japan, you often need to describe ongoing states, ask for permission, or express prohibitions. The Te-form is the key to unlocking these complex expressions.

Imagine you are at a library. You see a sign saying you shouldn't talk, and you want to ask if it is okay to use your laptop. Later, you notice a book is already placed on the desk. These situations require specific Te-form combinations to express state, permission, and rules.

Explanation

Core Structures

The Te-form acts as a bridge to auxiliary verbs that define the nuance of the action.

Verb-て+いる/ある/もいい/はいけない

て-いる: Describes an ongoing action or a state. 2. て-ある: Describes a state resulting from a deliberate action (e.g., 'the window is left open'). 3. て-もいい: Used to ask for or give permission ('may I...'). 4. て-はいけない: Expresses a prohibition ('must not...').

Tip

Remember that ている can contract to てる in casual speech, but keep the full form for formal writing or N4 exams.

Examples

Usage Examples

See how these patterns function in real sentences.

今(いま)、勉強しています(べんきょうしています)。

I am studying now.

今いまnow勉強していますべんきょうしていますam studying

ここで写真(しゃしん)を撮ってもいい(とってもいい)ですか。

May I take a photo here?

ここここhere写真しゃしんphoto撮ってもいいとってもいいis it okay to take

ここで遊んではいけません(あそんではいけません)。

You must not play here.

遊んではいけませんあそんではいけませんmust not play

ここに荷物が置いて【あります】。

Hint: Use the state-of-result auxiliary.

The luggage is placed here (on purpose).

Usage

Nuance and Register

Understanding the social weight of these expressions.

てはいけない vs てはいけません

てはいけない

Plain form, sounds like a strict rule or command.

入ってはいけない。

てはいけません

Polite form, used when speaking to others directly.

入ってはいけません。

Which form is most appropriate for a formal request to a teacher?

撮ってもいい？
✓ 撮ってもいいですか？
撮ってはいけない。

Adding ですか makes the permission request polite and appropriate for superiors.

Deep dive

Advanced Notes

Exceptions and common usage patterns.

てある vs ている

ている focuses on the action or the current state of the subject. てある focuses on the fact that someone performed an action and the result remains. For example, '窓が開いている' (The window is open - state) vs '窓が開けてある' (The window has been opened - implying someone did it for a reason).

Summary

Lesson Summary

Review the key takeaways.

The Te-form is essential for connecting verbs to auxiliaries that express ongoing states (ている), deliberate results (てある), permission (てもいい), and prohibition (てはいけない). Mastering these allows you to navigate daily interactions with clarity and politeness.

勉強

べんきょうnoun

study

写真

しゃしんnoun

photo

荷物

にもつnoun

luggage

置く

おくverb

to place

遊ぶ

あそぶverb

to play