て form

Building from -masu form:

Part before -masu is ending in an i-sound: Replace part before -masu and masu itself with…

  • …い, ち, り: って (kaimasu -> katte, machimasu -> matte, torimasu -> totte) dictionary form: u/tsu/ru -> tte, iku -> itte
  • …に, び, み: んで (shinimasu -> shinde, asobimasu -> asonde, yomimasu -> yonde) dictionary form: mu/bu/nu -> nde
  • …き: いて (kikimasu -> kiite) dictionary form: ku -> ite, kuru -> kite
  • …ぎ: いで (oyogimasu -> oyoide) dictionary form: gu -> ide
  • …し: して (hanashimasu -> hanashite) dictionary form: suru -> shite, su -> shite

Part before -masu is ending in an e-sound (て, え),
part before -masu is only one Hiragana,
or a few “disguised” words: Just add て instead of masu.

  • tabemasu -> tabete, oshiemasu -> oshite (e-sound)
  • mimasu -> mite, nemasu -> nete, kimasu (to wear) -> kite (only 1 Hiragana)
  • okimasu -> okite, to wake up (disguised word)

Exceptions:

  • きます (to come): きて
  • します (to do): して
    also when combining a noun with shimasu, e.g. benkyoushimasu -> benkyoushite

Tofugu article
Masa Sensei YouTube Video
TeForm song

  • te-form links actions, events, and states
  • [verb] て [verb] = and (eg. I wake up and eat)
  • if the two actions are overlapping, it is simultaneous: literally “I run and go to school” rather means “I go to school by running” – main action and sub action
  • connect adjectives: the room is quiet and spacious
  • can also mean “so” instead of “and”: I had a headache so I couldn’t sleep
  • te form at the end of sentence = command/request (casual). Add ください to soften or make formal.
  • て + います: am doing right now. 食べています = (I) am eating
  • て + いいですか = asking for permission. 食べていいですか = can (I) eat?
  • て + はいけません = cannot do something (rule). 食べてはいけません = (you) cannot eat
  • て + ください: please [verb]. 食べてください = please eat