N4#te-form#grammar#permission#prohibition

Te-Form & Connecting Lesson 6

Mastering the usage of て-form for permission (てもいい) and prohibition (てはいけない).

Context

Rules and Permissions

In daily life, we often need to ask for permission or explain rules. Whether you are in a library, a classroom, or at a friend's house, knowing how to express what is allowed and what is forbidden is essential.

Imagine you are visiting a Japanese friend. You want to know if you can use their computer or if you should avoid touching certain items. Using the correct grammar helps you navigate these social situations politely.

Explanation

Permission and Prohibition

The て-form is used to create expressions for permission and prohibition by adding specific auxiliary phrases.

Verb-てもいいですはいけません

To ask for or give permission, use the pattern [Verb-て] + もいいです. It translates to 'it is okay to...' or 'may I...'. To express prohibition, use [Verb-て] + はいけません, which translates to 'you must not...' or 'it is forbidden to...'.

Tip

When asking for permission, add 'か' at the end to turn it into a question: [Verb-て] もいいですか。

Examples

Examples in Context

See how these patterns are used in everyday sentences.

ここで写真(しゃしん)を撮って(とって)もいいですか。

May I take a photo here?

ここここhereででat写真しゃしんphotoををobject marker撮ってとってtake (te-form)

ここでタバコ(たばこ)を吸って(すって)はいけません。

You must not smoke here.

タバコたばこcigarette吸ってすってsmoke (te-form)

ここに座っ【ても】いいですか。

Hint: The particle needed for permission.

May I sit here?

Usage

Nuance and Register

Understanding the social weight of these phrases is key to sounding natural.

Permission vs Prohibition

〜てもいい

Permission (casual/neutral)

入ってもいいです

〜てはいけない

Prohibition (strict/formal)

入ってはいけません

Which phrase is more appropriate for a strict rule in a public building?

〜てもいいです
✓ 〜てはいけません

てはいけません is used for rules and prohibitions, whereas てもいい is for permission.

Deep dive

Deep Dive: Variations

Advanced notes on usage.

In very casual speech, 'いけません' is often replaced with 'だめです' (it's no good). For example: 'ここで走ってはだめです' (You must not run here).

Summary

Lesson Summary

You have learned how to use the て-form to grant permission and state prohibitions.

Remember that 'てもいい' is for permission and 'てはいけません' is for prohibition. These are foundational structures for navigating rules in Japan.

撮る

とるverb

to take (a photo)

吸う

すうverb

to smoke

座る

すわるverb

to sit

入る

はいるverb

to enter