10.5 How to Connect Verbs with the Te-Form
In this module, you’ll explore how to seamlessly connect verbs to describe sequences of actions using the te-form.
Introduction to ‘Verb 1 て、Verb 2’
The te-form in Japanese is commonly used to connect multiple actions in a sentence, allowing you to describe a sequence of actions that occur one after the other. It’s similar to using ‘and‘ in English to link actions together.
How to use the te-form to describe sequences of actions
Step 1: Conjugate each verb into the te-form
For each verb in the sequence, conjugate it into the te-form, except for the last verb in the sequence, which remains in its plain form or conjugates according to the tense you want to use.
Step 2: Connect the actions
Use the te-form of the first verb to connect it to the next action. This indicates that the actions happen in order.
Step 3: Te-form and tense
The te-form itself doesn’t indicate tense. The tense is determined by the final verb in your sentence, which should be in the appropriate plain form (e.g., present, past). It’s important to remember that you cannot mix different tenses within the same sentence – keep the tense consistent for clarity.
Step 4: End with the final verb
The final verb in the sequence indicates the form of the entire sentence, that is, in the plain or polite form. Additionally, the final verb is usually in the affirmative form.
Usage in sentences
Examples:
Original sentences
- 朝（あさ）ごはんを食（た）べます。(Asa gohan o tabe masu.) – I eat breakfast.
- 学校（がっこう）へ行（い）きます。(Gakkou e iki masu.) – I go to school.
Combined using the te-form
朝ごはんを食べて、学校へ行きます。
Asa gohan o tabete, gakkou e ikimasu.
I eat breakfast and go to school.
In this sentence:
- 食べて (tabete) is the te-form of 食べます (tabe masu: [I] eat).
- 行きます (iki masu: [I] go) indicates the final action and shows that the entire sentence is in the polite form.
You can also connect more than two verbs with the te-form.
Examples:
毎日（まいにち）、朝（あさ）起（お）きて、シャワー（しゃわあ）を浴（あ）びて、宿題（しゅくだい）をして、大学（だいがく）に行（い）きます。
Mainichi, asa okite, shawaa o abite, shukudai o shite, daigaku ni iki masu.
Every morning, I wake up, take a shower, do homework and go to a university.
Using the te-form with たいです
You can also use the te-form to connect actions when expressing a desire to do multiple things.
Examples:
Original sentences
- 温泉（おんせん）に行（い）きたいです。(Onsen ni iki tai desu.) － I want to go to a hot spring.
- お土産（みやげ）を買（か）いたいです。(Omiyage o kai tai desu) － I want to buy souvenirs.
Combined using te-form:
温泉に行って、お土産を買いたいです。
Onsen ni itte, omiyage o kai tai desu.
I want to go to a hot spring and buy souvenirs.
NOTE: When using the て form to connect verbs, the connected verbs are typically in the affirmative form, and the overall sentence will be affirmative. It is unnatural to end the sentence with a negative form, such as 温泉に行って、お土産を買いません (‘I will not go to a hot springs and buy souvenirs’) or 温泉に行って、お土産を買いたくないです (‘I don’t want to go to a hot springs and buy souvenirs’). Instead, keep connected actions affirmative for a natural flow.
Key points
- The て form itself does not indicate tense or politeness.
- The て form can be used to link as many actions as needed, making it a versatile tool for constructing complex sentences.
- The actions are understood to occur in the order they are mentioned.
- The final verb determines the tense (past, present, or future) for the entire sentence, and you cannot mix different tenses within one sentence.
- When using the て form to connect actions, each connected verb is usually in the affirmative form for a natural flow.
Exercise 1
