Mastering the Te-Form(て形) in Japanese: A Complete Guide for Beginners

When learning Japanese, one of the key verb forms you’ll encounter is the te-form (て形). Whether you’re constructing complex sentences, giving commands, or connecting ideas, mastering this form is essential. In this guide, we’ll break down how to conjugate verbs into the te-form across the three main verb groups, giving you the tools you need to use it confidently in your conversations. Let’s dive into the world of te-forms and explore how they unlock the richness of the Japanese language!

Group 1 (U-Verbs)

Rule: Group 1 verbs, also known as u-verbs, require specific rules for conjugating into the te-form. Here’s a breakdown of how the verb endings change based on the last syllable of the stem:

Verbs ending in “i” sounds (き・ぎ)

• “き” becomes “いて” (ite)
  Example: はたらきます (hatarakimasu) → はたらいて (hataraite)
• “ぎ” becomes “いで” (ide)
  Example: およぎます (oyogimasu) → およいで (oyoide)

Verbs ending in “i,” “chi,” and “ri” sounds (い・ち・り)

• “い,” “ち,” and “り” become “って” (tte)
  Example:
  かいます (kaimasu) → かって (katte)
  まちます (machimasu) → まって (matte)
  とります (torimasu) → とって (totte)

Special Case: 行きます (ikimasu)

• “いきます” becomes “いって” (itte)

Verbs ending in “shi” sound (し)

• “し” becomes “して” (shite)
  Example: はなします (hanashimasu) → はなして (hanashite)

Verbs ending in “bi” and “mi” sounds (び・み)

• “び” and “み” become “んで” (nde)
  Example:
  あそびます (asobimasu) → あそんで (asonde)
  のみます (nomimasu) → のんで (nonde)

Group 2 (Ru-Verbs)

Rule: Simply remove ます (masu) and add て (te).

Group 3 (Irregular Verbs)

Rule: These verbs are irregular and must be memorized.